{"id":8604,"date":"2023-03-24T00:00:46","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T23:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=8604"},"modified":"2023-03-24T00:00:46","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T23:00:46","slug":"losing-the-athletic-identity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/8604\/losing-the-athletic-identity\/","title":{"rendered":"Losing the athletic identity"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the hardest parts of processing the loss of ability to compete in sport is feeling like you don’t know who you are without it. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have committed yourself to something for such a big part of your life and suddenly it is no longer there. That’s a big change. It is a natural, human, psychological phenomenon\u201d, <\/span>sports psychologist Satu Kaski says.<\/p>\n

Change can be facilitated by preparation.<\/span>\u00a0If athletes\u00a0have a plan for the future, it can help fill the feel of emptiness which may occure after quitting.\u00a0Many athletes however leave their beloved sport behind unwillingly or suddenly so\u00a0they don`t\u00a0have the opportunity to ready onself.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStill no matter how athletes\u00a0prepare it does not eliminate the fact that it is a crisis. After all, changes are actually painful processes\u201d, Kaski adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

These stages of life, in addition to the other support network, psychologists are of great importance to the athlete.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the sport teams where Kaski has worked, they have used a working practice for athletes who quit. It is a last interview where athletes can talk about their careers and anything else they have in mind at that moment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is help available for such career transitions even though it doesn’t mean that everyone needs it. In our experience, only a few visits can have great positive effects\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n\n