Before putting More Than Sport to the test on a large scale, we first checked whether it works in practice and how athletes experience it. We did so in two pilot studies, each based on in-depth interviews that gave participants ample room to speak.
In the first pilot study, we had 25 retired elite athletes from the United Kingdom, Australia and Belgium go through the programme, and then questioned them in depth about their experience (Young et al., 2024). The conversations were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and produced three main themes.
The first theme was the value of the programme. Athletes stressed how important and new it was that the question of identity was finally at the centre. They said that both the positive and the confronting moments gave them insight, that it helped to see others going through the same thing, and that they came to appreciate the value of their social groups again. An athlete from track and field put it this way:
“Finally, someone is talking about identity. That is the huge piece that everyone working in this transition space tends to miss.”
The second theme concerned the concrete elements of the programme, with feedback on both content and format. The third theme was about time and place: when is such a programme most valuable, and who else might benefit? We used those insights straight away to improve the programme.
Building on those first findings, we refined the programme on a number of points and tested the reworked version again (Schepers et al., under review). This time, sixteen Dutch-speaking retired elite athletes took part, all of whom had stopped within the previous two and a half years. It was a deliberately diverse group in terms of sport, age and gender, including a Paralympian. These were athletes who had competed at least at national level (in team sports) or international level (in individual sports).
We conducted online in-depth interviews and explicitly invited criticism as well, with questions such as “What did you find less valuable?” and “What could be improved?”. Two participants also thought aloud as they worked through the programme, so we could see exactly where it snagged. The analysis produced four themes.
First, the programme helped athletes navigate their identity beyond elite sport: rediscovering themselves, and processing and accepting the loss. That sense of recognition was strongly present:
“It showed me that I am not alone, that this is really something elite athletes normally feel.” (participant, gymnastics)
“Sometimes I sat there with tears in my eyes, thinking: yes, that is true, that is exactly how it is.” (participant)
Second, the programme prompted awareness and readiness for change. Mapping their own groups in particular worked as a mirror, and spurred them to act, both to keep old bonds alive and to seek out new connections:
“I did find it confronting. There actually weren’t that many groups on it, and you realise how little real connection you still have.” (participant, triathlon)
Third, athletes pointed to a broader, systemic responsibility: this kind of support should be standard, and barely exists today.
“Nothing is really organised when you stop competing. And I genuinely think More Than Sport should become a standard offering.” (participant, figure skating)
Fourth, they offered concrete suggestions to optimise the programme’s design, including the balance between general and personal content, a flexible format, and the right moment to start, namely shortly after stopping:
“Maybe a couple of weeks after you stop, so it can sink in and you can look at it more calmly.” (participant, gymnastics)
We are taking all of these insights straight into the large-scale study.