Desarrollo de la fortaleza mental: experiencias con deportistas paralímpicos colombianos

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the development of mental toughness from the experiences of Colombian Paralympic athletes with physical disabilities. The methodology used is qualitative with a phenomenological design, where the data collection technique was a semi-structured interview to Paralympic athletes, as well as sport psychologists; the inclusion criterion consists of athletes who have ever participated in a Paralympic game and psychologists with a master's degree in sport psychology, as well as work experience in the Paralympic context. The systematization and content analysis was configured from categorical analysis matrices. The findings allow understanding that mental toughness is a complex construct that obeys and develops according to significant elements such as purpose, effectiveness and flexibility, which are influenced not only by life history or training with psychologists, but also by the processes of social inclusion that allow the linkage, participation and development of skills in Paralympic high performance sports scenarios.