Personality peculiarities that differentiate elite and sub-elite athletes

Abstract

Personality characteristics are important for successful performance. A study was carried out among 32 athletes in biathlon, handball, taekwondo, tennis, and football (12 elite and 20 sub-elite athletes) by means of four computerized test methods from Vienna test system, and two questionnaires. Their concentration, spatial orientation, ability to predict time of movement and direction of movement, field (in)dependence, physical aggression, neuroticism, age and years of sports practice were compared to find such attributes that could differentiate successfully the elite from the sub-elite athletes. Discriminant analysis revealed that age, spatial orientation, field (in)dependence, and concentration were the personality peculiarities that were more advanced in the elite athletes compared to the sub-elite athletes.