A comparative analysis of personal characteristics of elite athletes

The relevance of this study is determined by the fact that the identity pattern for the successful athlete is currently neglected in the system of psychological training of athletes. In fact, the arrangement and optimization of sports psychologist activities are of great importance. Depending on the kind of sports, the skills of the athlete, and sports experience, the psychologists choose the appropriate tools and approach to their professional activities. Based on the reliable data on personal characteristics of athletes and their main challenges in psychological training, a sports psychologist has an opportunity to better plan and analyze their achievements. Besides, this information can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the sports psychologist activities and provide the quantitative and qualitative assessment of his activities. The purpose of the study is to identify the main difficulties in the psychological training of athletes for further optimization of their psychological support. The research is based on total group survey, analysis, and comparison. The research results confirm many previous studies and indicate that there is a wide range of difficulties in the psychological training of athletes, and they depend on the level of athlete’s proficiency. Honored Masters of Sports, World-Class Athletes, and Masters of Sports increasingly focus on understanding their actions in contrast to the Candidates for Master of Sports and competitive athletes. Besides, it is assumed that the difficulties in the psychological training of athletes are different and depend not only on sports but also on the athlete’s proficiency. The theoretical and practical significance of the research is due to the system-based activities and focus on improving practical psychological support for athletes.