Getting to the top and staying there: Experiences of elite Qatari female athletes

Despite recent developments in female sport in Qatar, participation rates for this population in the country are still low. Fundamental to investigating why this may be is through the motivations of current elite female athletes. These athletes have spent years in the realm of Qatari sport in order to achieve elite status, therefore they can aid the identification of any barriers to female sport participation still prevalent in Qatari society. The aims of the current study were two-fold: a) to investigate what motivates elite Qatari female athletes to continue participating in sport and, b) to identify any barriers encountered by these athletes on their journey to elite level, including how they psychologically overcame them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on ten elite Qatari female athletes. Thematic analysis identified three major themes: motivational experiences of being an elite athlete, dealing with cultural challenges, and ideas for change. Results revealed elite Qatari female athlete’s motivation towards their sports participation is multidimensional and highly self-determined. They encounter many cultural and organisational barriers towards their sporting endeavours, however this did not affect their sustained commitment to their sport. Nonetheless, it is imperative sporting organisations utilise education and further increase the promotion/advertising of female sport in Qatar to eradicate these barriers. This will foster more Qatari female athletes at all levels, helping Qatar to achieve its aim of being a world leader in sport.