The Pathway to Sporting Excellence in Swedish Table Tennis : A Holistic Ecological Case Study

Abstract: The holistic ecological approach (HEA) suggests that athlete’s talent development is influenced by the environment in which the athlete is embedded, and that some environments are more successful in facilitating athlete’s junior to senior transition. This study uses the HEA and the two working models to examine one effective talent development environment in Swedish table tennis. HEA promotes a case study design where the two working models are subsequently transformed into empirical models acting as a summary of the case. The focal environment was centred around a training group with supportive relationships, especially between the prospective and senior elite athletes. Furthermore, the environment supported the athletes in their dual careers (i.e., combination of sport and education), which helped the athletes to maintain a balanced lifestyle and to develop in both sport and life. The environment was characterized by a strong and coherent organizational culture centred around a basic assumption “we are community of committed members” contributing to the environment’s effectiveness, that is, to producing senior elite athletes, club growth, recognition, youth results and committed athletes in all ages. This study examines the pathway to sporting excellence in Swedish table tennis using the HEA and provides important insights to sport organizations working with talent development in a complex racket-sport, such as table tennis.