The Prediction of Performance of Olympic Athletes in Discus,Hammer,Javelin,and Shotput From Measures of Personality Characteristics

Abstract

For each of four subsamples of Olympic-quality athletes—14 Discus, 8 Hammer, 11 Javelin, and 12 Shotput specialists—measures of 19 personality constructs yielded only two statistically significant validity coefficients (out of 76 possible significant indices) in the prediction of average length of throw. The conclusion was reached that the self-report personality measures employed afford little promise as predictors of success in the four Olympic events studied.