Abstract
The private and professional lives of 240 out of a total of 838 Polish Olympians who participated in the Olympics from 1948 to 1972 were studied in detail. Different types of relationships between educational advancement and a career in sport are outlined. Three types of former Olympians are described with reference to the way in which they perceive their role as athletes and representatives of the Polish society. Former top athletes retain a high social status and engage in notable activities in social and cultural life. The tendency to compare the current social position with that attained as an Olympian permeates all spheres of life.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.