Academic studies and sporting success. Analysing dual careers in 13 nations.

This paper aimed to analyse the relationships between the availability of academic dual career support services, the level of education and the level of international sporting success achieved by elite athletes. The study was conducted with 2160 elite athletes from 13 nations, who answered a standardized survey. Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed to examine the data and identify relationships between the variables studied, both overall and by nations. The overall results showed a weak, positive relationship between the level of education and the level of sporting success, as well as a minimal, positive relationship between the availability of academic dual career support services and the level of education. In the analysis by nations, however, no significant relationships were found in most cases. It is concluded that the promotion of dual careers is a moral responsibility of nations, and is recommended to develop further research in nations with similar socio-economic and cultural contexts.