Abstract
Introduction: Sport’s ability to challenge social paradigm and boost self-esteem has made it an important tool to empower people in disability world. An elite athlete is defined who has reached the highest level of performance in a particular sport.
Material and Methods: 19 elite athletes, eleven males, eight females, were recruited. A semi structured interview guide was employed with the goal of gaining specific information and making better comparison.
Results: Through the evaluation of the questionnaires four themes emerged: challenge, rebirth, empowerment and icon.
Conclusion: According to literature this paper indicates that sports can have significant physical and psychosocial health benefits for people with disability. Sports provide a great social environment and can be a tool to overcome social barriers.