This study explored the experiences of elite athletes during the initial stages of lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The eight recruited participants (three females, five males) were asked to tell a story of their lockdown experience. Narrative analysis was used to explore the athletes’ stories. The athletes’ narrative is best represented in four distinct sections: (a) threat to goals, (b) ongoing consequences, (c) overcoming COVID-19, and (d) adapting to COVID-19. Four narrative themes were also coconstructed from the athletes’ stories: (a) factors athletes found challenging, (b) loss, (c) strategies that benefitted athletes psychologically, and (d) silver linings. Combined, these findings suggest that the initial stages of lockdown are best described as a critical pause. The authors present applied implications for athletes and sport psychology practitioners. The authors also recommend that future research investigate the longitudinal effect of prolonged lockdown on athletes’ lives and a potential return to sport.

这项研究探索了由于COVID-19大流行而在锁定初期阶段的精英运动员的经历。被邀请的八名参与者（三名女性，五名男性）讲述了他们的封锁经验。叙事分析被用来探索运动员的故事。运动员的叙述最好体现在四个不同的部分：（a）对目标的威胁，（b）持续的后果，（c）克服COVID-19，以及（d）适应COVID-19。运动员的故事还共同构建了四个叙事主题：（a）运动员发现具有挑战性的因素，（b）失落，（c）使运动员在心理上受益的策略以及（d）一线希望。综上所述，这些发现表明锁定的初始阶段最好描述为关键暂停。作者介绍了对运动员和运动心理学从业者的启示。作者还建议，未来的研究应研究长期锁定对运动员生活和可能恢复运动的纵向影响。