ABSTRACT
Indeed, it is not difficult to imagine that some unsuspecting individuals will pass their lives unaware they possessed extraordinary talents in events such as luge or fencing or steeplechase.
(Thomas Rowland, 1998)
Tom Rowland’s observations about unfulfilled sporting greatness are believable. For instance, the summer and winter Olympic Games provide the opportunity to compete in approximately thirty-five sports with almost four hundred separate events or chances to become an Olympic champion. Furthermore, with the inclusion of the non-Olympic sports, there are literally hundreds of unique sporting niches that may be perfectly matched to an individual’s make-up. However, the reality is that individuals are likely to be exposed to only a handful of sports, with the short list typically influenced by a myriad of socio-cultural factors such as parents, peers, siblings, teachers, coaches, equipment, facilities, finances, time and transportation.
