Develop a model for the transition of Iranian Olympic athletes from sports profession to social life

The purpose of this study was to develop a model for the transition of Iranian Olympic athletes from sports profession to social life. The method of this research was qualitative research with grounded theory approach. Data were collected using interviews and document review. After conducting 19 deep and semi-structured interviews with people with experience and rich experience in the field of Iranian Olympic sports, including managers, coaches, prominent athletes and sports scientists, the main categories were extracted after completing the coding process. Purposive and snowball sampling was done until theoretical saturation. After completing the findings, the background model was designed based on the systematic model of Strauss and Corbin (1994). Data analysis in three steps: open, axial and selective coding was achieved by using MAXQDA software. In the process of open coding, categories including causal factors, contextual factors, interfering factors, actions and strategies and consequences of the main category of research were extracted; Then, in the axial coding stage, the link between these categories under the headings of causal conditions (organizational capabilities of the country's sports, the athlete, information system, the level of support for the athlete, environment), contextual factors , intervening factors (athlete abilities and challenges of championship sport), effective strategies and consequences of applying strategies were determined in the form of coding paradigm; Then, in the selective coding phases, each component of the coding paradigm described, the line depicts, and the theory was created; Finally, the judgment propositions and strategic hypotheses of the research were formulated.