Martin, AndyLamont, Cameron2025-04-102025-04-102025-04-08https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/72756In New Zealand (NZ), recent high-performance (HP) reviews of National Sport Organisation (NSO) teams have identified issues around selection and athlete support. This current study examines Swiss Triathlon’s athlete development pathways (youth to elite), specifically issues of selection, de-selection and non-selection, and their practical implications from a coach’s perspective. In this thesis, the researcher (originally from NZ) through reflecting on his current role as National Coach for Swiss Duathlon, has used the case of Swiss Triathlon to examine athlete development pathways. This thesis reviews issues of early versus late sport specialisation and the importance of athlete development pathways addressing both physical performance and the athlete’s development as a person. Two theoretical and conceptual approaches provide the basis for the research; the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Model and the Foundation, Talent, Elite and Master (FTEM) Framework. The background to triathlon and Swiss Triathlon are presented, along with the author’s personal and professional career, first as a professional athlete and then as a coach at a range of athlete development levels through to HP. A multi-method approach primarily involves an auto-ethnographic analysis providing a ‘reflective practitioner’ perspective of the researcher’s athlete and coaching experiences (at a regional, national, and international level). Triangulation enhances the study’s credibility through cross reference to a bricolage of secondary sources, for example, document analysis from Swiss Triathlon, results of athlete testing, National and Youth League races, and feedback from athletes, parents, and coaches. The findings of this research have resulted in an emergent framework for enhancing athlete development pathways (youth to elite) for Swiss Triathlon, which is hoped will be transferable to other triathlon, regional and national sport contexts. The framework specifically addresses issues of selection, de-selection, and non-selection, with practical implications provided for coaches, which are designed with the intent of being athlete-centred.© The Authorathlete selection, coaching, athlete development, emergent, auto-enthographic350717 Stakeholder engagement420799 Sports science and exercise not elsewhere classified