In adopting a co-productive, integrated knowledge translation approach, the project partners developed an international online survey covering 16 areas of career development. A total of 132 female high-level athletes (MAge = 25.9 ± 6.02 years) representing 17 different countries completed the survey.
Results show that female athletes express different career development needs in their early, mid, and late career stage. Athletes at early stages of their career felt least prepared to cope with travel, to navigate transitioning to a higher level, and to balance sport and family life. Overall, the areas in which athletes expressed they were least prepared for and wanted to be more informed about included contract negotiations, returning to sport after having children, and obtaining sponsorship contracts.