In elite sports, motivation is described as an essential factor an athlete must have to undergo training and to do what is required to become the world`s best. Motivation can be examined using the Self-determination theory, where three basic needs: autonomy, relatedness and competence must be fulfilled to achieve intrinsic self-determined motivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how motivation of elite athletes changed during the spring and summer 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic put the sports world on paus with cancelled competitions and the postponement of the Olympics. Seven semi-structured interviews with elite athletes, competing in individual sports, were conducted, and analysed with a theoretical thematic analysis. This study concluded that the basic needs in motivation of elite athletes were experienced to be both positively and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study contributes to an increased understanding of the needs of elite athletes during the pandemic and in which areas they need extra support.
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