BACKGROUND: Coach-athlete relationships are at the core of successful sports performances. While the topic has been investigated using other sports, the unique purpose of this research is to qualitatively investigate: 1) the importance of coach-athlete relationships in world class coaching success, 2) identify any differences between world class and national level coaches on the subject, 3) identify the characteristics of successful relationships, 4) investigate the challenges faced by coaches in developing and maintaining effective coach-athlete relationships, 5) identify potential gaps in how coaches develop effective coach-athlete relationships and suggest possible solutions. METHODS: National and international level coaches (n=16), participated in semi-structured interviews. Grounded Theory was used to analyze the interviews and investigate the personal responses of the coaches. RESULTS: Coach-athlete relationships are at the heart of world class swimming performances. While these relationships are based on closeness, trust, respect and commitment, building and maintaining these relationships can be challenging. World class coaches were more adept at relationship management than national level coaches. CONCLUSION: One of the main keys to world class coaching success lies in the ability to form and maintain effective coach-athlete relationships. The importance of the coach-athlete relationship and the role of the coach should be recognized and acknowledged. Clubs and federations looking to produce world class performances should provide more support and training to help coaches manage these crucial partnerships.
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