A study of twenty-one ultra endurance triathletes revealed that experts and non-experts think differently during performance. These triathletes were classified according to finishing times: experts, middle of the pack, and back of the packers. After competing, these athletes viewed videoed segments of their performance and asked to recall their thoughts during periods of high decision making.
An initial analysis found the athletes’ thoughts to be a) passive, b) active, or c) proactive. Expert triathletes reported a greater emphasis on thoughts related to their performance, while middle of the pack and back of the pack triathletes reported a greater number of passive thoughts.
Furthermore, experts were more proactive in their approach to performance situations than mid- and back-pack triathletes. Proactive thinking refers to the ability to identify opportunities and act on them to bring about significant change.
Compared with non-experts, it appears that experts are not only more focused on factors affecting their performance, but also are more proactive in making decisions to achieve greater results from their efforts.
