This new study presents the life stories of real elite athletes alongside careful analysis in order to better understand the experience of living in sport. Drawing on psychology, sociology, counselling and psychotherapy, and on narrative research in sports as diverse as golf, athletics, judo and hockey, the book explores the ways in which the culture of sport interacts with the mental health, development and identity of professional sports people in highly pressurised environments. The book makes a call for strategies to minimise distress for athletes, for support to be tailored across different life phases, and highlights the benefits in terms of athlete well-being and improved performance.