Introduction: Achieving exceptional performance in sports, particularly among twice-exceptional athletes, is a multifaceted process that remains underexplored. Understanding the developmental pathways that lead to performance excellence is essential for supporting this unique population.Methods: This study employed a qualitative case study approach involving three male Paralympic champions (mean age: 33 years). Data were collected using achievement portfolios and in-depth interviews to explore the athletes’ lived experiences and identify influential developmental factors.Results: Two distinct developmental stages emerged from the analysis. The first stage, characterized by spontaneous and unstructured motivation, was shaped by psychological and social influences that sparked a general interest in sports. The second stage involved intentional goal setting and structured practice within specialized sports environments. Key factors such as individual growth characteristics and physiological development influenced each stage differently over time.Discussion: The findings highlight the complex interplay of personal, psychological, social, and contextual factors in the development of performance excellence in twice-exceptional Paralympic athletes. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how targeted support and recognition of developmental needs can foster sustained athletic excellence.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious public health problem. Diet-focused approaches and physical exercise can be used to complement other ADHD management techniques. To determine the prevalence of ADHD symptoms among preschoolers in nursery schools and to evaluate the educational interventions toward nutrition and physical exercise in mothers and their preschoolers with ADHD symptoms. A two-phase sampling method was employed. First, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in four nursery schools (400 preschoolers aged between 3 and 6 years). Second, an intervention study (a quasi-experimental research design with one group completing the pre-test and the post-test) was performed on 36 preschoolers having ADHD symptoms and their mothers by using the educational intervention for mothers and photos and games about nutrition and physical exercise for the preschoolers with ADHD; mothers of four children out of the 40 refused to participate in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The paired t-test was used to determine significant differences between the groups. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Of the 400 preschoolers, 10% had high ADHD symptoms. The mean score of mothers' knowledge of nutrition and physical exercise improved after the implementation of the program (p = 0.01). In addition, preschoolers with ADHD enjoyed the session with photos and games (p = 0.01). Educational intervention significantly improved the knowledge of the mothers. Moreover, preschoolers with ADHD symptoms enjoyed the session with photos and games. This intervention appears to be feasible and promising for further investigation of its effects.

This study investigated the internal and environmental factors contributing to talent development among twice-exceptional elite athletes. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with athletes diagnosed with a disability who achieved notable sports accomplishments at local, regional, or international levels. The sample included 21 athletes aged 18–56 years. Analysis revealed ten key factors that shaped the personalities of elite athletes, fostering exceptional performance. These factors were categorized into five internal components and five environmental motivations. Additionally, the study identified optimal timing for leveraging motivational factors to sustain talent development. The findings were discussed in relation to the Mega Model hypotheses, highlighting the alignment of these factors with success indicators among twice-exceptional athletes.