Title: The SelfConcept and Perceived Importance of Athletic Competition of Winners and Losers in Special Olympics

committed to providing sport opportunities for children and adults with mental retardation, has been a major advocate in promoting competitive experiences for the mentally retarded. Few studies have focused on the effects of participation in competitive athletics on individuals who are mentally retarded. The purpose of this study was to investigate the selfconcept of winners, nonwinners, and losers after participation in a Special Olympics competitive meet. The study also examined the attitude of mentally retarded participants toward competition and the perceived importance of competing in the event. The subjects for this investigation were participants from the Texas Special Olympics State Swimming Meet. The study included 95 males and 5