Conceptual Characteristics, Practical Challenges, and Optimization Strategies for Family-Based Cultivation Model of Elite Competitive Sports Talents in China

The family-based cultivation model serves as a critical pillar within China’s diversified system for nurturing elite competitive sports talents. By multi-case study grounded in the analytical framework of “elements-pathways-outcomes,” this study examines the developmental trajectories of three athletes, Zheng Qinwen, Su Yiming, and Feng Shanshan, to elucidate the theoretical underpinnings, practical challenges, and optimization pathways of family-driven talent development. Findings reveal that China’s family-based cultivation model is characterized by autonomy in decision-making, personalized training approaches, and holistic developmental priorities. Nevertheless, systemic barriers persist, including institutional constraints, unsustainable financial burdens, entrenchment of traditional beliefs, scarcity of high-quality resources, and unresolved tensions between academic pursuits and athletic training. To address these challenges, the study proposes that efforts focus on enhancing policy support to reduce financial strain, fostering educational mindset shifts, optimizing resource allocation, and integrating flexible academic-training frameworks. These measures aim to advance the innovation of family-based models in China’s elite competitive sports talents cultivation.