This research investigated the sporting initiation of Brazilian sailors. Participated of the study 13 sailors of high level, participants of the Pré-Panamericano and Pré-Olympic of sail. The used instrument was a semi-structured interview. The results showed that the athletes had varied sport experiences during childhood, besides the own practice of the sailor. The initiation in the sail felt in most of the cases through the influence of the family, that were or still are sailors. The practice in the initiation was considered pleased for most of the sailor. Some told that they began early in the competitions, but that fact didn't seem to have harmed psychological in the sporting development of these along they career.
Sports; athletic performance; qualitative research; interview
