A study investigated sex based differences among intercollegiate athletes for the variables: motive to succeed (Ms), motive to avoid failure (Maf), and fear of success (FOS). Actual athletic competitions were used as target situations to elicit feelings of Ms, Maf, and FOS within each athlete. Mehrabian's scale of achieving tendencies, Martens' Sport Competition Anxiety Test, and Pappo's Fear of Success Inventory were used to assess Ms, Maf, and FOS respectively one week prior to the targeted competition. An anxiety inventory, Illinois Self Evaluation Questionnaire, was used to assess Maf immediately prior to actual competition. A total of 121 NCAA division I and II swimmers (males=55; females=66) were tested during the 1982-83 swimming season. It was hypothesized that males would evidence higher levels of Ms than females while females would evidence higher levels of Maf and FOS than would males. Statistical analysis revealed elevated levels of Ms and average to low levels of Maf and FOS for athletes in this study. Comparison of males to females did not reveal significant differences on the criterion variables. This study supports the contention that females who train for competition, and compete against other females, rather than against males, do not evidence increased levels of FOS. (Author/JMK)