<p>Elite athletes in artistic sports face distinct psychosocial challenges shaped by both individual and environmental factors, which impact their development and long-term success. Unlike non-artistic sports, artistic disciplines require a unique blend of physical, psychological, and social skills, complicating talent development. While previous research has addressed the individual psychological impacts in specific artistic sports, there is a limited focus on the interactions between athletes, coaches, and parents. This study explores the psychosocial hurdles elite artistic athletes face, particularly within the athlete-coach-parent triad in the context of Chinese rhythmic gymnastics, artistic swimming, and figure skating. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 51 participants (25 athletes, 20 parents, and 6 coaches). All were from teams/clubs competing nationally or internationally in China, specifically in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, and Figure Skating. We employed reflective thematic analysis to identify and interpret the barriers, difficulties, and challenges faced by the athletes. The study found that barriers like body aesthetics pressure, gender stereotypes, maltreatment, and limited cultural recognition created significant obstacles. Difficulties like managing injuries, balancing multiple commitments, and maintaining team cohesion were common. Moreover, challenges such as physical and psychological transitions, subjective judgment, and career uncertainty require resilience and adaptability. The findings emphasise the need for a more sustainable and supportive developmental environment for athletes in artistic sports, highlighting existing hurdles including cultural recognition, financial investment, psychological support, and collaboration across various disciplines.</p>