Abstract: Depending on word frequency analysis, co-word analysis, social network analysis and scientific knowledge mapping, the paper selects three authoritative integrated sports science journals to summarize the characteristics in sports science research of China, U.S. and UK. It also compares the journals in terms of their research objectives, fields, approaches and methods. Finally, the paper provides references for the development of sports science—we need to pay attention to solving the practical problems of China's sports by means of empirical and microcosmic research, enhance public sports and physical activities of children and young people, promote the balanced development of interdisciplinary research, diversify research methods and improve the quality of researches.

Key words: Scientific knowledge mapping, China, the United States, UK, sports science, new advances