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Stodden

Chase Stodden

Professor Agosta

UWRT 1102

4/19/2016

Athletic Identit

S!orts ha"e had a #a$or i#!act in the %orld that %e &no% toda ' It has (ro)ght !eo!le

together* it has #ade co)ntries stronger* and #ost i#!ortantl has gi"en !eo!le a sense of self*

(e it a fan identif ing %ith their fa"orite s!orts tea# or an athlete identif ing %ith their s!ort'

While (oth of these gi"e !eo!le a sense of self and are a !art %ho the #a (e* an athlete

identif ing %ith their s!ort is a stronger relationshi!* so to s!ea&+ this is called athletic identit '

The a#o)nt an athlete identifies %ith their athletic identit "aries fro# one !erson to another*

and also !la s a &e role in %hat &ind of an athlete the %ill (eco#e'

Athletic identit can (e defined as the degree to %hich an indi"id)al identifies %ith the

athlete role and loo&s to others for ac&no%ledge#ent of that role ,-re%er* .an Raalte* inder*

199 ' Athletic identit is not so#ething that one is si#!l (orn %ith* ()t is an identit that is

o(tained thro)gh the !artici!ation in s!orts and* according to the article 3Athletic Identit (

Pottrat5* 3athletic identit is de"elo!ed thro)gh ac )isition of s&ills* confidence* and social

interaction d)ring a s!ort' All athletes ha"e an athletic identit * ()t not all athlete7s identities are

the sa#e' This is (eca)se e"er athlete identifies %ith the s!ort the !la to a different degree' If

an athlete identifies %ith their athletic identit to a higher degree* in the o!inion of S #es in her

!iece called 3Understanding Athletic Identit 8 Who A# I * that athlete %ill ha"e a stronger

athletic identit and (eco#e #ore elite %hich leads to dedication to the s!ort and )lti#atel a

stronger co#!etitor'

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enhancing dr)gs is si#!l fa&e and not earned+ #a&ing #e* and I ho!e others* )estion s)ch an

athlete7s athletic identit '

Retire#ent is a (ig ordeal for e"er athlete and* descri(ed ( Pottrat5* 3is so#ething that

cannot (e esca!ed' =o athlete %ants to face retire#ent* ()t* of co)rse* no one can co#!ete

fore"er* altho)gh #an ha"e tried' All athletes deal %ith retire#ent fro# s!orts differentl * and

ho% hard retire#ent is on an athlete is case ( case' While so#e #a ass)#e that all athletes

%ith a high athletic identit ta&e retire#ent #ore se"erel * this is not al%a s tr)e' In !rofessional

s!orts toda * #ore and #ore elite athletes are retiring earl * in fear of in$)r and long ter# health

effects that can co#e %ith co#!eting at s)ch a high le"el' The fear of retire#ent a!!ears to (e)lti#atel the fear of losing one7s identit ' So#e athletes do not &no% %ho the are %itho)t

s!orts (eca)se so #)ch of their life has re"ol"ed aro)nd s!orts since the %ere a s#all child'

Pottrat5 states that 3it co)ld (e diffic)lt to ad$)st to a life %itho)t their s!ort (eca)se the lac&

other so)rces of self>%orth' In an inter"ie% I cond)cted on ?7


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identit relies on the athlete* %hether that #eans ho% #)ch one identifies %ith athletics* ho%

one deals %ith the res!onsi(ilit of identif ing highl %ith athletics* or ho% an athlete chooses to

handle retire#ent fro# co#!etition'

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Wor&s Cited

oc&hart* -ar(ara 1' We(' 01 A!ril2016'

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