Identity and Swimming

Abstract

Brown (1985), Hastings et al. (1989) and more recently Stevenson (2002) have looked into the subculture of swimming and attempted gain understanding as to what affects an individual’s agency to participate and withdraw or retire from the sport. Data from interviews with three university aged, retired swimmers and self narratives written by the author, illustrate the difficulties swimmer’s experience in terms their identity construction and transformation throughout their careers, from socialisation through to retirement. The transition from swimmer to 'ex-swimmer' is problematic in terms of the individual’s identity perception and their capacity for multiple identities (Coakley, 1993) and this becomes apparent within the context of a university setting.