[Last modified: October, 18 2024 02:10 PM]
My methodology was multifaceted in its approach; through reading autobiography, one-on-one conversations, and autoethnographic field notes, I was able to form a preliminary understanding of the body as material in the realm of explicitly competitive realms, particularly from the point of transition colloquially described as “rock bottom” — the point at which my participants decided to detach themselves from figure skating competitively.
Similarities emerged between four participants that I engaged with, including the visceral sense of attempts to detach from the corporeal challenges (disordered eating, objectification, ostracization from/integration into various outgroups, family enmeshment) related to the competitive figure skating world.
“I was described as a world-beater one day and a fat cow the next. The truth is, I didn’t lose my shape; my family was what was coming apart. I was just so fucking sad about it. It was a totally normal reaction to what was going on, but in figure skating there’s no room for anything but those happy, happy faces” (Participant A).
My awareness was drawn to privilege regarding class and bodily ability, among my small selection of participants, each detailed their ability to gain skills that placed them as viable competitors because of their parental investment via means of finances and time.
Similarly, the inability to keep up with redefinitions of success and the skills necessary to stand on podiums led to the denigration of the body of each of the participants.
“I must give the Russians respect for one thing: they don’t pretend their athletes are anything but cogs in a machine. They may be brutally obvious about it, but at least everyone is clear what the priorities are: medals over the health and well-being of their athletes. U.S. Figure Skating officials wanted us to believe that we’re one big caring family when their actions with me over the years suggested the relationship was much more transactional. I make them look good, they’ll make me look good” (Participant A).
“Sport has become a leading edge of the permeation of new technologies into the human body, with associated social and ethical dilemmas. The question is whether we are heading toward “transhuman athletes” who have exceeded the bounds of normal human capabilities” (Besnier and Brownell 2012:72)
I would continue conversations past this point, but my observations only lasted so long due to the nature of available time. I question whether there is a “post-transition” point that any participants would be able to speak on, as all of my constituents are still involved in the sport in some way, whether as a choreographer, coach, or recreational participant.