Re-immersing into elite swimming culture: a meta-autoethnography by a former elite swimmer

This paper presents two meta-autoethnographies written by a former elite swimmer. In the first meta-autoethnography, the swimmer revealed doubts in relation to details, emotions and inner-thoughts that she had included in her historical autoethnographic work. As a means of sorting and pondering these tensions and uncertainties, the swimmer explored cultural re-immersion as a possible additional element in the meta-autoethnographic process. The second meta-autoethnography centres on the swimmer’s re-immersion into elite swimming culture. It was revealed how cultural re-immersion enabled the swimmer to better reflect on her historical autoethnographic work by providing a more conscientized, rational and reflexive voice. This research highlights how cultural re-immersion should be considered as an additional element in the meta-autoethnographic process as it benefits both the author and also audience.