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Culturally accepted bodies within elite sporting cultures point to entrenched "slim-to-win" ideologies. Consequently, sporting insiders (e.g., coaches, team managers, athletes) perceive "slim" and "fatless" body shapes as a necessary means in order to achieve competitive performance. As such, body practices centring on a "slim-to-win" ideology are practiced through publicly conducted daily weigh-ins, regular skin fold tests, surveillance of athletes’ body shape and eating. As a means of attaining the ideal and culturally accepted shape, athletes’ health and well-being is being compromised within the context of the "slim-to-win" ideology. Indeed, many athletes are becoming injured as they attempt to conform their bodies to a shape which is perceived to enhance competitive performance. Within the present chapter, the focus is on the ways in which one sporting culture (i.e., swimming) has taken up the "slim-to-win" ideology and how, in response, athletes have come to engage with health risk culture (e.g., overdosing on laxative medication; taking illicit substances such as methamphetamines; throwing up after meals; risky medical intervention; overuse injuries). The ways in which long-term health and well-being of athletes is comprised in relation to these practices, in the name of competitive performance, are also of interest.

Item Type:	Research Book Chapter
Keywords:	swimming, injury, eating disorders, health risk
Research Division:	Human Society
Research Group:	Sociology
Research Field:	Sociology of culture
Objective Division:	Culture and Society
Objective Group:	Ethics
Objective Field:	Social ethics
UTAS Author:	McMahon, J (Dr Jennifer McMahon)
ID Code:	141840
Year Published:	2020
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2020-11-25
Last Modified:	2020-12-08
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