Biographie und Leistungssport

Competitive sports enjoy great popularity in our society and hold significant identification value for athletes. Growing up in competitive sports has a tremendous impact on the overall biographical development of young athletes. Against this backdrop, and based on the reconstruction of the biography of a girl from rhythmic gymnastics, the author Sven Brademann explores how biography is socially organized through competitive sports. A concept of competitive sports as a socialization instance is developed, which expands the common view of competitive sports. In this context, competitive sports are described in their inhibiting and promoting effects on biographical phases, the relationship between family, school, and sports, as well as identity processes. An overview of the societal framing of competitive sports and the current state of empirical research on the topic is provided and discussed. For educators, coaches, supervisors, and sports and social scientists, the book offers an interesting biographical narrative and its interpretation from the perspective of a young competitive athlete.