Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Journalism (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Journalism

Advisor/Mentor

Foley, Larry D.

Committee Member

Cleveland, Todd

Second Committee Member

Starling-Ledbetter, Robyn

Keywords

Athletic Identity; Athletics; Documentary; Identity Loss; Journalism; Professional Athletes

Abstract

From a very young age, athletically gifted individuals are encouraged to pursue their sport. This can lead to a strong maturity in an athletic sense, yet it comes at the expense of other areas of development. The early commitments to sport require the individual to make sacrifices that allow them to gain competency over others, as a result, additional values and identifying characteristics get pushed aside. Further, athletes are known for performing in the spotlight. Every game has an audience and one team ends up a winner, the other a loser. Typically, the athletes experience the highs of victory and the lows of losing to the fullest extent. This means the individual learns to measure worth through physical production (points scored, games won, plays made, etc.). When an athlete reaches the end of their career, what does this transition out of sport look like? What effect does it have on the individual in terms or mental and emotional toll? How tightly woven is athleticism to the individual’s identity and what role does it play in their perspective as a person?

Through three interviews with former professional athletes, this project explores the topic of athletic identity creation and loss. This 40-minute documentary shares the story of the three athlete's introduction to athletics, adolescence with the sport through high school, the collegiate experience as well as the professional experience, and finally the transition out of sport into retirement. In conclusion, this research project aims to better understand when and how athletic identity is created, which factors reinforce the athlete’s motivations and finally what helps an athlete transition out of their sport in a positive way.

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