Sport as space of identity construction. A case study about Vanessa Ferrari

Abstract

The theme of athletic identity has been extensively explored in psychological literature,
which has shown particular interest in the variables that contribute to the construction
and reconstruction of the self when moving from elite sport to other contexts of life and
experience. However, this theme has been less explored in pedagogy. If the shift from
such an intense emotional-affective experience context, such as elite sport, to other
contexts of life, such as work and adult life, can be a moment of crisis for the individual,
then pedagogy is called upon to reflect on how it is possible to support the effective
reshaping of an identity and which strategies to use. Through the case study of Vanessa
Ferrari, the undisputed queen of Italian artistic gymnastics who has recently returned to
prominence in international competitions, the aim of this qualitative study is to
highlight the importance assumed by athletic identity in the meaning of individual and
sporting biographies.