This book lifts the lid on the high pressured, complex world of women s artistic gymnastics. By adopting a socio-cultural lens incorporating historical, sociological and psychological perspectives, it takes the reader through the story and workings of women s artistic gymnastics.
Beginning with its early history as a feminine appropriate sport, the book follows the sport through its transition to a modern sports form. Including global cases and innovative narrative methods, it explores the way gymnasts have experienced its intense challenges, the complexities of the coach-athlete relationship, and how others involved in the sport, such as parents and medical personnel, have contributed to the reproduction of a highly demanding and potentially abusive sporting culture.
With the focus on a unique women s sport, the book is an important read for researchers and students studying sport sociology, sport coaching, and physical education, but it is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in the development of sporting talent.
Beginning with its early history as a feminine appropriate sport, the book follows the sport through its transition to a modern sports form. Including global cases and innovative narrative methods, it explores the way gymnasts have experienced its intense challenges, the complexities of the coach-athlete relationship, and how others involved in the sport, such as parents and medical personnel, have contributed to the reproduction of a highly demanding and potentially abusive sporting culture.
With the focus on a unique women s sport, the book is an important read for researchers and students studying sport sociology, sport coaching, and physical education, but it is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in the development of sporting talent.
"Women's Artistic Gymnastics is a valuable contribution to the study of female sport
in general and gymnastics in particular. Its fourteen original scholarly essays-plus an
introduction and a conclusion-cover a broad spectrum of historical, sociological, psychological,
medical, and media-related issues from several theoretical and methodological
perspectives and, hence, enriches our understanding of a complex sport."-- Olaf Stieglitz, University of Leipzig
in general and gymnastics in particular. Its fourteen original scholarly essays-plus an
introduction and a conclusion-cover a broad spectrum of historical, sociological, psychological,
medical, and media-related issues from several theoretical and methodological
perspectives and, hence, enriches our understanding of a complex sport."-- Olaf Stieglitz, University of Leipzig