Athletic identity and self-ageing: the dilemma of exclusivity

Results and conclusions: The analysis suggested that for this population, (a) a strong, exclusive athletic identity might act as an Achilles heel when imagining the future ageing body-self, (b) that this may be further reinforced by an absence of fulfilling relationships with older adults who are considered by the individual as positive role models for later life. Finally (c), that young athletes with a strong sense of physical self-worth displayed positive attitudes towards self-ageing. This may be because such individuals consider their physical selves to act as a protective mechanism in terms of maintaining functional ability in the future. The implications of these findings are considered in relation to narrative maps of ageing and for future research into athletes, bodies, identities and the process of growing up and growing old.