Reclaiming movement: decolonial lived experiences in a gymnastics team in Amazonas-Brazil’

This study critically examines gymnastics through a decolonial lens by exploring the lived experiences of gymnasts engaged in a choreographic composition process using a student-centred approach. Supported by Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological tenets, which prioritize the role of corporeality in shaping subjective perception, the study involved 19 participants from university-based gymnastics for all (GfA) team in Amazonas (Brazil) engaging with an Amazonian cultural theme. Data were collected using Focus Groups (n = 10) before and after the composition, participant observation (10 months), and in-depth interviews incorporating visual methods (n = 19). Phenomenological analysis was employed to analyze the triangulated data. Participants initially viewed popular culture as external or even shameful, revealing the persistence of colonial influences on their understanding of gymnastics aesthetics. Student-centered learning emerged as a key tool for advancing decolonial practice, especially when life stories, local culture, and everyday experiences were integrated into gymnastic intent. The study suggests that sport can resist colonial structures and promote inclusivity when participants are actively engaged in shaping decolonial strategies. Ultimately, the research highlights the importance of fostering interpretations of the Amazon by its own people to reclaim history and counter Eurocentrism.