Slim Bodies, Eating Disorders and the Coach-Athlete Relationship

This study explores the experiences of a former elite swimmer, Anne (a pseudonym), whose career was interrupted and finally terminated by disordered eating. The work is grounded in the need to tell Anne’s story in relation to compliance within a culture of slenderness and norms, and the role of the coach within that culture. Using interpretive biography, the data illustrate how the creation of strong athletic identity led to a vulnerable sense of self, which, when disrupted, critically contributed to the development of an eating disorder. They also indicate how the prevailing discourse fed the disorder through ongoing surveillance and disciplining of the self. Finally, suggestions are made about drawing lessons from Anne’s story with regard to re-interpreting the traditional coach-athlete relationship.