Exploring Body Narratives

This paper attempts to encourage debate on the potential of narrative ways of knowing to enhance our understanding of the diverse ways in which body‐self relationships develop over time for physical education teachers and athletes. It begins by considering why narrative forms of understanding have become attractive in recent years and warns against any tendency to romanticize this approach. Next, a variety of ways in which narrative analyses of one form or another have been used lo generate insights into the embodied experiences of athletes and physical education teachers are outlined. The paper closes by posing a number of questions that it is hoped will stimulate further research into the narrative construction of body‐self relationships.