“I am strong, I am fast, I am powerful”: a creative art-based application of body self-compassion with racialised young women athletes in Canada

Body image is a multidimensional construct that influences body-related self-attitudes and self-perceptions. Racialised (i.e. persons of colour) young women athletes have unique body-related experiences that may impact their body perceptions in sport. Body self-compassion, a kind and non-judgemental way of approaching one’s body experiences, appears relevant for racialised young women in sports. The purpose of this narrative study was to explore an art-based application of body self-compassion with racialised young women athletes. Seven racialised young women athletes (Mage = 15.14 years, SD = 2.12) participating in a variety of sports engaged in focus group discussions and body mapping. A dialogical narrative analysis was conducted, and three narrative themes were generated: (a) Between worlds: Compassionate accounts of the racialised body; (b) The Importance of others in Compassionate Support; and (c) Faith and culture in sport: A journey of belonging and meaning. To communicate the findings in a way that engages readers and deepens understanding of the athletes’ lived experiences, creative non-fiction was used. The findings are represented through five portrait vignettes and reveal that body self-compassion can foster a focus on function (i.e. what the body can do versus its appearance), particularly for athletes navigating the intricate intersections of race, culture, and religion. This study contributes to the evolving discourse on the sport experiences of racialised young women athletes, advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate approach that honours the complex intersections of their identities.