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Research on body image has repeatedly shown that elite athletes are at higher risk for body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Competitive athletes in leanness-focused sports, such as rock climbing, have proven to be at an even greater risk. This study explored the experiences of ten rock climbers, between the age of 19 and 46, through semi-structured interviews to better understand how body image is experienced within the sport of rock climbing. In discussing body image, rock climbers identified four main themes: (1) climbing experiences, (2) health andfitness, (3) climbing body culture, and (4) body image and self-esteem. Results from this study provide a more complete picture of the body standards within rock climbing and its impact on participants within the sport. The implications of these findings will be discussed.
Competitive athletes are believed to be an "at risk" population for body image disturbance and disordered eating due to the emphasis and pressure on performance, weight standards, and body shape ideals from coaches, judges, and teammates (Bönci et al., 2008; de Bruin, Bakker & Oudejans, 2008; de Bruin, Oudejans, Bakker & Woertman, 2011: de Bruin, Woertman, Bakker & Oudejans, 2008; Gaines & Burnett, 2014; Hausenblas & Downs, 2001; Kong & Harris, 2015; Schíföl, Schíföl, Dötscht, Dörr & Jüngert, 2011; Ziegler et al, 1998). In particular, research on a variety of sports (i.e., gymnastics, dancing and figure skating and endurance sports) has illustrated how athletes that are involved in leanness focused sports (i.e., those that perceive performance to be linked to body weight; those that have specific weight-class requirements; or those that judge based on appearance) are believed to be at a higher risk for disordered eating and eating disorders (Gaines & Burnett, 2014). More specifically, elite athletes from aesthetic sports such as gymnasts, dancers, and figure skaters experience specific and unique factors influencing their body image such as the perception of improved performance with an increased lean body mass and reduced fat mass sport specific body culture, and perceptions of the aesthetic ideal within the sport (Sundgot-Borgen & Tortsveit, 2004,2010) leading to heavy training (Sundgot-Borgen & Tortsveit, 2004, 2010), disordered eating patterns extreme dieting and dietary restrictions (Kong & Harris, 2015; Sundgot-Borgen & Tortsveit, 2004, 2010).
Rock climbing is a sport in which leanness and...