Vulnerability as a Condition of Athletic Embodiment
The article delves into the concept of the vulnerability of the athlete's body. Rather than being understood as a deficit of strength or an external limit to athletic achievement, vulnerability is considered a condition in which bodily capability is formed. It is a state in which the body can learn and coordinate movement, exceeding its habitual level precisely because it is open to influence, changes over time and depends on others. The methodological framework combines the phenomenology of embodiment, a relational ontology of the body, philosophical anthropology and the critical sociology of sport. Three interconnected dimensions of vulnerability are identified: the relational dimension, through which capability is formed by interacting with the environment and other people; the temporal dimension, based on the irreversibility of bodily history; and the normative dimension, which occurs when institutional support for athletes becomes a source of pressure. Pain is interpreted as a crisis of practical trust in the body, while mortal risk marks the limit of an instrumental relationship with embodiment. The article argues that humane sport should not seek to eliminate vulnerability, but rather create conditions that allow for informed decision-making and the genuine possibility of refusal without disproportionate sanctions. It should also preserve an athlete's dignity, regardless of their performance.
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