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Discipline, Transcendence and Bodily Fluids

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Extreme Sports, Extreme Bodies

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on the physical expressions and intensity embodiment that occur in the Ironman triathlon. More specifically, the chapter investigates the transformational bodily experiences taking place during Ironman competitions. Theoretically, it focuses on how triathletes’ bodies progress from a disciplined ethos, via the abject and animal body, to the sacred body. The results show that in the process of disciplining the body the athletes re-conceptualized feelings of pain, nausea and even disgust, making these emotionally expressive aspects of the corpus into a part of the experience and bending them towards the pleasure of reaching potential divinity. Situated in a long tradition of philosophical and sociological explorations of the transgressing and transcending body, the chapter interprets and understands the performing body as a site for change and utopian possibilities. Thus, the chapter adds to existing debates on contemporary individuals’ exploration of the existential and corporeal dimensions of modernity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden

    Jesper Andreasson

  2. University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Thomas Johansson

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  1. Jesper Andreasson
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  2. Thomas Johansson
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Correspondence to Jesper Andreasson .

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Andreasson, J., Johansson, T. (2019). Discipline, Transcendence and Bodily Fluids. In: Extreme Sports, Extreme Bodies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97238-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97238-1_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97237-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97238-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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