‘Which barbell do you use now?' Exploring a transgender man’s embodiment through Olympic weightlifting

Abstract

The aim of this autoethnographic study was to extend sociological understanding regarding the embodied experiences of transgender men within sport. This is investigated through an immersive autoethnographic exploration of my own experience of individual sporting contexts (particularly Weightlifting clubs, private gyms) and embodiment as a transgender man undergoing medical transition (masculinisation/hormone replacement therapy). Data were generated via journalling–freewriting, mapping out timelines, written reflection on new/old experiences–across five months. Ahmed’s (2006) queer phenomenology was engaged with as an analytical framework for the data, discussing how my attempts to bracket my gender identity as it ‘disrupted’ my sporting participation were challenged throughout my ongoing participation. Future research may aim to continue the use of evocative data generation such as autoethnography to accelerate meaningful discussions regarding the potential for transgender and queer inclusion within sporting contexts.