Sports-Based Identity Construction in the Late Modernity

In the absence of the traditional structures and authority, the actor of late modernity desperately tries to find guidance in order to orientate him/herself in the world. Because of its relativity, the actor has to withdraw into something more stable – his/her own body. Physical performance and one’s body can become the gauge of success. This ontological search for security can turn easily into an addictive and pathological coping strategy. The aim of this paper is to show and discuss the social reasons and the personal consequences of doing sports in the era of late modernity.