Pretending to Be an Athlete in the Context of Creating a New Identity: A Phenomenological Study

The present study aimed to identify and examine the objectives behind constructing a new identity within the context of Pseudo-athlete. To achieve this, the research adopted a constructivist paradigm and employed a phenomenological approach. The statistical population consisted of all individuals who were engaged in sports activities within fitness clubs across the city of Tabriz and met specific inclusion criteria. Given the large number of potential participants, a combination of cluster and purposive sampling methods was used. Accordingly, the city of Tabriz was divided into five regions, and participants were selected from each of these areas. The primary data collection tool was in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with eligible participants. After conducting 37 interviews, data saturation was achieved. All interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis method. Following extensive analysis by the research team, comprehensive findings were obtained regarding sport performativity in the context of identity reconstruction. The results revealed four main categories—lived experiences and motivations, individual, social, and cultural factors, identity reconstruction strategies, and opportunities and challenges—each encompassing several subcategories. The findings indicated that the phenomenon of sport performativity is not merely a form of superficial display within the sports domain, but rather reflects individuals’ efforts to construct and redefine their personal and social identities in contemporary culture. Therefore, sport performativity represents a meaningful process of identity formation driven by the desire to be seen, to belong, and to reclaim one’s sense of self within a cultural arena.