Foreword

In Their Own Words, Sport Social Work Journal Special Issue

Abstract

Sport has the power to inspire, challenge, and bring people together, but behind the headlines and statistics are real athletes with experiences that are often overlooked or misunderstood. “In Their Own Words” gives these athletes a platform to share their stories directly with coaches, administrators, social workers, trainers, and others who influence the world of sport.

This special issue focuses on the voices of current and former athletes, inviting them to share personal letters and narratives that highlight their realities. Through these stories, we explore how factors like race, gender, class, sexuality, and other intersecting identities shape their experiences in sport. Athletes often face pressures and challenges that are invisible to those outside the field, and these contributions bring those experiences to light in their own words.