The Silent Struggle of Student-Athletes
In the world of college athletics, where strength, agility, and skill are celebrated, there exists a silent struggle that often goes unnoticed: the battle with body image. Student-athletes are seen as the epitome of physical fitness — always in shape and always prepared to do whatever it takes to win. Behind the blood, sweat, and tears that student-athletes pour into their livelihood lies pressures that impact their body images.
In many sports, there is a stereotypical body that is deemed ideal. Whether it’s the lean physique of a cross-country runner or the muscular build of a football player, athletes feel the need to mold their bodies to fit these standards — so much so that they sacrifice their own well-being.
Rebecca Sullivan, a senior on the women’s soccer team at the State University of New Paltz, struggles with her body image. “I’m a defender so there’s more emphasis on being bigger and stronger than my opponents and even my teammates…Being bigger and stronger as an athlete is ideal but being bigger and stronger as a woman isn’t ideal,” says Sullivan.
Sullivan’s been playing soccer since she was six years old. Not only has she quite literally put her body on the line for the sport, but she’s given her entire life to soccer. For Sullivan, the toughest part of her soccer career is after graduation.
“The transition from playing nearly every day for the past four years to not playing at all is what scares me the most…For four years, I’ve been told what to eat, when to eat, how to take care of my body. I’ve been so accustomed to this life that I’m not sure how to do it on my own,” says Sullivan.
Every aspect of an athlete’s physique is under constant evaluation, whether by coaches, teammates, or onlookers. This constant scrutiny has the ability to create a toxic environment in which athletes strive for perfection, regardless of the toll it takes on their mental and physical health.
As athletes like Sullivan walk away from these pressures, collegiate athletics welcome their next recruits in the upcoming months. Brett Donofrio, a graduate of Vassar College and former player on the men’s soccer team, speaks on his experience transitioning from a high school athlete to a college athlete.
For Donofrio, the transition from high school to college was the toughest part of his soccer career. The abrupt shift in competition shattered Donofrio’s confidence. As he strived to prove himself in the new environment, concerns about his appearance became magnified.
“I’m 5’6 on a good day and was 118 pounds my freshman and sophomore year. I had to overeat to be healthy enough to play,” says Donofrio.
Not only was Donofrio fighting for a spot on the starting lineup, but he was constantly comparing himself to others on the team. Donofrio felt his height and weight made him an inadequate player.
Donofrio is not the only student-athlete who struggles with body image. As athletes like Donofrio and Sullivan transition to the next stages in life, they find comfort in knowing that body image is an uphill battle that everyone faces at one point in their life.
