TRAVMA

High-performance sport fascinates through perfection, dedication, and the immense strength athletes bring to it. Behind these achievements, however, lie enormous physical and psychological challenges. To reach peak performance, athletes are exposed to intensive and often extreme training methods that can be not only demanding but also problematic. From the beginning of my studies, I knew I wanted to examine the problematic structures behind the scenes of elite sport. In my final thesis, I address the pressures and emotional experiences within high-performance sport, including cases of abuse involving athletes. For the practical part of my work, I traveled to Kazakhstan for six weeks to photograph young gymnasts. The documentary series shows emotionally and physically striking moments such as exhaustion and pain, making problematic structures in elite sport visible. Drawing on my own experiences and the experiences of a former gymnast who was exposed to psychological and physical pressure, I continued the work after my return with portraits that depict the long-term effects and injuries caused by elite sport.