**Beauty and the Beast: Perception of Beauty for the Female Athlete the Female Athlete**

**Beauty and the Beast: Perception of Beauty for** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.68946

Sharon K. Stoll, Heather VanMullem, Nicole Ballestero and Lisa Brown Nicole Ballestero and Lisa Brown Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Sharon K. Stoll, Heather VanMullem,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.68946

**Abstract**

This chapter is a discussion and reflection of how beauty is perceived through the lens of four different athletes over four different decades. Two basketball players, a gymnast and a skater, reflect on the language of their sport and how beauty is perceived and manipulated through language and coaching techniques. The experiences affect athletes over a lifetime, both positively and negatively.

**Keywords:** women, athletics, beauty
