Reclaim Pride and Dignity within Neoliberal and Olympic Ideals: An Analysis of Olympic Refugee Athletes' Self-Presentation on Instagram

Abstract

This study foregrounds the voices of Olympic refugee athletes by critically examining how they present themselves on Instagram. Using a mixed methods approach, this research analyzed 25 publicly accessible verified athlete accounts, including profile bios, captions, hashtags, emojis, images, and videos. The content analysis revealed that athletes predominantly identify as “Olympian” or “Athlete”. Moreover, their multidimensional and diverse narratives resist the alienation and perceived inferiority perpetuated by reductive media framings. The thematic analysis identified six key themes: (1) resilience and perseverance, (2) personal growth through sports and the Olympics, (3) representation, pride, and achievement, (4) support system and gratitude, (5) advocacy for social justice and peace, and (6) cultural identity and homeland attachment. Their online self-presentation reveals an intricate interplay where resistance to reductive media framings that flatten and isolate the “refugee” identity is both enabled and constrained by athletes’ privileged access to symbolic and institutional resources. By critically analyzing this interplay, this study advances understanding of how representation, resistance, and social advocacy intersect in the digital age. It acknowledges the potential of athletes’ social media to challenge legacy media framings and foster humanizing and nuanced perceptions of marginalized identities, while recognizing that these efforts remain shaped by systemic constraints.