Shannan McCready, Volleyball Athlete

I interviewed my volleyball teammate, Shannan McCready about her body image and how being an athlete has affected her perspective on it. I thought she would be a good interviewee to get the perspective from a hard-working athlete who has a big passion for volleyball.

Shannan McCready, setter and defensive specialist for the ASU women’s volleyball team talks about her perspective on how body image plays a role in her life while being a high level athlete. This little Hawaiian, coming from a place where she was very average in height in her volleyball teams and everyday life, comes to a place where all of a sudden she is considered very short. Having the stereotypical height ideal in mind, McCready knew what she would be surrounded by. She has a positive and focused mindset that she plays the sport of volleyball for the simple reason of passion.

“I have a big passion for sports, I really like that it keeps me fit without having to go work out on my own. It’s a commitment to something I love, and has the bonus of being physically healthy.” – Shannan McCready

Growing up being nothing but skin and bones to gaining muscle mass and definition, Shannan has become more content with her body knowing that she has come to maintain a fit, athletic build which works well for her passion. “Because an athlete’s body is the key to success and performance it is not uncommon with the idea of making it ‘perfect’.” (Kendrin Sonneville, 2012). 

McCready stated that the perfect and ideal image that is portrayed for a women is unrealistic, “not everyone is going to be as tall or as skinny… everyone is beautiful in their own way and it shouldn’t be judged on this unrealistic portrayal of what they should look like. I think the idea that there is a “perfect” body to have is wrong because there can’t be just one picture of perfection. In different cultures and perspectives the perfect body can be completely different than the next.”

From the perspective of an athlete, it is much more important to maintain a healthy and fit body type that will help boost performance levels than to maintain an image of what society calls perfect. Too much muscle in places it shouldn’t be or having a little too much definition in the arms that make a female athlete look “bulky” just represent the body image of an athlete. This image could be that perfection that a coach or trainer is looking for, and therefore it is perfect for the person. Shannan is a hard-worker and passionate athlete who is seen as having a great physicality for herself and for those guiding her along her athletic path.

Whitney Follette

http://volleyballmag.com/articles/38-a-healthy-balance-sports-and-body-image