KaMana Community
Capable. Powerful. Enough.
“I wish I looked more like her.” Have you ever had this thought? Chances are, you have.
We’ve worked with thousands of athletes and have found that 90% want to change something about their bodies, and 90% compare themselves to others. If you’ve felt this way, you’re not alone. Athlete body image struggles are incredibly common.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t take action to improve your confidence and the way you feel about your body. Sport gives us a unique opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation for our bodies. It allows us to use them to do incredible things. Sport celebrates what our bodies can do. We hope this article helps you make a small but powerful shift in perspective, build body appreciation, and develop lasting confidence.
Why Athlete Body Image Matters More Than You Think
The Hidden Cost of Negative Body Image
Negative thoughts about your body might not always feel like a big deal. But they can impact you in more ways than you realise, especially in sport.
As an athlete, self-doubt and negative body image can reduce your confidence in your abilities, make you feel like you don’t fit in, and make it harder to focus at training because your thoughts take up valuable mental energy. This can escalate into restricting food intake, skipping training sessions, or, sadly, dropping out of sport altogether.
Social Media's Filtered Reality
One of the biggest contributors to body image struggles is comparison to what we see online. In sport, this comparison can feel even more intense. You might not only be comparing appearance, but performance too.
Please remember: what you’re seeing online is a highlight reel. When we constantly see people’s “best” photos, it can make us feel like we’re not good enough, fit enough, or strong enough. You are enough.
The images you see capture one second, in one pose, on one day. That is not what someone looks like all the time. Lighting, angles, posing, and editing all play a role. Try to remind yourself: social media is not the full story.
What Your Body Actually Does (And Why That's Everything)
Reframing Our Focus
“As a surf ironwoman, I used to feel insecure about how broad my shoulders were and that my arms were bigger than most girls’. I felt especially insecure when I went shopping for a cute dress or top and nothing fit properly because most clothing isn’t designed for swimmers’ shoulders.
However, I learned to reframe my thinking. Instead of feeling annoyed or ashamed, I would tell myself: ‘These shoulders allow me to swim 5km in the pool every morning. They allow me to punch through big waves in the surf and, most importantly, allow me to excel in the sport I love.’ Over time, I began to feel grateful for my shoulders.” - Lizzie
No matter what sport you play, some part of your body enables you to do it. Kick. Run. Throw. Lift. Dance. None of it happens without a capable, strong body. Find the parts of your body that allow you to do what you love, and practise feeling grateful for them.
Your Body Through the Seasons
It’s also important to understand that our bodies are meant to change. They change from childhood to adolescence, from adolescence to adulthood, and throughout every life stage. Bodies are not designed to look the same forever. For girls and women, puberty brings significant and completely normal changes. These shifts can sometimes feel uncomfortable or confusing.
Our bodies are designed to change, this is a normal and natural process. Try to be a little kinder to yourself along the way.
Building Athletes Confidence from the Inside Out
Self-Talk That Serves You
From here on, let’s try to change the narrative. When you catch yourself speaking negatively about your body, pause—and flip it into something you’re grateful for.
For example:
“My thighs are too big” becomes, “My legs are powerful enough to carry me through every race.
“My arms are bulky” becomes, “My arms help me lift, push, and compete at my best.”
If you’re struggling to find something body-specific, focus on gratitude in the moment:
“I’m grateful to be spending time with my friends.”
“I’m grateful to be outside moving my body.”
Practising positive self-talk daily can significantly improve your athlete's confidence and self-esteem.
Focus on What You Can Control
As athletes, there are so many other things you can look to improve rather than focusing on how you look. Putting your attention into:
Training hard and consistently
Fuelling well
Maximising recovery though sleep, fuel and downtime
Tracking progress and reaching short term goals
(There are so many!)
If you are looking to be the best athlete you can be, these things will make the difference.
Creating a Supportive Environment
A team culture that prioritises performance, wellbeing, and character over appearance can transform athletes confidence.
To help shift the focus away from looks, encourage your team to:
Encourage athletes to do a social media audit (link to blog 2)
Create space for girls to speak openly about their feelings
Promote positive role models where the focus is on resilience and performance, not aesthetics
Provide access to professional support resources
Compliment teammates on effort, skill, leadership, and work ethic, not their bodies
When Athlete Body Image Struggles Need Extra Support
Sometimes, body image struggles go beyond occasional self-doubt. It may be time to reach out for additional support if you notice:
Red flags:
Obsessive thoughts about weight, shape, or food
Restricting food or avoiding meals
Over-exercising beyond training requirements
Increased anxiety around training or competition
Withdrawing from teammates or social situations
Seeking support in these situations is important. Helpful professionals may include:
Sports psychologists
Accredited sports dietitians or nutritionists
Doctors
You can also find additional resources here: https://butterfly.org.au/
Your Power is Already There
Loving your body isn’t a destination you suddenly arrive at. It’s a practice. Some days it will feel easy. Other days it won’t. What matters is that you keep choosing respect over criticism, gratitude over comparison, and strength over self-doubt.
Confidence is not something you’re born with; it’s something you build. You can build confidence within yourself and your body.
Athlete body image is a topic that needs to be spoken about more. Our KaMana Community Body Confidence Workshop does exactly that. This is the resource we wish we had when we were younger. We are so proud that it is making a difference for this next generation.