Research Article

Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Number: 49 June 11, 2026
TR EN

Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Abstract

Social media networks provide professional athletes with opportunities to present their personal image in various ways. Athletes present themselves on social media networks through visual and written elements. Among social media platforms where visual presentation is paramount, Instagram emerges as a more ideal medium for the performance of self-presentation compared to its counterparts. This study analyzes Instagram posts by female volleyball players from 12 countries participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics, in line with Goffman's theory of self-presentation, revealing how athletes construct their personal images on digital platforms. In this regard, three athletes with the most followers on Instagram from each of the 12 female volleyball teams were included, for a total of 38 athletes in the sample. The Instagram posts of 38 volleyball players were analyzed using content analysis from July 20 to August 18, 2024, covering the week before and the week after the tournament. The study found that athletes used Instagram to communicate directly with their followers during the tournament. The majority of photos shared by athletes are personal in nature and therefore reflect behind-the-scenes performance strategies according to self-presentation theory. It was also found that athletes promoted advertisements and sponsors, location sharing, and national aspects. These posts were presented in categories. These posts made by athletes are presented in categories in the research section.

Keywords

References

  1. Amore, K. (2023). Social media and society: An investigation of how female athletes use Instagram. [University honors thesis, Portland State University]. University Library Portland State University. https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.1360
  2. Arai, A., Ko, Y. J., & Kaplanidou, K. (2013). Athlete brand image: Scale development and model test. European Sport Management Quarterly, 13(4), 383–403. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2013.811609
  3. Arai, A., Ko, Y. J., & Ross, S. (2014). Branding athletes: Exploration and conceptualization of athlete brand image. Sport Management Review, 17(2), 97–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2013.04.003
  4. Aslan, A., & Ünlü, D. G. (2016). Instagram fenomenleri ve reklam ilişkisi: Instagram fenomenlerinin gözünden bir değerlendirme. [Instagram influencers and the relationship with advertising: An assessment from the perspective of Instagram influencers]. Maltepe Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(2), 41–65.
  5. Bae, W., Hahn, K., & Cho, M. (2023). Understanding the LPGA tour top six Korean golfers’ self-presentation on social media: A content analysis of Instagram posts. International Journal of Sport Communication, 16(2), 168–177. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2022-0180
  6. Bortree, D. S. (2005). Presentation of self on the Web: An ethnographic study of teenage girls' Web logs. Education, Communication & Information, 5, 25–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/14636310500061102
  7. Browning, B., & Sanderson, J. (2012). The positives and negatives of Twitter: Exploring how student-athletes use Twitter and respond to critical tweets. International Journal of Sport Communication, 5, 503–521. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.5.4.503
  8. Bulat, S. (2020). Ünlü kadınların Instagramda benlik sunumu: Hande Erçel, Hadise Açıkgöz, Şeyma Subaşı örneği. [Self-presentation of famous women on Instagram: Hande Erçel, Hadise Açıkgöz, Şeyma Subaşı example]. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergi –eJNM, 4(2), 144–156.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Social Media Applications and Analysis

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 11, 2026

Submission Date

May 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 49

APA
Sabahçı, B., & Baloğlu, E. (2026). Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 49, 367-385. https://doi.org/10.17829/turcom.1692176
AMA
1.Sabahçı B, Baloğlu E. Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. TURCOM. 2026;(49):367-385. doi:10.17829/turcom.1692176
Chicago
Sabahçı, Betül, and Enes Baloğlu. 2026. “Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics”. Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi, nos. 49: 367-85. https://doi.org/10.17829/turcom.1692176.
EndNote
Sabahçı B, Baloğlu E (June 1, 2026) Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi 49 367–385.
IEEE
[1]B. Sabahçı and E. Baloğlu, “Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics”, TURCOM, no. 49, pp. 367–385, June 2026, doi: 10.17829/turcom.1692176.
ISNAD
Sabahçı, Betül - Baloğlu, Enes. “Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics”. Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi. 49 (June 1, 2026): 367-385. https://doi.org/10.17829/turcom.1692176.
JAMA
1.Sabahçı B, Baloğlu E. Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. TURCOM. 2026;:367–385.
MLA
Sabahçı, Betül, and Enes Baloğlu. “Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics”. Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi, no. 49, June 2026, pp. 367-85, doi:10.17829/turcom.1692176.
Vancouver
1.Betül Sabahçı, Enes Baloğlu. Self-Presentation of Female Volleyball Athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. TURCOM. 2026 Jun. 1;(49):367-85. doi:10.17829/turcom.1692176

All articles published in the Turkish Review of Communication Studies are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.