“You’ve branded yourself like a cow and shifted yourself into a different class”: Tattoos as symbols of liminality in the process of becoming an Ironman
International Review for the Sociology of Sport
Published online on January 19, 2026
Abstract
International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Ahead of Print.
This study examines the role of the Ironman tattoo as a symbol of liminality, status, and communal belonging within the Ironman community. Drawing on Victor Turner's framework of liminality and communitas, the research explores how athletes transition ...
This study examines the role of the Ironman tattoo as a symbol of liminality, status, and communal belonging within the Ironman community. Drawing on Victor Turner's framework of liminality and communitas, the research explores how athletes transition ...