Constructing and contesting the (post-) national sporting hero: Media, money, mobility and Marie-José Pérec

Abstract

In terms of media coverage and sporting achievement, Marie-José Pérec dominated French athletics over the course of the 1990s. Pérec’s performances on and off the track produced a vast corpus of written and audiovisual material that illuminates abiding themes in French public discourse during this period, in particular attitudes towards money, fears regarding American-led globalisation, and the role of the media in society. As triple Olympic and double World champion, Pérec is enshrined among the pantheon of contemporary national heroes. Through the example of Pérec, this article investigates the construction of sporting heroes in contemporary France, shedding light on the multiple meanings that were associated with the athlete throughout her career and discussing in particular how her physical appearance, material wealth and mobility were implicated in this process.