Abstract
On the basis of narrative structure, this exploratory work aims to distinguish the lived experience of a Portuguese sports hero and noted mountain climber, João Garcia. Using phenomenological analyses of biographical interviews lasting over 15 hr in total, the narrative of João Garcia, the Portuguese alpinist who summitted the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 m, is constructed. The analysis also includes the books written by Garcia himself in which he presents his “public” or “hero” self. This article focuses on João Garcia’s narrative of his life with an emphasis on his body–self experiences and his personal progression as a climber. Through the use of metaphors, the themes of the “one man show,” the transition to an alpine leader or captain and the body–self relationship are explored here, with a particular focus on Garcia’s desire to maximize his psychological and physical capacities in extreme and life-threatening conditions. The article concludes with some preliminary comments on the use of the narrative structure as a methodological tool.
Published Version
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