Reviewer ’s report  
Title: "I don't need a flat tummy; I just want to run fast" - Self-understanding and bodily identity 
of women in competitive and recreational sports"  
 
Version: 0 Date: 31 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Xiaoyan Iris Leng  
 
Reviewer's report:  
The authors conducted an interesting study to examine the difference between competitive and 
recreational sportswomen using qualitative methods. This should be of interest of the journal, 
however I felt the paper can be greatly improved. M y concerns are listed below:  
 
1. As I read through I get lost on what the authors were trying to convey. The authors need to be 
pay more attention on what were the purpose/goal of the study. It has been "re -define" 
several times in the text. Please make su re that your purpose of study, methods and results 
are consistent. I think the authors need to spend some time on this.  
2. In the session of "Background", the authors provided some irrelevant information, for 
example, "in contrast to how the United States organize... ", "They often lack financial 
support for the time... after end period with achievement". I think the background session 
can be more concise and to the point.  
3. The authors could pay more attention on providing some definitions of psychologica l terms 
such as, 'self', 'narcissism' which the authors talked lot in background and discussion, but 
they seem to have nothing to do with the methods and results.  
4. The authors should provide more information on the interview guide (page 7 line 1 -13). Aft er 
I read the manuscript, I have no idea what questions the participants were asked.  
5. Page 10, line 1. the authors mentioned eight questions, but where are they in the text???  
6. Page 10, line 6, the referred table 1 didn't seem being included in the pap er. 
7. Page 11, line 29, who is M5?  
8. Page 12 line 24, who is E3?  
9. The authors organized the results in three areas: Parental influence and socialisation; social 
settings and the with to be accepted; and the role of the self - the meaning of bodily 
appearance. It would be helpful to provided the corresponding interview questions for these 
areas in the methods session.  
10. The discussion is really repeating the results. And then the authors talked about narcissism.  
This seems disconnected from the purpose/goal, methods and results. I encourage the 
authors put some though ts to stitches difference pieces of the paper smoothly into the paper 
as a whole.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are re quired in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
addi tional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
Not relevant to this manuscript  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality  of language in the manuscript:  
Acceptable  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I  have no competing interests.  
 
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