The Framing of ‘Playing Through the Pain’ in the Media: An Investigation of Rafael Nadal During the 2022 French Open

Analgesic medication (i.e., painkillers) provides a legal method for athletes to compete through pain. Masking injury presents the risk of exacerbation as well potential organ damage, long-term musculoskeletal conditions, and dependence. The framing elite using could influence attitudes behaviors other sportspersons including junior recreational participants. This research explored tennis player Rafael Nadal’s anesthetic injections at 2022 French Open via content analysis 103 news articles. results revealed global lacked critical coverage, normalized competing under moral frames, valorized such behavior heroic courageous. Further, coverage can be classified into four types: individual experience, medical, physical status, policy. Identification frames related inform messaging promote safer practices concerning painkiller use.