From Print to Pixels: A Systematic Review of the Evolving Media Portrayal of Elite Athletes With Disabilities

This systematic review examines how scholarly literature has addressed the evolving media representation of elite athletes with disabilities, with particular attention to the shift from traditional to digital platforms and the rise of athlete self-representation. Drawing from 35 peer-reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2025, we analyse trends in media types, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches used to study Paralympic sport coverage. Our findings highlight a growing interest in multimodal and digital media, particularly social media platforms that enable athletes to challenge stereotypes and reshape narratives. While early research focused on visibility, gender disparity, and dominant media framings such as the “supercrip” trope, more recent work explores intersectionality, platform dynamics, and the participatory nature of self-representation.

Despite this progress, several limitations persist. The literature remains geographically imbalanced, heavily centered on English-speaking and European contexts. It also tends to prioritize short-term, event-based analyses, while overlooking the lived experiences of athletes across their careers. Moreover, underrepresentation of athletes from minority backgrounds and less-visible sports signals a lack of intersectional perspective. This review not only maps the evolution of research on disability sport media coverage but also identifies gaps and future directions. These include examining algorithmic influences, diversifying geographic and identity-based representation, and connecting athlete perspectives with audience reception. Ultimately, we argue for a more inclusive, critical, and athlete-centered research agenda that reflects the complex dynamics of disability and media in the digital age.