Summer Lytle’s The (un)seen Self

For my self portrait, I had a teammate take a photo of me shooting the standing position for air rifle. I chose this because when I am shooting I feel most myself, and everything on my stand is a representation of who I am. Rifle athletes typically keep items on their stand that are tools or reminders. For me, everything from the squid fishing lure I braid when I need to focus my brain and recenter myself, to the lobster, Larry, that I keep from a high school vending machine is a reminder and representation of who I am. One of my most meaningful reminders on my stand is the yoga cat my teammate drew. For the last two years the phrase “You can always just decide you’re so back” has circulated through our team. This quote is always a great reminder every time I load my gun that I control my performance, not the other way around. Shooting has always been very meditative to me and I feel most myself when I am on the line.

About The (un)seen Self

Often, and especially on the highest stages, athletes’ bodies, performances, and stories are told by, and observed by, others. The (Un)Seen Self invites athletes to interrupt that pattern by sharing how you see themselves through a self-portrait that represents something about their experiences in sport. Their portrait can be literal, symbolic, or abstract. Through it, they are invited to explore and express how they see themselves and to share a short statement that explains the story, feeling, or idea behind the self-portrait