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When a high-level athlete changes their nationality, it involves legal norms and social issues. In a “natio-centered” approach to international sports, how can an athlete “represent a country” from which they do not originate? To understand the issues and the framework of “sports nationality” changes, this article explores the content and semantics of regulations enacted by the international sports federations. The results highlight the plurality of criteria for international sports representation. The link between usual practices and legal norms regarding athletes’ “sports nationality” changes seems rather limited.