In their roles of reality mediator and expert interpreter, sport journalists invoke the term “instinct” to explain successful athletic performances. This study of journalistic uses of instinct (N = 41) identifies three elements–ability, experience, and cognition–which comprise instinct. Theoretically, instinct is a journalistic attribution of stable, internally‐located success, the elements of which can be combined into a value‐added sequence. Insights from symbolic interactionism enhance understanding instinct in relationship to the broader, cultural significance of Ame