Athlete

For other uses, seeAthlete (disambiguation).

"Sportsmen" redirects here. For other uses of the term, seeHuntersandFishermen.

Jim Thorpeat the1912 Summer Olympics

Anathleteis most commonly a person who competes in one or moresportsinvolvingphysical strength,speed, power, orendurance.Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically tosport of athleticscompetitors, i.e. includingtrack and fieldandmarathonrunners but excluding e.g.swimmers,footballersorbasketballplayers. However, in other contexts (mainly in theUnited States) it is used to refer to allathletics (physical culture)participants of any sport. For the latter definition, the wordsportspersonor the genderedsportsmanorsportswomanare also used. A third definition is also sometimes used, meaning anyone who isphysically fitregardless of whether or not they compete in a sport.

Athletes may beprofessionalsoramateurs.Most professional athletes have particularly well-developed physiques obtained by extensive physical training and strict exercise, accompanied by a strict dietary regimen.

Definitions

Runners, ceramics, S. IV a.C.

Athletes taking part in a race on a snowy park in the U.S.

The word "athlete" is aromanizationof theGreek:άθλητὴς,athlētēs,meaning one who participates in a contest; from ἄθλος,áthlosor ἄθλον,áthlon,meaning a contest or feat. The primary definition of "sportsman" according to Webster'sThird Unabridged Dictionary(1960) is, "a person who is active in sports: as (a): one who engages in the sports of the field and especially in hunting or fishing."

Physiology

Athletes involved in isotonic exercises have an increased mean left ventricular end-diastolic volume and are less likely to be depressed.Due to their strenuous physical activities, athletes are far more likely than the general population to visitmassagesalons and pay for services from massotherapists and masseurs.Athletes whose sport requires endurance more than strength usually have a lower calorie intake than other athletes.

"Athlete Genes"

While athleticism is largely influenced by environmental factors, it has been theorized that genetic expression may play a moderate role in an athlete's abilities as well.Exploring this claim,meta-analysesof studies regarding two specific genes,angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)gene andACTN3,concluded that certain variations in expression may have a moderate effect on athletic performance; the former being more prevalent in endurance-based events and the latter in power-based events.Further studies on these and other genetic polymorphisms linked to athletic performance were recommended.

Titles

See also:Athlete of the Year

"All-round athlete"

An "all-round athlete"is a person who competes in multiple sports at a professional level. Examples of people who played more than one sport professionally includeJim Thorpe,Lionel Conacher,Deion Sanders,Danny Ainge,Babe ZahariasandErin Phillips.Others includeRicky Williams,Bo JacksonandDamon Allen,each of whom was drafted both byMajor League Baseballand by professionalgridiron footballleagues such as theNFLand theCFL.Another female example isHeather Moyse,a multiple Winter Olympic gold medalist inbobsledand member of theWorld Rugby Hall of Famewho also represented Canada internationally intrack cyclingand competed atuniversity levelin basketball and track and field. Japanese athletes such asKazushi Sakuraba,Kazuyuki Fujita,Masakatsu FunakiandNaoya Ogawahave successfully performed inprofessional wrestlingand competed inmixed martial arts.

"World's Greatest Athlete"

The title of "World's Greatest Athlete"traditionally belongs to the world's top competitor in thedecathlon(males) andheptathlon(females) intrack and field.Thedecathlonconsists of 10 events:100 meters,long jump,shot put,high jump,400 meters,110 m hurdles,discus,pole vault,javelin,and1500 m.Theheptathlonconsists of seven events: the100 m hurdles,high jump,shot put,200 meters,long jump,javelin,and800 meters.These competitions require an athlete to possess the whole spectrum of athletic ability in order to be successful, including speed, strength, coordination, jumping ability, and endurance.

Although the title "World's GreatestAthlete"seems a natural fit for these two events, its traditional association with the decathlon/heptathlon officially began withJim Thorpe.During the 1912Olympicsin Stockholm, Sweden, Thorpe won the gold medal in theDecathlon(among others). Thorpe competed professionally inbaseball,American football,andbasketball;and competed collegiately intrack and field,baseball,lacrosse,and didballroom dancing.KingGustav V of Sweden,while awarding Thorpe the decathlon gold, said: "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world."This title has been associated with the decathlon event ever since.

See also

• Athletics
• Sportswear (activewear)
• Outdoor enthusiast
• Jock (athlete)
• Athlete of the Year
• Women's sports
• Olympic Gamesathletes are also known as 'Olympians'