An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance. Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors, i.e. including track and field and marathon runners but excluding e.g. swimmers, footballers or basketball players. However, in other contexts (mainly in the United States) it is used to refer to all athletics (physical culture) participants of any sport. For the latter definition, the word sportsperson or the gendered sportsman or sportswoman are also used. A third definition is also sometimes used, meaning anyone who is physically fit regardless of whether they compete in a sport.
Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-developed physiques obtained by extensive physical training and strict exercise, accompanied by a strict dietary regimen.
Definitions
The word "athlete" is a romanization of the Greek: άθλητὴς, athlētēs, meaning one who participates in a contest; from ἄθλος, áthlos or ἄθλον, áthlon, meaning a contest or feat. The primary definition of "sportsman" according to Webster's Third 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 visit massage salons 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-analyses of studies regarding two specific genes, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and ACTN3, 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
"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 include Jim Thorpe, Lionel Conacher,Deion Sanders, Danny Ainge, Babe Zaharias and Erin Phillips. Others include Ricky Williams, Bo Jackson and Damon Allen, each of whom was drafted both by Major League Baseball and by professional gridiron football leagues such as the NFL and the CFL. Another female example is Heather Moyse, a multiple Winter Olympic gold medalist in bobsled and member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame who also represented Canada internationally in track cycling and competed at university level in basketball and track and field. Japanese athletes such as Kazushi Sakuraba, Kazuyuki Fujita, Masakatsu Funaki and Naoya Ogawa have successfully performed in professional wrestling and competed in mixed martial arts. All these athletes are equally great at what they do. Whether it's on the basketball court, the baseball field, the tennis court or whatever sport, each of these athletes left an impact in sports
"World's Greatest Athlete"
The title of "World's Greatest Athlete" traditionally belongs to the world's top competitor in the decathlon (males) and heptathlon (females) in track and field. The decathlon consists of 10 events: 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meters, 110 m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500 m. The heptathlon consists of seven events: the 100 m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin, and 800 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 Greatest Athlete seems a natural fit for these two events, its traditional association with the decathlon/heptathlon officially began with Jim Thorpe. During the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, Thorpe won the gold medal in the Decathlon (among others). Thorpe competed professionally in baseball, American football, and basketball; and competed collegiately in track and field, baseball, lacrosse, and did ballroom dancing. King Gustav 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 Games athletes are also known as 'Olympians'
References
- "athlete in British English". Collins Dictionary.
1. a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength, speed, or endurance 2. a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities 3. (mainly British) a competitor in track and field events
- "Definition of athlete noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
- Collins English Dictionary, Millennium Ed. - 'athlete'
- MORGANROTH, JOEL, et al. "Comparative left ventricular dimensions in trained athletes." Annals of Internal Medicine 82.4 (1975): 521–524.
- Oler, Michael J., et al. "Depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use among adolescents. Are athletes at less risk?." Archives of Family Medicine 3.9 (1994): 781–785.
- Jönhagen, Sven, et al. "Sports massage after eccentric exercise Archived 2020-09-28 at the Wayback Machine." The American Journal of Sports Medicine 32.6 (2004): 1499–1503.
- Thompson, Paul D.; Cullinane, Eileen M.; Eshleman, Ruth; Sady, Stanley P.; Herbert, Peter N. (1984). "The effects of caloric restriction or exercise cessation on the serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations of endurance athletes". Metabolism. 33 (10): 943–950. doi:10.1016/0026-0495(84)90249-X. PMID 6482736.
- "Sportsbay alternatives".
- Puthucheary, Zudin; Skipworth, James R. A.; Rawal, Jai; Loosemore, Mike; Van Someren, Ken; Montgomery, Hugh E. (2011-06-01). "The ACE Gene and Human Performance". Sports Medicine. 41 (6): 433–448. doi:10.2165/11588720-000000000-00000. ISSN 1179-2035. PMID 21615186. S2CID 42531424.
- Ma, Fang; Yang, Yu; Li, Xiangwei; Zhou, Feng; Gao, Cong; Li, Mufei; Gao, Lei (2013-01-24). "The Association of Sport Performance with ACE and ACTN3 Genetic Polymorphisms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". PLOS ONE. 8 (1): e54685. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...854685M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054685. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3554644. PMID 23358679.
- Burnett, Red (April 26, 1963). "Testimonial for Bob Abate". Toronto Daily Star. p. 17. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Lionel Conacher easily wins half century athlete award". Vancouver Sun. 1950-12-30. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- Flatter, Ron. "Thorpe preceded Deion, Bo". espn.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength speed power or endurance Sometimes the word athlete is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors i e including track and field and marathon runners but excluding e g swimmers footballers or basketball players However in other contexts mainly in the United States it is used to refer to all athletics physical culture participants of any sport For the latter definition the word sportsperson or the gendered sportsman or sportswoman are also used A third definition is also sometimes used meaning anyone who is physically fit regardless of whether they compete in a sport Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Summer Olympics Athletes may be professionals or amateurs Most professional athletes have particularly well developed physiques obtained by extensive physical training and strict exercise accompanied by a strict dietary regimen DefinitionsRunners ceramics S IV a C Athletes taking part in a race on a snowy park in the U S The word athlete is a romanization of the Greek a8lhtὴs athletes meaning one who participates in a contest from ἄ8los athlos or ἄ8lon athlon meaning a contest or feat The primary definition of sportsman according to Webster s Third 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 PhysiologyAthletes 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 visit massage salons 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 analyses of studies regarding two specific genes angiotensin converting enzyme ACE gene and ACTN3 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 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 include Jim Thorpe Lionel Conacher Deion Sanders Danny Ainge Babe Zaharias and Erin Phillips Others include Ricky Williams Bo Jackson and Damon Allen each of whom was drafted both by Major League Baseball and by professional gridiron football leagues such as the NFL and the CFL Another female example is Heather Moyse a multiple Winter Olympic gold medalist in bobsled and member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame who also represented Canada internationally in track cycling and competed at university level in basketball and track and field Japanese athletes such as Kazushi Sakuraba Kazuyuki Fujita Masakatsu Funaki and Naoya Ogawa have successfully performed in professional wrestling and competed in mixed martial arts All these athletes are equally great at what they do Whether it s on the basketball court the baseball field the tennis court or whatever sport each of these athletes left an impact in sports World s Greatest Athlete The title of World s Greatest Athlete traditionally belongs to the world s top competitor in the decathlon males and heptathlon females in track and field The decathlon consists of 10 events 100 meters long jump shot put high jump 400 meters 110 m hurdles discus pole vault javelin and 1500 m The heptathlon consists of seven events the 100 m hurdles high jump shot put 200 meters long jump javelin and 800 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 Greatest Athlete seems a natural fit for these two events its traditional association with the decathlon heptathlon officially began with Jim Thorpe During the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm Sweden Thorpe won the gold medal in the Decathlon among others Thorpe competed professionally in baseball American football and basketball and competed collegiately in track and field baseball lacrosse and did ballroom dancing King Gustav 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 alsoWikisource has the text of the Encyclopaedia Britannica 9th ed article Athletae Athletics Sportswear activewear Outdoor enthusiast Jock athlete Athlete of the Year Women s sports Olympic Games athletes are also known as Olympians References athlete in British English Collins Dictionary 1 a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength speed or endurance 2 a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities 3 mainly British a competitor in track and field events Definition of athlete noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner s Dictionary Oxford Learner s Dictionaries Collins English Dictionary Millennium Ed athlete MORGANROTH JOEL et al Comparative left ventricular dimensions in trained athletes Annals of Internal Medicine 82 4 1975 521 524 Oler Michael J et al Depression suicidal ideation and substance use among adolescents Are athletes at less risk Archives of Family Medicine 3 9 1994 781 785 Jonhagen Sven et al Sports massage after eccentric exercise Archived 2020 09 28 at the Wayback Machine The American Journal of Sports Medicine 32 6 2004 1499 1503 Thompson Paul D Cullinane Eileen M Eshleman Ruth Sady Stanley P Herbert Peter N 1984 The effects of caloric restriction or exercise cessation on the serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations of endurance athletes Metabolism 33 10 943 950 doi 10 1016 0026 0495 84 90249 X PMID 6482736 Sportsbay alternatives Puthucheary Zudin Skipworth James R A Rawal Jai Loosemore Mike Van Someren Ken Montgomery Hugh E 2011 06 01 The ACE Gene and Human Performance Sports Medicine 41 6 433 448 doi 10 2165 11588720 000000000 00000 ISSN 1179 2035 PMID 21615186 S2CID 42531424 Ma Fang Yang Yu Li Xiangwei Zhou Feng Gao Cong Li Mufei Gao Lei 2013 01 24 The Association of Sport Performance with ACE and ACTN3 Genetic Polymorphisms A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis PLOS ONE 8 1 e54685 Bibcode 2013PLoSO 854685M doi 10 1371 journal pone 0054685 ISSN 1932 6203 PMC 3554644 PMID 23358679 Burnett Red April 26 1963 Testimonial for Bob Abate Toronto Daily Star p 17 Retrieved April 19 2024 via Newspapers com Lionel Conacher easily wins half century athlete award Vancouver Sun 1950 12 30 Retrieved 2011 01 24 Flatter Ron Thorpe preceded Deion Bo espn com Retrieved 11 December 2020
