Athlete

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For the band from south London, see Athlete (band).

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An athlete is a person who has above average physical skills (strength, agility, and endurance) and is thus suitable for physical activities, in particular, contests. An ancient Greek word for "contest" was athlos, and those competing in the games were called athletes.

Most professional athletes have particularly well-developed physiques obtained by extensive physical training and strict exercise accompanied by a strict dietary regime.

In more specific settings, an athlete is one who participates in competitive events such as professional sports. In British English this is often limited to athletics.

The word can also, although less often, refer to a mental, instead of physical, competitor or possessor of skills.