Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient Greece or Rome. 2. (n.) Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a champion. 3. (n.) One fitted for, or skilled in, intellectual contests; as, athletes of debate.

Multi-Version Concordance Athlete (2 Occurrences) 1 Corinthians 9:25 But every competitor in an athletic contest practices abstemiousness in all directions. They indeed do this for the sake of securing a perishable wreath, but we for the sake of securing one that will not perish. (See RSV) 2 Timothy 2:5 And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules. (See NAS RSV NIV)