by Anglerphobe » Tue Feb 06, 2018 7:29 pm
I'd say something has to be athletically competitive to count its participants as athletes, though I guess the term is just not very well defined in my head, and therefore pretty meaningless. I'm happily able to consider myself athletic, but I've never thought of myself as an athlete even when actually competing in sports.
Of course, it's not cut and dried. I don't think anyone would argue that a real wrestler is not an athlete, but there is room for debate with a Professional Wrestler because while he is undoubtedly athletic, Wrestling is not an athletic competition. It's arguably a competition, but not one of athletics. Gymnasts and dancers have the same gulf. The former is pretty much accepted as an athlete while the latter is an argument. The one I'm really on the fence about is motorsports and equestrian sports. The decisive physical input is from a motorbike or a car or a horse, but they clearly demand athleticism and competition of athletic attributes.
Tl;dr - I don't know, but I also don't think it matters very much.
"Tusser, they tell me, when thou wert alive,
Thou, teaching thrift, thyselfe couldst never thrive.
So, like the whetstone, many men are wont
To sharpen others, when themselves are blunt."
Anyone who has any kind of opinion fucking disgusts me.