Originally Posted by
bblair
I am going to argue with you Jughed. Not sure what defines an "athlete," but someone who dedicates so much time and energy is certainly athletic. You don't have to win medals or even compete to be athletic. Look at those crazy free climbers.
Just my take, on a snowy Sunday morning, spent watched "athletes" on TV.
I get the dividing line from my daughter’s old swim coach. He was an Olympian of some sort, an athlete.
Team USA swim team - 2 a day practices… he flat told parents, so they didn’t have unreasonable expectations, that their kids were good swimmers, not athletes.
Locally my girls were quick, regionals came along - we ran into a few athletes. The elite or those with the genetics to be elite.
I ride with a guy who’s father was an Olympic cyclist way back - he does nothing all winter and gets on a bike and is faster than me. He jumps right on and does 50 miles at 200w+.
I exercise, I ride bikes - but an athlete I am not.