Olympian
n.capable, resilientprofessional
What it means
An athlete who has earned a place at the Olympic Games.
Reach for it when identifying an athlete who has competed at the Olympic Games
The young Olympian thanked the coaches who supported her training.
Choose between these
5- playful
victory deserves celebration
not when An Olympian need not be a champion.
- everyday
elite athlete
exceptional competitive level is the main praise
not when Many elite athletes are not Olympians.
- warm
winning a medal is the relevant distinction
not when Many Olympians do not win medals.
- professional
Olympic athlete
the role should be completely explicit
not when The phrase is longer but less ambiguous.
- formal
Games competitor
participation in a named multi-sport games is meant
not when The phrase needs Olympic context.
Said against
3- noncompetitor
- spectator
- recreational athlete
It naturally appears in
3- former Olympian
A former Olympian opened the town's accessible running track.
- first-time Olympian
The first-time Olympian thanked the community coaches.
- become an Olympian
Years of steady training helped her become an Olympian.
Where this comes from
Olympian does not imply a medal, championship, or current participation; those distinctions should be stated separately.
- wiktionary, English noun, competitor in the Olympic Games sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-27
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.