EXPLORE THE STORY
MYTHS
Gender Myths
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Myth: Men play aggressive, strenuous contact sports like football, hockey, or wrestling.
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Myth: Females participate in aesthetically pleasing activities like gymnastics, figure-skating, and synchronized swimming.
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Myth: Female athletes are "lesbian", "butch", "tomboy", and "masculine" individuals.
Truth: Participation in sports does not indicate sexual orientation for any gender!
Myth: The status of women in sports is secondary to men.
Physique Myths
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Myth: People with physical disabilities cannot play sports.
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Myth: Athletes are always lean and muscular.
Truth: Athletes come in all shapes and sizes.
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Racial Myths
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Myth: Black athletes rely on their “natural athleticism” to succeed in sports.
Truth: Black athletes are more than just "natural athletes", they can be intelligent, hard workers.
Myth: White athletes are more gifted in the nuances of intellect, preparation, and hard work in sports rather than naturally athletic.
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Myth: Asian athletes are inferior to athletes of other races.
Truth: Asian/Pacific American athletes have accomplished great feats in the athletic realm.
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Sport-Specific Myths
Myth: All NBA players are thugs.
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Myth: All NFL players take Human Growth Hormone (HGH).
Truth: Many players say the NFL has a problem with HGH, however it is not a hormone used by all.
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Myth: All MLB players are on steroids.
Truth: Despite some scandals, the MLB has a strict policy against drugs.
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Myth: All NASCAR drivers are rednecks.
Truth: The sport of NASCAR has taken a global turn and is no longer considered a "redneck" sport.
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CONTEXT
athlete |ˈaTHˌlēt| noun
Origin: early 15 c. late Middle English: from Latin athleta, from Greek athlÄ“tÄ“s, from athlein ‘compete for a prize,’ from athlon ‘prize’
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Definition: A person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina
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Synonyms: All-star, beast, player, challenger, champion, combatant, competitor, contender, contestant, hearties, jock, participant, prize-fighter, rookie, sports person, sports man, sports woman
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Purpose: Athletes are more than just physically talented individuals with a passion for sport. It's time to recognize the contributions they make to our society outside the realm of athletics.
TIME
Documentation of sports stretches back about 3,000 years as athletics were used as preparation and training for fighting and hunting purposes. Unfortunately, to summarize a conclusive history of sports is impractical and almost impossible proposition due to the scope of sport history.
The true spirit and recognition of sports at the international level took place in 776 BC as written records note the introduction of the first Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece. The last ancient Olympics are thought to have occurred in 393 AD.
On April 6, 1896 the first modern Olympics were held in Athens and a revival of athletic competition spread throughout the world. Since then, the presence of sports have continued to thrive world-wide.
ABOUT
Athlete is a site dedicated to repositioning public perception and changing media portrayal of professional athletes. The purpose behind this platform is to inspire people to consider the intricacies attached to the lifestyle of professional athletes and to challenge myths associated with these physically gifted individuals. While amateur athletes and the world of athletics in general also take a punch from the media through stereotypes and misconceptions, the focus will remain on professional athletes to maintain a more focused approach.
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Our society has become incredibly lackadaisical when it comes to making informed judgements. We are accustomed to having everything available to us at the push of a button and become unsatisfied if the information we crave is not easily accessible or organized efficiently. When it comes to perception and first impressions, we rush to conclusions and create preconceived notions off of unsubstantiated stereotypes.
Athlete caters to our society's right-here, right-now attitude by providing clean-cut information that is accessible via a desktop or mobile device. The information provided pushes readers to consider the lives professional athletes lead off the court while also asking readers to dispel their perceived reality and misinformed judgements.
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Professional athletes have a major influence on American culture; their reach spreads far beyond their athletic achievements and entertainment status. The popularity of professional athletes gives them a platform to act as political advocates, pop culture icons, role models, social beings, and sponsors.