Athlete

What is an athlete?

An athlete is someone that competes professionally in a sport. Although sometimes people think an an athele refers to track and field athletics specifically, it is actually any individual who competes in a sporting profession.  Athletes in general specifically focus on their physicallity therefore competitions in chess / eSports for example woudn't classify as an Athele as such. 

How do I become an athlete?

You can get into this career through:


*Many athletes combine their career in track and field with study or a second job.

University 

You can apply to do a course at university in the usual way through UCAS and join your university’s athletics development programme, if one is available.

You may be able to apply to a university for a sports scholarship, if you’ve competed at club, regional or national level and have shown the potential to go further.

You can get advice about combining university study with your athletics career from England Athletics.

Taken from NCS 2023

Apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

These apprenticeships may give you opportunities to use your sports skills outside of a professional sporting career.

Other alternative routes 

You must be 16 or over, be performing at a high level, and be nominated by your sport's national governing body, UK Athletics.

You may be able to study for a qualification at college or university as part of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.

You can apply to join the Paralympic Development Academy, if you have the potential to perform at national and international paralympic level.

If you're already competing at a high level, you may be offered an opportunity to join the British Athletics Futures Academy Programme. This aims to help exceptionally talented athletes compete at World Championships, and Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Contact your nearest athletics club for information about how to get involved and for details of their athlete development programmes.

career Videos 

YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@BritishAthleticsTV