Usage Note
Atleta is a common-gender noun: el atleta (male) and la atleta (female) share an identical form, so only the article marks sex. It can refer broadly to any sportsperson but carries a connotation of track-and-field in formal contexts. The related noun is atletismo (athletics, track and field).
Examples
"La atleta ganó la medalla de oro."
Natural Translation
The athlete won the gold medal.

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