Athletin

Athletin is a German noun that designates a female athlete. It is the feminine form of Athlet and refers to a woman who participates in sporting competition or engages in regular athletic training. The term can apply across sports, from track and field to team sports, swimming, or gymnastics.

Its origin traces to the Greek athlētēs, via Latin athleta and French athlète, with the German form Athlet/Athletin appearing in the 19th century. As a noun, Athletin is capitalized in German, as are all nouns.

In contemporary German, Sportlerin is the more common and neutral term for a female athlete. Athletin is still understood and appears in formal, historical, or specialized contexts, and sometimes in media discussions of competitive athletics, particularly in reference to the broader field of athletics (Leichtathletik) or to athletes with a focus on competitive performance. Some writers prefer Sportlerin for general text; Athletin may evoke a sense of athletic identity tied to competition.

See also: Leichtathletik, Sportlerin.