Urheilija
Urheilija is a Finnish noun meaning "athlete" or "sportsperson." It refers to a person who participates in sports, typically in a competitive or organized context. The term is gender neutral and can describe amateurs and professionals alike. In everyday Finnish, a person may be called an urheilija regardless of the exact sport, from local clubs to national teams.
Etymology and form: The word is formed from urheilu, meaning sport, together with the agentive suffix -ija,
Usage and scope: Urheilija is used across a wide range of sports and levels, from amateur participants