world's greatest athlete

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

the Olympic champion male athlete in the men's decathlon athletics track and field sport

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

the Olympic champion female athlete in the women's heptathlon athletics track and field sport (the pentathlon was replaced by the heptathlon in Olympic competition for women)

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

the Olympic champion female athlete in the women's pentathlon athletics track and field sport (the heptathlon replaced the pentathlon in Olympic competition for women)

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “world's greatest athlete” mean?

the Olympic champion male athlete in the men's decathlon athletics track and field sport

Is “world's greatest athlete” formal or informal?

world's greatest athlete is generally slang.