Professional Athletes’ Influence on Society

By GuanXi Liu

September 24, 2020

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What influence do athletes have on society?

What are athletes to you? They might be your first role model, people who are incredibly hardworking, or simply people you watch on TV. In today’s society, pro-athletes are celebrated, and their success inspires and influences millions of people. Usain Bolt, Simone Biles, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps— these people are considered celebrities for their athletic achievements. They have competed in the world’s greatest stadiums and represented their countries with pride. It’s no wonder they have such a large influence on the public. And it’s no wonder they use that influence to tackle social issues.

People often look at sports as an escape from modern reality. This year especially, people started realizing the importance of sports in their lives. When sports were cancelled at the start of 2020 due to the virus, people voiced their opinions. At a time where everything was abnormal, they looked at sports as something that could still be normal. They wanted to rely on athletes to provide them with a sense of comfort. However, games were cancelled, seasons were postponed, and even the Olympics were rescheduled. The largest sporting event in the world, meant to take place in Tokyo, Japan, was postponed until 2021. Every two years, whether it be the Summer or Winter Olympics, people look forward to it. Years of preparation and training go towards making athletic history, but to have it suddenly rescheduled affected a large group of people. Sports fans around the world empathized with these athletes, sharing their disappointment. The reaction from this news was enough to show anyone the impact that sporting events and athletes could hold.

Throughout history, sports have always influenced society. However, athletes often receive backlash about involving themselves in politics or controversial topics. Billie Jean King was one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. She was and still is an advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, gender equality and social justice. She has shared her opinions and voiced the struggles of many minorities. Throughout her career, she constantly fought and campaigned for social issues. The actions of athletes are publicized and the things they do will impact others. Companies capitalize on them, and there is a reason why they might choose an athlete to advertise a product over another public figure. They are seen as trustworthy, inspiring, influential and they cater to a demographic that other brands and/or people cannot influence.

At the start of this year, many athletes started to use their fame and following to guide the public. Many athletes took to social media to comfort their fans, sharing their lives in quarantine and sharing COVID-19 safety precautions. On the Instagram page of the Olympics, they hosted Olympians from around the world for live workouts and tips for being active. Athletes used their platforms for a good cause to prevent the spreading of the virus and reassured followers about their safety.

Ibtihaj Muhammed, a fencer from the United States, was the first woman to win an Olympic Medal while wearing a hijab. She was a muslim woman and she inspired many girls that were unable to get into sports due to the clothing they must wear. She has also faced racism and numerous challenges on her Olympic journey. To this day, she is still very vocal about BLM, challenges of Muslim women, and getting girls involved in sports.

Jonathan Newtont—The Washington Post/Getty Images

Athletes in the NBA and WNBA, as well as Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, refused to play games after Jacob Blake’s shooting. Unfortunately, this was not the first time athletes had to take matters into their own hands. In 2012, after the shooting of Trayvon Martin, Lebron James shared a picture of the players of the Miami Heat, of which he was a member at the time, wearing hoodies and bowing their heads in support of Martin. He raised awareness about the systematic racism in the United States and how often Black people do not get the justice they deserve.

Via: Twitter @KingJames

During the 2020 US Open, Naomi Osaka wore 7 masks during her 7 matches, with the names of 7 Black victims of police brutality — Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile and Tamir Rice. When asked about the message she wanted to send, she responded with, “What was the message that you got was more the question. I feel like the point is to make people start talking.” She ended up winning the tournament while honouring the lives of Black victims, raising more awareness and challenging one of the major social issues in the United States.

Via: Instagram @naomiosaka

As stated in Naomi Osaka’s response, the point is to get people talking. These athletes know they have influence, and they want to use it for the greater good. As people start talking, no one will be able to ignore the racism present all over the world, and action will be taken. These athletes are helping the cause and even their small actions will help a substantial number of people.

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