Lewis & Short

āthlēta, ae, com. (nom. athletes, Stat. S. 53, 222; acc. athletam, Plin. 7, 20, 19, § 83; v. Neue, Formenl. I. pp. 32, 593), = ἀθλητής, a wrestler, a prize-fighter, athlete, Cic. Sen. 9, 27; id. Or. 68, 228; id. Tusc. 2, 23, 56; 2, 17, 40; Nep. Epam. 2, 4; Liv. 39, 22 al.
Trop., one who, by exertion and practice, has acquired much skill in a thing, a champion, master (only ante- and post-class.): pecuarii athletae, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 2: athletae comitiorum, id. ib. 3, 5 fin.