Dilution of the word "hero" to include sports personalities
I have often wondered what makes sports personalities heroes. I have always thought of hero referring to someone who risks their life to save others. For example soldiers and to a lesser extent emergency services.
Is it accurate to describe athletes as heroes?
Solution 1:
The dictionary.com definition of hero:
- a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
- a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
- the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
The dictionary definition is not as narrow as your own definition. So, if an athlete has distinguished/admirable abilities, they can be considered a hero, particularly if the athlete "saves the day" by making the game-winning play.
(Whether or not you think hero should have this more general meaning is not something we can answer here!)
Solution 2:
The word "hero" has been so degraded that, yes, it includes sports heroes and, to be frank, just about anybody who does anything that anyone else deems exceptional. Or at least pretty good.
BTW, you are my hero for asking this question.