Work Out Wednesdays- Am I an Athlete?

The director of the athletic club I belong to has his bio posted outside his office.  In it he states "I believe everyone is an athlete."  I thought about this for a long time. At first I felt some-what offended. Here I am, exercising for my health with several limitations and complications. Not to be an athlete, not by any means. Then I found myself thinking what does it REALLY mean to be an athlete?  Is it someone at the top of their physical game? Someone who participates in sports? Someone with great strength and stamina? Because I am none of the above, nor can I strive to be any of these things. My exercise goals have nothing to do with be an athletic; I just want to be healthy.  

I decided to look up the definition of athlete.  Dictionary.com defines athlete as 

"a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill."

Dissecting this definition, being an athlete is much more than being a jock and playing sports.  I am a participant in exercise. Although I don't have much strength, stamina, I do have skills for physical activity. My goals may be different than someone participating in sports, but in the end I do the best  I can for my own reasons.  I may not be competitive or push myself beyond my own boundaries, but in my own way, for my own reasons, yes, I do believe I am an athlete.