Many people think that professional athletes are known to be good role models for young people because of the level of success that they have achieved while others believe that being a good role model has nothing to do with being a professional athlete. I will discuss both sides of this thinking in this essay. Firstly, I will consider why athletes could be good role models for young people. Then I will discuss why they are not fit to be role models for children and young adults.
To be a good role model for the young people, a professional athlete should know how to inspire people to play the sport and to be ready for all the obstacles that will fall in the way. There is a certain sense of responsibility that comes with being a role model for millions of people, especially the youth that has the power to change the future. Only the professional athletes who are honest about their journey and how they had to strive hard to become successful can be true role models for the young people. Professional athletes such as Usain Bolt show that with determination and hard honest work, you can achieve your goals, which young people may learn from him.
On the other hand, many professional athletes lead scandalous lives that may have a negative impact on a young person’s actions. Especially in the last few years, there have been several high profile doping scandals, highlighting drug taking in professional sports people. To achieve their goals and win, some sport people take drugs to increase their performance. It is very dangerous for children to see this and feel that is okay to cheat in order to win.To conclude, professional athletes can only be a good role model for the young people when they know how to highlight the highs and the lows of playing a sport instead of just glamorizing the sport through the money and fame that they achieve.