sportsman
n.a man who plays a lot of sport, especially one who is very good at it. It also describes someone who plays fairly and follows the rules.
n.a male participant in a sport, particularly one who demonstrates high skill or professional status. Often implies an adherence to the principles of fair play and ethical conduct.
“He is a talented sportsman who plays both tennis and golf.”
“The local newspaper named him the sportsman of the year for his record-breaking season and charitable work.”
“While the media focused on his physical prowess, his peers respected him more as a sportsman who never disputed a referee's decision, even when it cost him the match.”
The feminine equivalent is 'sportswoman'; 'athlete' or 'sports player' are common gender-neutral alternatives.
From sports + -man.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.