Taking into account low impact sports how do you define who is an athlete?

How would you solve this debate, when it comes to sports many people say whoever participates in it has to be an athlete. There are sports like golf, sailing, bowling, car racing horse racing that even though some take muscle they are not overly physical. Then there is dancing which compared to golf or car racing is way more physical. Do you see dancers as athletes? Do you see participants of low impact sports like bowling, horse or car racing as athletes? To be an athlete do you have to use at least 50% of your muscle or your body in a physical manner like throwing, kicking, running, etc.?