2009’s best and worst sporting role models revealed

SkillsActive - 28/01/10

David Beckham was found at the top of the league table for the sports world’s best role models while Tiger Woods, perhaps unsurprisingly, topped the poll for 2009’s worst sporting role model.

Apart from creating league tables for the sporting celebrities we most and least should look up to, the research also examined the public’s views on how we want our sports heroes and heroines to behave. 

Fair play was considered far and away the most important factor by 58% of all respondents. In second place, a good deal further behind with just 19.2%, came winning, with charitable work following for the bronze. Curiously, despite Tiger Woods’ recent indiscretions placing him firmly at the top of the ‘naughty list’, just 2% of those questioned stated that being involved in a kiss and tell made a sports personality a bad role model.

The Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure, which launches in September, includes a module on teaching young people how to be good sporting role models so this was an interesting insight as to what characteristics are highly regarded in sportspeople.

Stephen Studd, Chief Executive of SkillsActive said: “Whether they like it or not, successful sportspeople are role models to young people around the world.  Sadly there will always be those who abuse their high profile position but on the whole we believe it is entirely possible to teach young sportspeople with bright futures how to be a good role model. The Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure which commences in September will aim to do just this.”

The full list of good and bad role models are as follows: