What can happen when a top athlete is extremely popular?

• A. It can impact the popularity of that athlete's particular sport.
• B. It can discourage young people from entering that sport.
• C. The performance of other athletes may suffer.
• D. Audience size may decrease over time.

Answer: (A)

When a top athlete is extremely popular, their fame boosts visibility and interest in the sport as a whole. This heightened attention from media, sponsors, and fans can attract new participants, increase attendance and viewership, and grow the sport’s overall popularity. That direct link between one star’s appeal and wider interest makes the statement about impacting the sport’s popularity the best fit.

The other ideas are less reliably connected to one athlete’s popularity. Fame can inspire or attract youngsters rather than discourage them, and it doesn’t inherently cause the performance of other athletes to suffer. Likewise, audience size doesn’t typically drop just because a single athlete is popular; in many cases it grows or stays strong, though trends can vary.