'non-athlete' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'athlete' from Greek 'athlētēs', meaning 'contestant in the games'.

'athlētēs' transformed into the Latin word 'athleta', and eventually became the modern English word 'athlete'. The prefix 'non-' was added to denote the opposite.

Initially, 'athlete' meant 'contestant in the games', and 'non-athlete' simply denotes someone who is not a contestant or participant in athletic activities.