Are chess players athletes?

Cricket is a sport but I would hesitate to consider the players necessarily athletic.

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You don't consider cricketers to be athletic?

You don't consider bowlers who bowl 90 and 100 mph athletic?

You don't consider wicket keepers who litterally throw their bodies left and right of the stumps, catching the ball with one hand athletic?

You don't consider slip fielders or fielders in the outfield who chase after the balls, and deliver spot on return catches or stumps athletic? Who btw catches the ball bare handed not gloved like base ball.

You don't consider batsmen who run miles between the wickets, and hooks and drives the ball athlethic?

Sorry sir, but clearly you have not seen much cricket...there is no position in cricket that does not require an athlete.

Interesting query.  Chess is an activity that requires an immense level of concentration, stamina, and skill to play at a high level.  Hallmarks of a sport.

But chess will certainly not "get you into shape," and I don't think anyone would consider chess an exercise, whether or not it is a sport.

I'd put it on about the same athletic level as auto-racing.  It looks easy and leisurely enough to the casual viewer, but in reality it is an intense struggle where both sides can find themselves exhausted physically at the end of it.

A fellow named John Kruk played major league baseball for San Diego, Philadelphia, and the Chicago White Sox, maybe others, he was in a bar in Chicago one night pounding down the beers and chain-smoking cigarettes when a woman came up to him and said " You should  be ashamed of yourself, you're a professional athlete". Kruk replied, "I'm not an athlete madam, I'm a baseball player".  He remains one of my favorite players. 

Chess is an elbow bending athletic activity.

Well, there is also facial grimacing...but I wouldn't describe that facet as athletic.

 I heard him say the exact same thing to David Letterman.  Laughed my ass off.

Ha ha, i think Jesterville was thinking of croquet. If he would have heard of cricket he would have understood that cricket is a more complex ball game than baseball, played on a bigger field with more batting, runs and ways to throw the ball.

Maybe he did and maybe like you he doesnt appreciate cricket but that doesn't mean they aren't athletes. I do feel sorry for you your friends make you watch cricket.

Colin Milburn and Tuffers. Athletes and England stars.