Most Influential Sportsperson 2021: Japanese Tennis player Naomi Osaka and United States’ Olympic medalist gymnast Simone Biles have been featured in the list of most influential athletes for 2021. Both the sports personalities made headlines this year with their rich endorsements.
The two athletes also brought athletes’ mental wellbeing into focus through their actions.
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Most Influential Sportsperson 2021: Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles voted most influential athletes in sports business
The Most Influential Athletes in Sports Business in 2021
➡️ @lord__shin, @meleanashim, @alexmorgan13, @KingJames, @mavcarter, @RichPaul4, @naomiosaka and @Simone_Biles
🔗 https://t.co/nuJQBh15vN pic.twitter.com/U3pNWofKf3
— Sports Business Journal (@sbjsbd) December 14, 2021
“Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles continued to elevate their business influence through lucrative endorsements and investments. They each also stepped away from high-profile competition for mental health reasons, spurring a global dialogue about athlete wellbeing,” wrote SBJ in the statement released.
Most Influential Sportsperson 2021: It also pointed out Osaka’s refusal to fulfill media obligations at the French Open and reckoned it as a right step in prompting a fresh look at a press conference tradition. While Simone Biles’ withdrawal from the Tokyo Games mid-competition put focus on the mental health concerns surrounding athletes.
In the list released by Sports Business Journal, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles have been included alongside female soccer players Sinead Farrelly, Alex Morgan, and Mana Shim. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Rich Paul featured in the Men’s list of most influential athletes.
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Most Influential Sportsperson 2021: Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles voted most influential athletes in sports business
LeBron James massive endorsement deal with Pepsi after nearly two decades with Coca-Cola, an ownership stake in Fenway Sports Group, and starring in “Space Jam: A New Legacy” earned him a place in the list. The film was co-produced by SpringHill, which was valued at $725 million following a minority investment earlier this year.
“Rich Paul, James’ agent, is a top NBA power broker — especially after his Klutch Sports Group joined with United Talent Agency — and was behind a five-part docuseries on the agency with BET Studios,” wrote SBJ for Paul’s inclusion.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka had also featured in the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes of 2021 with a total earning of $60million. She became the highest-paid female athlete ever.
Most Influential Sportsperson 2021: Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles voted most influential athletes in sports business
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