While preparing for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, American tennis player Coco Gauff acknowledged that she continues to follow political developments in her country even while competing abroad. “I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing. I don’t like what’s going on,” she said on Sunday, referring to recent events in the United States, where stricter immigration enforcement and the deaths of protesters have shaped public debate.

Gauff’s comments reflect a growing pattern in elite sport: athletes who, when asked, choose to speak out on social or political issues. Some do so from personal experience, others from causes they see as universal, and their words have led to outcomes ranging from policy changes to public backlash or personal consequences. The tennis player herself explained her position clearly: “If you ask me, I’m going to give you my honest answer.”

Coco Gauff and a family tradition of activism

Gauff’s connection to activism is rooted in her family history. Her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, took part in the desegregation of public schools in Florida, an experience that shaped several generations. At the age of 16, Gauff spoke at a Black Lives Matter rally in her hometown, where she quoted Martin Luther King Jr. to deliver her message: “The silence of the good people is worse than the brutality of the bad people.”

Since then, the player has maintained the same approach when faced with questions beyond the court. “I’m very proud to be American,” she said in Dubai, while drawing a distinction between personal identity and political leadership. “But you don’t have to represent all the values of what’s going on in the leadership. There are a lot of people who believe in diversity and equality, and I hope we can return to those values.”

Naomi Osaka and the idea that sport has never been apolitical

Another prominent voice in this space has been Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, who has publicly defended the right of athletes to speak on social issues. “Sports have never been apolitical, and as long as they are played by human beings, they never will be,” she wrote in an article reflecting on the role of athletes in public debate. The player, who has addressed issues such as racial discrimination and inequality, explained that her intention was not to provide definitive answers but to ensure that certain conversations extend beyond the boundaries of sport.

Her position has been seen as part of a generation of athletes navigating the intersection between competition and public visibility. In her case, appearances at major tournaments such as the US Open amplified the reach of her message, reinforcing the link between her sporting career and her broader public role.

From Megan Rapinoe to Colin Kaepernick, Marcus Rashford and Didier Drogba

In football, American international Megan Rapinoe became one of the most visible figures addressing issues such as inequality and civil rights. The World Cup winner noted that public reaction often focused more on the method of protest than on its underlying message. “It’s really obvious that we have very serious inequality in this country,” she said, adding that her intention was to contribute to a broader conversation about fairness and respect.

Other athletes have pursued initiatives with direct social impact. English footballer Marcus Rashford led a campaign that prompted the United Kingdom government to extend free school meal programs during the pandemic, explaining that his motivation came from his own childhood experience. Meanwhile, Ivorian striker Didier Drogba used a televised interview after Ivory Coast qualified for the World Cup to address the parties involved in his country’s civil conflict. “Lay down your weapons and hold elections,” he said.

In American football, quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem in the United States became one of the defining moments of athlete protest in modern sport. He explained his position publicly in direct terms: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football.”