People or teams who have won a competition or tournament. Those who fight for or defend a cause or principle.
From Old French 'champion,' derived from Latin 'campus' (field), originally referring to warriors who fought in single combat on a field of battle. The sporting sense developed in the 14th century, while the meaning of 'supporter' emerged in the 16th century.
The word 'championship' originally referred to the condition of being a champion fighter, not the competition itself. In medieval times, champions could literally fight legal battles for others - trial by combat was a legitimate legal proceeding where champions represented parties who couldn't fight.
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