This is the 3228th most frequent Polish word.
sportowców
"Sportowców" means "athletes" in English.
The word 'sportowców' is used in plural genitive case here to describe 'many athletes'.
Spotkałem wielu sportowców na zawodach.
I met many athletes at the competition.
The word 'sportowców' in the genitive case denotes possession, indicating that the preparations belong to the athletes.
Przygotowania sportowców do olimpiady są intensywne.
The athletes' preparations for the Olympics are intense.
Here, 'sportowców' is in the genitive case, connected to the appreciation of the athletes' effort.