Q:Jonathan Anthony Nichols (born 10 September 1981 in Plymouth) is an English former professional footballer.Nichols signed for Torquay United on a YTS apprenticeship making his debut whilst still an apprentice on 2 March 1999 in a 2-0 defeat away to Leyton Orient with another five league appearances before the end of the season leading to him being awarded the club's Young Player of the Year Award. Given a list of categories: company, educational institution, artist, athlete, office holder, mean of transportation, building, natural place, village, animal, plant, album, film or written work, what category does the paragraph belong to?
A:
Athlete