The outbreak caused by covid-19 led to the cancellation and postponement of many international sporting events. Like many sports organizations affected by the pandemic, athletes also have been severely impacted due to the restrictions made by the government to control the outbreak. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the sport industry by eliciting information on athletes' physical and mental wellbeing and the risk of virus transmission during sports events and training sessions. This research employed a quantitative method by distributing questionnaires to 109 respondents in Malaysia via Google Forms. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS (version 27) to determine frequency, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that most athletes agreed to return to their sporting activities after their professional coaches advised them because this approach had a significant impact on their physical and mental growth. Furthermore, results indicated that most athletes in this region found it difficult to stay motivated to exercise because of the restrictions on sporting activities during the pandemic. Many of the athletes in the study concurred that virus transmission increases during sporting events and training sessions. Some of the organizers, on the other hand, did not have any experience or training to deal with the pandemic. Finally, results showed that COVID-19 brought about physical, nutritional, and psychological effects that may impact athletes' ability to return to sports safely and improve their overall health. As a result of missed opportunities and uncertainty about their finances and future, athletes and the sports businesses could suffer severe consequences. This study concludes that the government and athletic federations must help athletes by formulating new and improved guidelines and enforcing them immediately to revive the sport industry during these trying times. Besides, medical, nutritional, and psychological care should be provided more closely during and after the lockdown
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