Just saying “esports competitor” (and then “competitor” thereafter) always sounded like a completely reasonable description to me. Not calling them an athlete,
If it’s a sport, he’s an athlete. If it’s competitive video gaming, he’s a video game competitor.
If it’s a sport, he’s an athlete. If it’s competitive video gaming, he’s a video game competitor.
It ain’t a sport though. Competitor is more accurate. They don’t call chess players athletes.