Champion

n.	1.	One who engages in any contest; especially one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of another's honor or rights; or one who now acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an advocate; a hero. A stouter champion never handled sword. - Shak. Champions of law and liberty. - Fisher Ames.
	2.	One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an acknowledged supremacy in any branch of athletics or game of skill, and is ready to contend with any rival; as, the champion of England.
v. t.	2.	To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to support or maintain; to protect. Championed or unchampioned, thou diest. - Sir W. Scott.

Noun	1.	champion - someone who has won first place in a competition Synonyms: champ, title-holder
	2.	champion - someone who fights for a cause Synonyms: paladin, fighter, hero
	3.	champion - a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library" Synonyms: admirer, booster, protagonist, supporter, friend
	4.	champion - someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field Synonyms: hotshot, maven, mavin, superstar, virtuoso, whiz, whizz, wiz, wizard, adept, sensation, star, genius, ace
Verb	1.	champion - protect or fight for as a champion Synonyms: defend
Adj.	1.	champion - holding first place in a contest; "a champion show dog"; "a prizewinning wine" Synonyms: prizewinning

CHAMPION. He who fights for another, or takes his place in a quarrel; it also includes him who fights his own battles. Bract. lib. 4, t. 2, c. 12.

A per se, Maecenas, Olympic medal winner, abettor, ace, admirer, advocate, aficionado, allege in support, alter ego, alternate, amicus curiae, angel, answer, apologete, apologist, apologizer, arch, argue for, arm, armor, assert, attorney, award winner, back, back up, backer, backstop, backup, backup man, bang-up, banner, battle, bless, blue-ribbon, boss, buff, campaigner, capital, cardinal, central, champ, chief, chosen, cloak, combatant, commander, compass about, conquering hero, conquistador, contend, contend for, copyright, counter, cover, cream, crowning, cushion, dandy, dean, defeater, defend, defender, dependence, deputy, distinguished, dominant, dummy, easy winner, elect, elite, encourager, endorser, ensure, espouse, executive officer, exponent, expounder, fan, fat, favorer, fence, fend, fight for, fighter, figurehead, first, flank, flower, focal, for the best, foremost, forward, friend at court, fugleman, genius, get behind, get in behind, great, greatest, guarantee, guard, guard against, guardian, handpicked, harbor, haven, head, headmost, hegemonic, higher-up, illustrious, insure, justifier, keep, keep from harm, laureate, leader, leading, lieutenant, locum, locum tenens, lover, magisterial, main, mainstay, maintain, maintainer, make a plea, make safe, master, matchless, medalist, nestle, nonesuch, nonpareil, optimal, optimum, outstanding, overruling, paladin, pancratiast, paragon, paramount, paranymph, partisan, patent, patron, patroness, peerless, pick, picked, pillar, pinch hitter, plead for, pleader, police, predominant, preeminent, premier, preponderant, prevailing, primal, primary, prime, principal, prize, prizeman, prizetaker, prizewinner, procurator, prodigy, promote, promoter, proponent, protagonist, protect, protector, protectress, proxy, queen, quintessence, quintessential, ranking, rebut, refute, register, reliance, reply, representative, respond, ride shotgun for, riposte, rock, ruler, ruling, run interference for, runner-up, safeguard, safekeeper, say in defense, screen, second, second in command, secondary, seconder, sectary, secure, select, senior, shelter, shield, shoo-in, shroud, side with, sider, sovereign, speak for, speak up for, splendid, sponsor, stalwart, stand back of, stand behind, stand by, stand up for, stand-in, standby, star, stellar, stick by, stick up for, subduer, subjugator, substitute, successful advocate, supereminent, superior, superlative, superman, superstar, supporter, supreme, sure winner, surpassing, surrogate, sustain, sustainer, sympathizer, take sides with, the best, the best ever, the greatest, the most, the tops, the very best, top dog, top-notch, topflight, tower, tower of strength, triumpher, understudy, underwrite, unmatchable, unmatched, unparalleled, unsurpassed, uphold, upholder, urge reasons for, utility man, vanquisher, very best, veteran, vicar, vicar general, vice, vicegerent, vindicator, virtuoso, votary, warrior, well-wisher, whitewasher, world champion, world-record holder