A functionalist theorist would be interested in which of the following questions? How do people come to define themselves and be identified as athletes? When do sports become contested sites? How can we use sports to preserve the status quo? Why do athletes become alienated from their bodies?

The functionalist theory will be more interested in "HOW DO PEOPLE COME TO DEFINE THEMSELVES AND BE IDENTIFIED AS ATHLETES".

Explanation: A functionalist theory explains how different parts of the society come together to play a part in the society. The functionalist theory explains the society to be a structure, which relates with each other.

The question of how people define themselves to be identified as athletes, is a question a functionalist will want to ask, because a functionalist will want to know how all part of sports, which are the individuals involved are interrelated to play a social part in the society.

Though all other questions in the options are secondary questions a functionalist can ask, because he may want to know why athletes become alienated from their body, during his study of each individual being identified as an athlete. So his can also ask other questions in the options, but the primary question he will ask is " how do people come to define themselves and be identified as athlete.