Due to the importance of role models in youth and media coverage of athletes, the aim of this research was to analyze the significance and characteristics of sports role models and the existence of gender patterns in elementary school students. Research sample consisted of 468 students aged 11-15. Sports role models were analyzed using a modified questionnaire of Adriansee & Crosswhite [2008]. Research results indicated that most respondents (80.8%) had role models. Role models belong to different domains with the highest proportion of famous athletes (31.5%) and family members (30.4%). Gender of the respondents was significantly correlated with selection of the role model, with sports role models being selected more often by males (49.2%) than by females (22.5%). Within the category of sports role models, famous athletes were highly predominant (88.1%), and most of them were males and foreign sports stars. Since adolescence is a period when future preferences for physical activities are developed, it is important to exploit all possible ways of supporting the youth to develop a healthy life style, where sports role models can have a significant influence.