Most top colleges make no bones about the fact that admissions is holistic. They are not looking for a group of academic drones.
I’ve heard a number of admission officers say that they work to create a well rounded class. That class will include some well rounded individuals as well as some individuals with special talents etc.
IMO being a recruited athlete is absolutely a “legitimate” way to help a student gain entrance into a top tier college. These students do need to have academic qualifications that allow the school to feel comfortable that they can make it through the academic program so there are no academic slouches. And FWIW many students create their own majors in college so that is no big deal.
These elite student athletes have most likely spent an enormous amount of time and effort at their sports … typically starting at a very young age. These athletes often come to campus having proven dedication, high achievement, and outstanding time management skills over a long period of time. Their skills at their sport add to campus life.
YET AGAIN I caution you to stop worrying about admission to elite colleges and to stop worrying about other people. You have over a half dozen posts about various elite universities which you will not qualify for at this time. Forget about these schools. Focus your time and energy on finding the right place to re-start YOUR education and on moving towards YOUR future goals