Trailblazer

Definitions

1. One who blazes a trail to guide others; a pathfinder.
2. An innovative leader in a field; a pioneer.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“Yes, there were instances of grandstanding and obsessive behaviour, but many were concealed at the time to help⟳ protect⟳ an aggressively peddled narrative of [Oscar] Pistorius the paragon, the emblem, the trailblazer.”

CEFR level