Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) first-rate.

1898		Windsor & Richmond Gaz. (NSW) 10 Dec. 7/4: A simple freckled farmer [...] who is the champ cusser of the Big Scrub.
1934		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 22 June [synd. col.] Morton Downey is America’s champ badge collector.
1947		C.S. Montanye ‘Frozen Stiff’ in Popular Detective Mar. 🌐 She had a way of ducking issues that left the department’s champ cigar-champer hanging in midair.
1951		S. Lewis World So Wide 106: Hay was a major in the last war, and a champ pistol shot!
1955		R. Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) 271: You’re still champ to us.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 13: You’re a champ chump from the Big Foot Country (deep South).
2003		W. Tong ‘Crooked And Incompetent G.W.B.’ George Dubya Bush Song Book on Boot Newt Singalong Page 🌐 When he f**ks up, they all say how he is so ‘bright.’ / They clap their hands; ‘He’s champ,’ they bleat.