Sports

Athletes who broke records, broke barriers, and inspired millions.

Babe Ruth

1895–1948 · Baseball's Sultan of Swat

Jesse Owens

1913–1980 · 4 gold medals at 1936 Berlin Olympics

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

1919–1972 · Broke baseball's color barrier

Pelé

1940–2022 · The King of Football, 3 World Cups

Muhammad Ali

1942–2016 · The Greatest, heavyweight boxing champion

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King

1943–present · Tennis champion, gender equality advocate

Diego Maradona

1960–2020 · Argentine football legend, 1986 World Cup winner

Wayne Gretzky

1961–present · The Great One, greatest ice hockey player

Michael Jordan

1963–present · Greatest basketball player of all time

Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher

1969–present · Seven-time Formula One world champion

Kobe Bryant

1978–2020 · NBA legend, Mamba Mentality

Roger Federer

1981–present · Tennis legend, 20 Grand Slam titles

Serena Williams

Serena Williams

1981–present · Greatest female tennis player of all time

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

1985–present · Portuguese football star, five-time Ballon d'Or winner

Usain Bolt

1986–present · Fastest man in history

Rafael Nadal

1986–present · Spanish tennis champion, record 14 French Open titles

Lionel Messi

1987–present · Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, 2022 World Cup champion

Key Events in Sports

1863 Football Association founded; modern soccer begins

1877 First Wimbledon Championship held

1891 James Naismith invents basketball

1896 First modern Olympic Games in Athens

1903 First Tour de France

1903 First World Series in baseball

1930 First FIFA World Cup held in Uruguay

1936 Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at Berlin Olympics

1947 Jackie Robinson breaks baseball's color line

1954 Roger Bannister runs first sub-4-minute mile

1960 Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) wins Olympic gold

1966 England wins FIFA World Cup at Wembley

1967 First Super Bowl played

1972 Title IX enacted, transforming women's sports in the US

1980 Miracle on Ice: US hockey defeats Soviet Union at Olympics

1995 South Africa hosts and wins Rugby World Cup

2008 Usain Bolt sets 100m world record at Beijing Olympics

2016 Leicester City wins Premier League against 5000-1 odds

Sources

Babe Ruth — Wikipedia
Jesse Owens — Wikipedia
Jackie Robinson — Wikipedia
Pelé — Wikipedia
Muhammad Ali — Wikipedia
Billie Jean King — Wikipedia
Diego Maradona — Wikipedia
Wayne Gretzky — Wikipedia
Michael Jordan — Wikipedia
Michael Schumacher — Wikipedia
Kobe Bryant — Wikipedia
Roger Federer — Wikipedia
Serena Williams — Wikipedia
Cristiano Ronaldo — Wikipedia
Usain Bolt — Wikipedia
Rafael Nadal — Wikipedia
Lionel Messi — Wikipedia