The Best Athletes of 2012 Athletes

The Best Athletes of 2012

original ranker The Round Mound  4,132 views 81 items 20 followers
The best athletes of 2012 won Olympic gold medals, helped clinch team championships, broke world records and became some of the most admired athletes in the world. These athletic stars come from all sports and each offer something different to their adoring fans but they all accomplished incredible things during the 2012 calendar year. These are the best athletes of 2012.

With the 2012 London Summer Olympics the big highlight in the year in sports, it should be no surprise that many of 2012's best athletes were Olympic medalists. American swimmer Michael Phelps was easily the top athlete at the 2012 Summer Olympics when he brought home another six medals, bringing his career total to 22. But Phelps wasn't the only athlete to become an instant favorite at the 2012 games with sprinter Usain Bolt, tennis stars Andy Murray and Serena Williams and fellow swimmer Missy Franklin each winning big in their respective events.

There was much more to see than just the Olympics however with stars in the worlds of football, baseball, basketball and hockey, among other sports, dominating the action. Repeating their honors as top athletes of 2011, names like Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Justin Verlander, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, LeBron James, small forward for the Miami Heat, and Tiger Woods, pro golfer, all returned to see success again in 2012.

Selecting a top athlete for a calendar year is often a matter of opinion and fandom so if you see someone you think should be higher or lower, vote accordingly. Want to re-rank the list or add someone we missed, do all of that below and help us rank the best athletes of 2012.
Be sure to also check out the Biggest Sports Disappointments of 2012, Famous Sports Speeches and the Best Sports to Watch.
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Rank     Name
  1. 1
    Up 765
    Down 367
    1985
  2. 2
    Up 863
    Down 388
    1986
  3. 3
    Up 1108
    Down 581
    1984
  4. 4
    Up 829
    Down 411

    Gabby Douglas

  5. 5
    Up 592
    Down 346
    1988
  6. 6
    Up 701
    Down 285
    1985
  7. 7
    Up 408
    Down 288
    1987
  8. 8
    Up 443
    Down 280

    Missy Franklin

    1995
  9. 9
    Up 424
    Down 262
    1985
  10. 10
    Up 239
    Down 86

    Peyton Manning

  11. 11
    Up 221
    Down 184

    Manti Teʻo

    1991
  12. 12
    Up 340
    Down 231
    1983
  13. 13
    Up 327
    Down 290
    1983
  14. 14
    Up 400
    Down 345
    1977
  15. 15
    Up 377
    Down 343
    1981
  16. 16
    Up 72
    Down 101
    1974
  17. 17
    Up 183
    Down 231
    1981
  18. 18
    Up 74
    Down 19

    RGIII

  19. 19
    Up 16
    Down 10
    1976
  20. 20
    Up 244
    Down 312
    1978
  21. 21
    Up 190
    Down 204
    1983
  22. 22
    Up 204
    Down 251
    1979
  23. 23
    Up 16
    Down 7

    Mike Trout

    1991
  24. 24
    Up 147
    Down 206
    1987
  25. 25
    Up 195
    Down 235
    1975
  26. 26
    Up 78
    Down 74

    Rory McIlroy

    1989
  27. 27
    Up 126
    Down 172
    1981
  28. 28
    Up 139
    Down 202

    Abby Wambach

    1980
  29. 29
    Up 136
    Down 251
    1977
  30. 30
    Up 162
    Down 219

    Carmelita Jeter

    1980
  31. 31
    Up 31
    Down 19

    Alfred Morris

  32. 32
    Up 39
    Down 26
    No image

    Russel Wilsen

  33. 33
    Up 184
    Down 219
    1987
  34. 34
    Up 113
    Down 220
    1985
  35. 35
    Up 156
    Down 214

    Bryce Harper

    1992
  36. 36
    Up 131
    Down 164
    No image

    Mike Trout

  37. 37
    Up 97
    Down 223
    1978
  38. 38
    Up 10
    Down 5
    1985
  39. 39
    Up 9
    Down 10
    1981
  40. 40
    Up 11
    Down 11
    1987
  41. 41
    Up 90
    Down 190
    1986
  42. 42
    Up 93
    Down 196
    1981
  43. 43
    Up 2
    Down 1

    John Cena

    added by: Jhair84
  44. 44
    Up 1
    Down 1

    Alex Morgan

    1989
    added by: Jhair84
  45. 45
    Up 106
    Down 192
    1981
  46. 46
    Up 22
    Down 33
    1985
  47. 47
    Up 8
    Down 12
    1985
  48. 48
    Up 8
    Down 3

    Gabrielle Douglas

    1995
  49. 49
    Up 3
    Down 5

    Virat Kohli

    1988
    added by: NaveenBharathReddy
  50. 50
    Up 6
    Down 9
    1980
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