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Best Athletes

Ingemar Stenmark

The greatest&nbsp;athletes of all time: a list of the most dominant, iconic, famous&nbsp;players in the history of&nbsp;sports. This list gathers sports stars from across every professional league, as well as amateur athletes who may have never competed professionally, in one overall list. Though it may be challenging to compare performance in a variety of different competitive arenas requiring different skill sets, this list nevertheless attempts to distinguish the top, highest-performing and most successful athletes ever to play. The sports stars that rise to the top can be considered to be the best athletes of all time.

Aspects to consider in picking a best athlete of all time would include, obviously, that player&#39;s raw talent and born ability. Some individuals seem to prodigally gifted in their sport of choice, and it&#39;s hard to discount the importance of this kind of natural talent. However, it&#39;s also important to evaluate hard work, discipline and a commitment to the game. Some athletes may not have the natural, genetic ability to dunk a basketball or hit a home run, but nonetheless have trained to the point of reaching these goals all the same. (They may not be the greatest athlete of all time at all sports, but they have mastered their activity.)

Finally, it can be a challenge to compare an athlete who competed in a solo competition with a member of a well known sports organization or club. How do you look at the achievements of, say, a boxer like Muhammad Ali alongside an athlete like Michael Jordan, who had to not only perform to his own best abilities but work as a cohesive unit along with other members of his team? These are the questions that must be answered when compiling a list of the world&#39;s greatest all-time athletes.

For more sports news and athlete trade rumors, vote on this list of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/sports-news-blogs/blog-loblaw">sports news sites</a>.

Kris Humphries

Athletes famous only for off-court behavior are not just athletes who would be obscure without some off-field antics, these athletes are those who are household names more because of their personal or legal life, not their athletic ability. Sure we'd know who these people are for their play in football, basketball, baseball, hockey or other sports, but not at the level we know them for crazy arrests, lengthy jail sentences or marrying a Kardashian or two.For those athletes who have more Twitter followers than Snooki and those who spend more time on television or in the pages of gossip magazines than playing their sport, being known more for their off-court behavior is easy. Everyone knows NBA player Kris Humphries for his quickie marriage to a reality star (who just might have been voted a top Hollywood douchebag) but how many can tell you what team he plays basketball for? Same thing goes for Hank Baskett, Lamar Odom or Chad Johnson. They'd all be famous, but not to the extreme level they gained by being in the entertainment spotlight.Then there's the athletes who found their names in national headlines for the wrong reasons. NFL players OJ Simpson, Michael Vick and Michael Irvin would have been remembered as <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">great football players</a> had they not been convicted (or famously acquitted) for heinous crimes like murder, sexual assault and animal abuse. Like MLB steroid scandal figure Barry Bonds, all of these athletes will for years to come have an asterisk by their names. For whichever reason we know these names, be it from their larger-than-life personalities like Dennis Rodman or their drunken adventures like John Daly, we all know many of these athletes for what they did in their spare time not what they accomplished on the court, field or ice.

Mario Lemieux

Athletes with the coolest post-sports careers are those former professional athletes who after their playing days ended, went on to do some pretty amazing things. From those who went into politics to others who built business empires and even others who chose <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-jobs-in-the-world" target="_blank">wacky careers</a>, all of these athletes found fun new paths off the field.Nearly any former athlete can find work after their playing career ends as a broadcaster or coach of their respective sports but how many can go on to be President of the United States of America? One did it, former University of Michigan football player Gerald Ford. While few will live up to that precedent, other athletes have seen success in politics such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served as Governor of California, and Jesse Ventura, who was the Governor of Minnesota.Show business is another common landing place for retired athletes with the likes of Carl Weathers, Vinnie Jones and Jim Brown all seeing success on the field and on the big and small screens. Becoming a business executive would be another with former atletes making a name for themselves as the face of product lines, like George Foreman and John Madden, or even going on to own the teams in the sports they once played, like Mario Lemieux, Nolan Ryan and Michael Jordan.While not all of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time" target="_blank">best athletes of all time</a> will go on to find success off the field, these special athletes with awesome post-sports careers prove that with the right determination, retired athletes can go on to long and successful careers in many other fields.

Rob Gronkowski

Athletes who should get a reality show are the popular athletes in the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and other sports whose off-field lives are just as captivating as their athletic careers. When that perfect combination comes along, it's only right that these famous athletes give up what little privacy they have and allow fans to see inside their personal lives by starring on a reality television show. It's easy to pick the most successful and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-most-popular-athletes-/calistylie" target="_blank">popular professional athletes</a> to star on <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-reality-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">reality television shows</a> as everyone wants to know how these Super Bowl, NBA Championship, World Series, Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal winners live behind the scenes. Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, LeBron James of the Miami Heat, baseball star Derek Jeter, professional swimmer Michael Phelps and even all-time great boxer Mike Tyson are just a handful of names that fall into that category with each finding success in their own respective sport either recently or throughout a long career.For other athletes, they've been nominated to star on a reality show for their high-profile personal life or famous spouse. This is also sometimes prohibitive with <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/wags" target="_blank">athletes and their celebrity wives or girlfriends</a> too famous to ever consider reality TV. A show chronicling the lives of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen or a series following David and Victoria Beckham would certainly draw a crowd but would the couples ever agree to such a thing? Doubtful at best. For other couples, reality television is not considered that unreasonable. Many have done it before like Khloe Kardashian and NBA player Lamar Odom and NFL wideout Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada. That's where these mid-level athletes with famous wives could shine. How about a show following retired NHL player Mike Comrie and wife Hilary Duff? Or maybe a return to reality television for "Hills" star Kristin Cavallari now that she's with quarterback Jay Cutler?Any of these athletes and many more would make great stars of reality television should they agree to allow themselves to be followed around by cameras nonstop. Which athletes would you like to see get their own reality show? Add your pick and vote for the pro athletes you think would be best for reality TV below!

Athletes

Joe Namath

The athletes with the best facial hair are often best known not for their athletic abilities on some of the top football, baseball, basketball and hockey teams but rather for their waxed mustaches, bushy beards or carefully trimmed fu manchus. For these athletes, signature <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-facial-hair-history/machk?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">facial hair styles</a> are part of their brands and will be what gets them commercials, promotional appearances and work long after their professional sports careers end. Many of the top athletes in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National Football League and Major League Baseball change their facial hair from time to time while others have found their trademark look and stuck with it throughout the years. Lanny McDonald, a former NHL player, was known for his bushy mustache. Jared Allen is known just as much for his mullet and facial hair as he is for playing defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings. MLB player Brian Wilson has constantly turned heads for his impressive choice of clothing, hairstyles and pronounced facial hair. Walt Frazier was a stellar basketball player who sported the mutton chops during his playing days.For others, facial hair or lack there of was for a good cause or a promotional opportunity. Legendary <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-new-york-jets-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">New York Jets quarterback</a> Joe Namath was easily recognizable for his facial hair before famously shaving it off for a Noxema commercial. Each November, athletes and fans around the world grow mustaches for a good cause as part of the Movember charity movement to benefit men's health. What athletes have the best facial hair? Whether these athletes have flashy fu manchus, carefully managed goatees, pencil mustaches or anything in between, they all share the love for fun facial hair. Their professional sporting careers may end but their facial hair, be it scary, silly or just iconic, will live on forever.

poll

Michael Jordan

Overhyped athletes who still performed represent a special breed of athletes who captured the attention of fans and critics around the world with their potential then went on to live up to the expectations and often exceed them. These athletes were expected by so many to dominate their respective sports and they did just that. These fine football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, boxing and Olympic athletes had all eyes upon them as they were projected by experts to have long and successful careers filled with titles, awards and praise. Many did that and then some, going down as some of the best to ever play the game.A great deal of these athletes were taken first overall in their respective professional drafts, such as star NHL players Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, who were taken first in the NHL Draft in 2004 and 2005, respectively, or NBA Slam Dunk Champion Blake Griffin, who was picked first in the 2009 NBA Draft. Professional football players are right up there as well, such as 2011 first overall pick Cam Newton who made a quick impact on the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League.Others not only captured the attention of prospective professional teams but also entire countries as they represented their homeland on the world's stage in the Olympics. Michael Phelps is perhaps the best example of a highly hyped athlete who lived up to the expectations. The swimmer shattered numerous personal, Olympic and world records as he won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.All of these athletes accomplished what so many up and comers aspire to do. They made headlines first for their potential, then became household names for their performance and many went on to become legends of the sport. Of course some went on to wait too long to retire but for the most part, these athletes had nearly flawless careers and it does not get much better than that.

Controversial

Ray Lewis

Sports stars are one part celebrity, one part athlete. Like so many celebrities, some sports stars are prone to scandal. These sports stars are were involved some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-boxing-controversies/dannyrichman?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">biggest controversies</a> of all time, and many remain controversial figures to this day despite being retired.O.J Simpson is perhaps the biggest controversial athlete of all time, for &quot;not killing his ex-wife&quot; in 1994. Remember when one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-nba-players-of-all-time">best NBA players</a>&nbsp;of all time, LeBron James, took his talents to South Beach? That was definitely a case of a sports star who caused controversy. And then, of course, there's Anna Kournikova, who has caused controversy simply for <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/songs-about-beauty/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">being beautiful</a>.Which athletes do you think are the most controversial of all time? What is your definition of controversy? Is it off-the-field antics like the domestic drama surrounding Tiger Woods, or is it on-the-court antics like John McEnroe's famous profane meltdowns? Which is worse, steroids or biting off someone's ear? The choice is yours! Vote up the stars who've caused the most controversy and if we missed any scandalous athletes, add them to the controversial sport stars list!

Shaquille O'Neal

The athletes with the most annoying fans are sports stars we love to hate and the fans who love to love them. These fans of the top MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL players hold their favorite athletes as ultimate legends, regardless if they are worthy of the status or not. These sports fans are passionate and loud but more than anything, they are annoying and rarely shut up about how awesome their favorite athlete is.It shouldn't be any surprise that the athletes that are the most annoying to begin with attract the most annoying fans. For some athletes, fans hold them in such high regard that no matter what the athlete does, the fans will continue to treat them as royalty. Diehard fans of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-pittsburgh-steelers-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger</a> or <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-philadelphia-eagles-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Philadelphia Eagles quarterback</a> Michael Vick barely batted an eye when the National Football League stars found themselves in legal trouble, while outsiders found both the football players and their fans nothing but annoying.In other cases, the players are seen as the greatest gifts to their respective sports and their annoying fans will never let you forget that. Those who worship the likes of quarterback Tim Tebow, NHL player Sidney Crosby and Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant will all argue that these players are the greatest of all time, even if that's obviously not the truth. Whether these sports fans are unapologetically supportive of their troublesome athletes, cannot shut their yappers about how great their favorite athlete is or anywhere in between, all of these athletes' fans are stubborn and beyond annoying. They may not be as bad as the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/baseball-teams-with-the-most-annoying-fans/the-round-mound">most annoying baseball team fans</a> or the basketball teams with the most annoying fans but that certainly doesn't make them any less tolerable.

LeBron James

Famous athletes who could have dominated a second sport tell the story of men and women with so much athletic ability that they shouldn't be limited to being the best at just one sport when they could easily find success in several sports. Many athletes have tried to become successful two-sport athletes and few have succeeded but dozens more have the potential.This list isn't about the notable two-sport athletes like Deion Sanders, who won both the Super Bowl and a World Series, or Hershel Walker, who won the Heisman Trophy, appeared in the Winter Olympics in bobsled and competed in mixed martial arts, or Michael Jordan, who returned after retiring from the NBA to play in the MLB, or Bo Jackson, who enjoyed success playing professional football and baseball during his career. This list is about the athletes who despite having the talent to dominate two sports, stuck to one and became one of the best to ever play.For many athletes, this choice between two sports was an early one. Tom Brady for instance was selected in the MLB Draft but declined to play football. His three Super Bowl rings and numerous NFL records show he made a wise choice. Kirk Gibson was one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-nfl-wide-receiver/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best wide receivers</a> in NCAA Football but chose the MLB contract offer over the one from the NFL. He went on to win two World Series and is still active as a highly successful MLB manager. Wilt Chamberlain had the choice of track, basketball, volleyball, boxing and football in his early years. He picked basketball and for that is now a household name.These big names and so many more from professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and other sports could have easily dominated a second sport. For one reason or another they made the tough decision to focus on one primary sport and in many cases went on to become legends in that sport. It would be tough to think that they regret the decision but one they certainly look back upon and wonder "what if?"

Mike Tyson

Athletes who waited too long to retire for one reason or another made the choice to continue playing, sometimes for several years, when really they should have thrown in the towel. These football, basketball, baseball, and hockey players, along with fighters, were once at the top of their respective sports but couldn't quit while they were ahead. Instead they played into their 40s, 50s and sometimes 60s, and sometimes hurt their teams in the process of their denial. Arguably, this list contains some of the best athletes ever to play in their respective sports. Professional basketball player Michael Jordan, hockey player Gordie Howe, and boxer Muhammad Ali are all regarded as some of the best ever but sadly they also come in as athletes who played well past their prime. Instead of stopping when they started to decline, they continued to compete and a small part of their legacy suffered because of it.Perhaps the most erroneous case of not knowing when to stop is former National Football League <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-greatest-quarterbacks-to-have-once-backed-up-brett-favre/the-day-in-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">quarterback Brett Favre</a>. Number four played atop the league for 17 seasons, mainly with the Green Bay Packers, before retiring after the 2007 season. What followed was what was called the annual Brett Favre unretirement, a process that lasted THREE YEARS. In 2008 he played (poorly) for the New York Jets, then he retired again. A few months later he returned to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2009 campaign. Lather, rinse, and repeat again in 2010. Spoiler: None of those final seasons led to a Super Bowl victory. Athletes on this list prove that just because you are great at what you do does not mean you can do it forever. We feel bad for those <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/athletes-whose-careers-ended-too-soon/sportsyeah" target="_blank">athletes whose careers ended too soon</a> due to circumstances out of their control but we also go sick of the athletes who refused to retire when they were old and washed up.&nbsp;

Most Annoying

Alex Rodriguez

A CrowdRanked List the most obnoxious athletes from any sport. Rank the most annoying guys who are constantly twittering absurd posts, women who act like sports are a beauty contest, athletes that overreact over every situation, and any other annoying athletes. Make your own list, rank it as you see fit, and add any obnoxious athletes that are missing.So who are the most obnoxious athletes? Well, that depends on your defintion of obnoxious. If brash, brazen, cocky and crude fits your bill, then you'll have no problem sorthing through the people on this list. These are the most annoying American athletes, the most obnoxious sports figures and the top douchebags in spors. Vote for the least popular athletes that you can't stand.&nbsp;

Babe Ruth

The greatest out-of-shape athletes don&#39;t fit the mold of the typical athlete with toned limbs and six-pack abs yet they continue to see success in their respective sports despite their extra pounds. We&#39;re not talking exclusively sumo wrestlers here either, but actual baseball, football, basketball and golf stars who excelled at professional sports despite also battling obesity. These are unfit athletes who still rocked their sports.

For some athletes, such as linebackers in the National Football League, having a few extra pounds is a good thing as it provides more leverage for blocking. Still, some NFL players take that to a whole &#39;nother level with New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth each weighing in well over the three century mark. The same can&#39;t be said for &quot;big boned&quot; football players at other positions such as Oakland Raiders placekicker Sebastian Janikowski or 2007 first overall NFL draft pick and quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

It&#39;s a similar story in the NBA where many players are well conditioned and fit while others take the definition of big and tall to another level. Shaquille O&#39;Neal fits that description perfectly coming in at 7&#39;1&quot; and 325 pounds during his playing days.

Other athletes can get away with the few extra pounds as their respective sports requires less athleticism than others to compete. Golfers are notorious for being overweight with former fatty John Daly among the most notable.

This also goes for MLB players where one of the greatest of all time, Babe Ruth, proved that success is not directly caused by weight. Baseball just might have the most overweight athletes with the likes of Cecil and Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, David Ortiz, and Bengie Molina all among the MLB&#39;s elite despite their large frames.

While a case could be made that at this weight these guys are not athletes or that if a sport allows participants of this size then they are not really sports but until those rules change, these athletes will continue to break the mold and continue to see success despite resembling large household appliances. Yes, William &quot;Refrigerator&quot; Perry, we&#39;re talking to you.

Who the greatest out of shape athletes? This list will give you an answer.

Left Handed

Martina Navratilova

The greatest left-handed athletes of all time are some of the greatest men and women to ever play baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, and many other sports. These talented athletes dominated their respective sports all while being in a minority, as a left-handed person. These athletes are not by any means all of the left-handed athletes but simply the best of the left-handed sports players ever. But which athlete is best? Tell us which left-handed athlete you think was the best ever by voting, re-ranking, and adding your favorites below!While all sports will see their share of left-handed athletes, the hand orientation will affect some athletes more than others. Being left handed is something you might not notice for hockey players, such as Terry Sawchuk and Phil Esposito, basketball players, like Larry Bird and Bill Russell, or soccer players, like the great Pele, who often use both hands – or feet – regularly while playing the sport. For other sports, it's clearer when athletes use their dominant hands. Baseball has, what might, be the highest percentage of left-handed athletes of all major sports, and they are easy to spot when one takes the mound or lines up to hit. Babe Ruth is perhaps the best left-handed athlete ever but is joined by many other legendary baseball lefties, such as Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and Barry Bonds. Tennis, boxing, and golf are other sports that allow southpaws shine. It's easy to spot <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/left-handed-tennis-players/left-handed">left-handed tennis players</a> like Monica Seles and John McEnroe, boxers like Oscar de la Hoya, and golfers like the great Phil Mickelson. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-left-handed-people/left-handed">Left-handed people</a> may make up only around 10% of the population but they're some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top athletes of all time</a>. We'll never know if Deion Sanders would have seen the success he did had he been right handed or if Rafael Nadal would have ever become the King of Clay as a righty, but these talented athletes all persevered through their disadvantages to become legends, and we have nothing but respect for them for that.&nbsp;Who are some of the greatest left handed athletes? Take a look here and you'll see for yourself.

Current Sports

When it comes to the most famous athletes&nbsp;in the world right now, a select few names easily top the list. Not only that, but many of these popular players&nbsp;are also some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time" target="_blank">best athletes</a> in their respective sport. However, while skill and statistics are surely major factors in ranking athletes by fame, the most famous athlete out doesn&#39;t have to be the very best&mdash;especially not on this list. In short, it&#39;s up to you fans to decide just who takes the title for the most famous athlete, as well as those who follow close behind.&nbsp;

For starters, we all know <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-athletes/reference" target="_blank">famous male athletes</a>&nbsp;like Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Roger Federer will find themselves high on the list. Then you have <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-athletes/reference" target="_blank">top female athletes</a> like Serena Williams and Hope Solo. Keep in mind, though, the sport isn&#39;t necessarily a factor here. Whether you consider natural talent or straight statistics in determining who&#39;s the most famous, that&#39;s your choice. Perhaps it&#39;s who you see on TV the most in 2021, or those with the most endorsements. Whatever it is, give your input as to who makes the list of best athletes today with the most fame in 2021.&nbsp;

Cast your votes for the most famous athletes below, and feel free to add any athletes missing from the list.&nbsp;

Celebrities

André the Giant

You probably didn’t even know that some of your favorite actors got their start in the sports world! In fact, several athletes found a second career in film and television, thanks to their talent on and off the field. These athletes who became actors prove that they have star power no matter what industry they’re in. From football players and pro skateboarders to soccer stars and basketball legends, plenty of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/professional-athletes-turned-actors/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">athletes turned actors</a> are shaking off the dumb jock stereotype and proving that they’ve got true emotional depth. Or at least a knack for comedic timing. Some went on to star in their <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-oprah-winfrey-network-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">own TV shows</a> and movies, other played spot-on impressions of themselves on screen. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-famous-athletes-right-now/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Who is the most famous athlete</a> turned actor? Sean Connery is definitely one of them. The actor best known for playing James Bond was such a good soccer player that he was offered a position with Manchester United. He ultimately declined, saying, “I realized that a top-class footballer could be over the hill by the age of 30, and I was already 23. I decided to become an actor and it turned out to be one of my more intelligent moves.&quot;Former professional skateboarder Jason Lee has starred in the hit TV show My Name is Earl. Carl Weathers appeared in the Rocky films and he also played a parody of himself in the series Arrested Development.Are you surprised that there are so many actors who used to be athletes? Vote up the former sports stars who became the best athletic actors to ever grace the screen. Vote down the hacks who should have stuck to their first love.

Comedy

John McEnroe

The funniest professional athletes are the stars of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL who don't just amaze fans with their athletic skills but also keep their fans and teammates laughing with their jokes, antics and other assorted hilarity. Should these pro athletes ever need a second job or a new career once their football, baseball, basketball or hockey days end, comedy or entertainment would be a great choice.For the most part, fans see what the athletes do on the field as they watch games in person or on television but on rare occasions we get a glimpse into how these beloved sports stars act in real life. Some athletes make that easy with their constant tweeting, like New England Patriots wide out Chad Ochocinco, the NHL's best fourth-liner Paul Bissonnette and retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. These guys aren't just some of the most followed and most active athletes on Twitter but also easily the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/funniest-athlete-tweets/sportsyeah" target="_blank">funniest athletes on Twitter</a>.Going beyond social media, other athletes let fans into their lighter side with special appearances and other online fan interactions. Baller Steve Nash, mullet-lover Jared Allen and all-star pitcher C.J. Wilson are all frequent stars of their own YouTube videos where they do all kinds of wacky things. MLB player Brian Wilson, whose beard alone could get a laugh, has also starred in hilarious videos, in between other antics like showing up to the ESPY Awards in a spandex tuxedo and filming funny commercials.Others have more of a subtle sense of humor that comes out in small doses during media appearances and locker room interviews. There is however a trend for impersonations, just as Dwight Howard, who can do a mean impersonation of coach Stan Van Gundy, or Pittsburgh Steeler Crezdon Butler who can do a hilarious impersonation of coach Mike Tomlin. However these athletes are funny, they show us a softer, more human side of our favorite sports stars. Since we can't get all of our <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/athletes-who-should-get-a-reality-show/the-round-mound " target="_blank">favorites athletes to share their lives with reality shows</a>, these brief looks into their lives, whether it's scripted comedy or just them being their funny selves, will have to do.

Derrick Thomas

This list of athletes whose careers ended too soon includes dozens of promising athletes who for one reason or another were forced to leave the sports they loved well before they should have. Their stories are often tragic and leave their family members, teammates, opponents and fans wondering what could have happened had their careers continued. Sadly, we'll never know the answer to that one as these athletes all left their respective sports prematurely.Some of the greatest players to ever compete in sports like football, basketball, hockey and baseball were forced into retirement due to an injury. Even others were taken not only from professional sports but also from this life following a tragic incident which caused their death. Be it an injury or a complete loss of life, all of these athletes had plenty left to give but a catastrophic event changed all that.For many of these players, retiring at the top of their game was their decision after repeated injuries made it difficult to compete at a top level. Legendary Boston Bruins <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hockey-players-missing-teeth/brandon-oliver?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">hockey player Bobby</a> Orr, NBA star Yao Ming and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Troy Aikman are just a few who fall into that category. Others suffered a one-time injury, sometimes on national television during a big game, that gave them no choice but to retire. Joe Theismann, a legendary National Football League quarterback, fell into that category following what is perhaps <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/memorable-oscar-moments/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the most memorable</a> hit in league history. While those players retired and often remained in the sport in a broadcasting role, others were not so lucky. Sadly, this list also includes athletes who died suddenly during their professional athletic careers. Those stories are heartbreaking, such as the up-and-coming Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart who was killed by a drunk driver and NFL-player turned U.S. Army soldier Pat Tillman who was killed serving his country. As hard as it is to find something positive from these career-ending tragedies, each of them have raised awareness about ways that incidents like this can be prevented in the future. I can't think of any better way to honor these fine athletes than making the world a brighter place.

Female Athletes

Grete Waitz

The greatest female athletes of all time: a list of the most dominant, iconic female athletes to ever play or compete in their respective sports. This list gathers female sports stars from across every professional league, association, and organization as well as amateur female athletes who may have never competed professionally in one overall list. Though it may be challenging to compare performance in a variety of different competitive arenas requiring different skill sets, this list nevertheless attempts to distinguish the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-influential-female-athletes/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top female athletes</a> of all time. The most successful female athletes ever. The female sports stars that rise to the top can be considered to be not only some of the best female athletes of all time, but some of the best athletes, no qualifier, ever. Period.

Aspects to consider in picking a female best athlete of all time would include, obviously, that player&#39;s raw talent and born ability. Some individuals seem to be prodigally gifted in their sport of choice, and it&#39;s hard to discount the importance of this kind of natural talent. However, it&#39;s also important to evaluate hard work, discipline and a commitment to the game. Some women in sports may not have the natural, genetic ability to dunk a basketball or hit a home run, but nonetheless have trained to the point of reaching these goals all the same. (They may not be the greatest female athlete of all time at all women&#39;s sports, but they have mastered their activity).

So, who are the top female athletes of all time? From Jackie Joyner-Kersee to Ronda Rousey, and beyond! Be sure to vote up your favorites, then head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/highest-paid-female-athletes-2019/ranker-sports" target="_blank">highest-paid women in sports</a>.

Paula Radcliffe

The smartest professional athletes include Rhodes Scholars, 1580 SAT scorers, and<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/athletes-who-went-to-ivy-league-schools/people-in-sports" target="_blank"> Ivy League</a> standouts whose book smarts and pure intelligence is equally as impressive as their athletic ability. Smart athletes come from all sports with members of the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB among those who could easily be doctors, lawyers and very successful businessmen.While typically athletes are stereotyped as meatheads or big dumb animals, these athletes from football, basketball, hockey and baseball have nearly as many accomplishments off the field as they do on. These are not the athletes who skipped college or left early for the promise of big bucks playing professional sports. These are the athletes who made the tough decision to stay in school and earn a degree to carry them once their professional career ended.Take NFL safety Myron Rolle for example. He didn't just graduate premed from Florida State University in 2 1/2 years but went on to earn a master's from Oxford. He's far from the only smarty pants in the NFL though. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't just the fifth quarterback to throw for 300-plus yards in his debut but also the 2004 Ivy League MVP while pursuing an economics degree at Harvard.As if we didn't need another reason to hate be jealous of professional athletes with their fame, fortune and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/wags" target="_blank">hot wives</a>, these highly successful athletes are also way <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/smartest-famous-people/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">smarter than us</a>. Some guys have all the luck!

Influential

The most influential athletes of all time aren't just the best stars from their respective sports, but some of the most iconic individuals in&nbsp;the sports world. Whether they broke countless records or changed the way we all look at a specific sport, they influenced generations to come and will always be remembered at the top of their class. So, who do you think are the most influential athletes ever?No matter the sport or discipline, these&nbsp;top athletes are true icons. Whether you're talking the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-new-york-yankees-of-all-time" target="_blank">New York Yankees great</a> Babe Ruth&nbsp;or NBA GOAT Michael Jordan, the athletes listed here are far from your average sports stars. Take the legendary Deion&nbsp;Sanders, for example. Not only is he considered an NFL great, he's also an established professional baseball player—proving he's one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-around-best-athletes-2018/ranker-sports" target="_blank">greatest all-around athletes</a> of all time. While he's a rare case in terms of athletes, others on this list of influential sports stars have contributed greatly to their sport.&nbsp;Now, check out the list of athletes below and vote up your favorites for the most influential of all time. You can also vote athletes down, as well as add other sports icons to the list.&nbsp;

The Greatest Athletes Ever

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From big names like Kobe Bryant to upcoming stars like Adam Rippon,&nbsp;these famous Olympians from Pennsylvania have achieved some of the highest honors in sports history just by qualifying for the Olympics. Most athletes will never be chosen to represent their countries. Even if they didn't bring home the gold, these athletes made their home state proud.&nbsp;Which Olympians were born in Pennsylvania? Browse this list to find out.&nbsp;

List of Olympians from Pennsylvania | Olympic Athletes Born Here

Olympic Athletes Born in Pennsylvania

Athlete

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

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Age 30 and over

Gen Xers

Age under 50

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West Coast US

Us States

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant (August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Los Angeles Lakers. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships. Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, 12-time member of the All-Defensive team and was the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008. His four All-Star MVP Awards are tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he won gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team. In 2018, Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Dear Basketball. Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and three others, died on January 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash outside of Calabasas, California, at the age of 41.

Adam Rippon

Adam Rippon (born November 11, 1989) is an American figure skater. He won the 2010 Four Continents Championships and the 2016 U.S. National Championships. Earlier in his career, he won the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships, the 2007–08 Junior Grand Prix Final, and the 2008 U.S junior national title. Rippon was selected to represent the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Rippon won a bronze medal as part of the figure skating team event. Later that year, he won season 26 of Dancing with the Stars with professional dancer Jenna Johnson.
Rippon announced his retirement from competitive figure skating in November 2018.

Chad Kolarik

Chad E. Kolarik (born January 26, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey right wing. He is currently playing with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).



Brian O&#39;Neill

Ryan Zapolski

Ryan Zapolski is a professional ice hockey player.

Johnny Weir

John Garvin Weir (born July 2, 1984) is an American figure skater, fashion designer, and television commentator. He is a two-time Olympian, the 2008 World bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2001 World Junior Champion, and a three-time U.S. national champion (2004–2006). He is also known for his sports commentary with Tara Lipinski, as well as his work in LGBTQ activism.

Mike Richter

Michael Thomas Richter (born September 22, 1966) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played his entire career with the New York Rangers organization, and led the team to the Stanley Cup in 1994. He also represented the United States in international play on several occasions. Richter was named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, alongside his former Rangers and U.S. teammate Brian Leetch in 2008.
He is widely considered to be one of the most successful American-born goaltenders of all time.

Bill Russell

William Felton Russell (born February 12, 1934) is an American retired professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships during his thirteen-year career. Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. Russell led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, and he captained the gold-medal winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics.Bill Russell is regarded by many as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, with a 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) wingspan. His shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were major reasons for the Celtics' domination of the NBA during his career. Russell was equally notable for his rebounding abilities. He led the NBA in rebounds four times, had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds, and remains second all-time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. He is one of just two NBA players (the other being prominent rival Wilt Chamberlain) to have grabbed more than 50 rebounds in a game. Russell was never the focal point of the Celtics' offense, but he did score 14,522 career points and provided effective passing.
Russell played in the wake of black pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, and he was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. He also served a three-season (1966–69) stint as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black coach in North American professional sports and the first to win a championship. In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the Civil Rights Movement.Russell is one of seven players in history to win an NCAA Championship, an NBA Championship, and an Olympic gold medal. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, and named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, one of only four players to receive all three honors. In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame. In Russell's honor the NBA renamed the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy in 2009: it is now the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

A. J. Wood

Anthony "A. J." Wood (born August 17, 1973, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a retired American soccer forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer.  He was a member of the United States U-16 men's national soccer team at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship and also played for the U.S. at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Allison Baver

Allison Baver (born August 11, 1980) is an American short track speed skater.  Baver trains with the US permanent winter sports Olympic team, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  In the 2005-2006 season, she was ranked third overall in the World Rankings.
Baver was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.  She was a marketing and management major at Pennsylvania State University (2003) and an MBA at the New York Institute of Technology.At the 2006 Winter Olympics, in Turin, Italy, Baver finished seventh in the Women's 500 m competition, following a third-place finish in Semifinal A and a collision with the Czech Republic's Kateřina Novotná in Final B, which took her out of the race for fifth place.
On February 25, 2007, Baver won her first U.S. National Championship.On February 8, 2009, Baver collided with teammate Katherine Reutter on the third lap of the 1500 m race in Sofia, Bulgaria and fractured her leg in multiple places.At the 2010 Winter Olympics, in Vancouver, Baver competed in three events.  In the 1500 m, Baver did not make it past the semifinals. In the 1000 m, Baver was disqualified in the heats. In the 3000 m relay, Baver's U.S. team finished fourth but were awarded the bronze medal after one of the teams was disqualified for an infraction.In October 2010, Baver was the Grand Marshal for the 2010 Pennsylvania State University Homecoming celebrations.Baver is the founder of the Off the Ice Foundation, established in 2010.  The foundation, based in Salt Lake City, provides skating sports and education programs for schools and communities internationally.Baver, in 2016, was elected to a four-year term as vice president of the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association.

Allison Schmitt

Allison Rodgers Schmitt (born June 7, 1990) is an American competition swimmer who specializes in freestyle events, and is an eight-time Olympic medalist.
In her Olympic debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Schmitt won a bronze medal as a member of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.  Four years later, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she won a total of five medals, three of them gold, in the 200-meter freestyle (in which she set a new Olympic record), in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, and in the 4×100-meter medley relay (in which a new world record was set); and she also won a silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle, and a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 meter freestyle relay.
In total, Schmitt has won seventeen medals in major international competitions: eleven gold, five silver, and two bronze spanning the Summer Olympics, the FINA World Championships, the Pan Pacific Championships, and the Pan American Games.  She was a four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national champion in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle swimming events during college, and was a member of the Georgia Bulldogs team that won the NCAA Division I Women's team title in 2013.
Schmitt was named SwimSwam's Swammy Award-winner for Female Swimmer of the Year in 2012.

Andy Potts

Andrew Robert Potts (born December 28, 1976) is a triathlete from the United States. He competed in triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics and is the 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion. Prior to triathlon, Potts was a swimmer where he won the bronze medal in the men's 400m individual medley at the 1995 Summer Universiade and earned a spot on the USA Swimming national team where he would place fourth at the 1996 Olympic Trials in the 400 IM.

Angie Loy

Angie Loy (born April 23, 1982 in Loysville, Pennsylvania) is a field hockey forward from the United States, who earned her first career cap versus Ireland on January 14, 2004 at Stanford, California. Loy attended the Old Dominion University.  She was raised in rural Perry County, PA and attended West Perry High School in Elliottsburg, PA.  On September 25, 2008 the West Perry Field Hockey team retired Loy's high school hockey jersey (#3).  She is the first player to have her jersey retired by the field hockey team and the fourth player ever to have their jersey retired at West Perry High School.

Anita DeFrantz

Anita Lucette DeFrantz (born October 4, 1952) is an American Olympic rower, member of the International Olympic Committee, and twice Vice-President of International Rowing Federation (FISA).

Anita Nall

Nadia Anita Louise Nall (born July 21, 1976), also known by her married name Anita Nall-Richesson, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.  As a 16-year-old at the 1992 Summer Olympics, Nall won a gold medal in the women's 4×100-meter medley relay, a silver medal in the women's 100-meter breaststroke, and a bronze in the women's 200-meter breaststroke. Earlier that year, she broke the world record in the women's 200-meter breaststroke, as a 15-year-old at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Archie Strimel

Archibald Louis "Archie" Strimel (June 30, 1918 – March 29, 1990) was an American soccer goalkeeper who was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team.  He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team that year.
Strimel graduated from Cecil High School where he played soccer, basketball and baseball.  In 1935, Strimel and his team mates won the Pennsylvania Class B High School Basketball championship.  He then went to work in the coal mines before being drafted into the Army during World War II.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Strimel played for Morgan Strasser.  He also played for Pittsburgh Beadling
In 1948, Strimel was selected for the U.S. soccer team at the Summer Olympics.  He played in the 9-0 loss to Italy in the first round of the Olympics, which eliminated the U.S. from the tournament.  Following the Olympics, the U.S. played two full internationals, an 11-0 loss to Norway, followed by a 5-0 loss to Northern Ireland on August 11, 1948.At the time he was selected for the Olympic team, he was playing for the Curry Vets of Curry, Pennsylvania.  Curry was a top amateur team, losing the 1948 National Amateur Cup to Fall River Ponta Delgada.  He was also a successful minor league baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 2009, Strimel was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Barney Ewell

Henry Norwood "Barney" Ewell (February 25, 1918 – April 4, 1996) was an American athlete, winner of one gold and two silver medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics.
Born into poverty in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ewell was one of the world's leading sprinters of the 1940s. Ewell attended John Piersol McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  McCaskey High School honored Ewell by dedicating their stadium in his name. Ewell was also inducted into the J.P. McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame during the school's 50th anniversary year in 1988. Earlier in 1986 he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.Ewell was the state's greatest high school sprinter-jumper in the mid-1930s, but he first achieved renown while a student at Pennsylvania State University, running the 100 m and 200 m races and winning 12 gold medals and championships in collegiate meets between 1940 and 1942. He also won 11 gold medals in AAU national meets between 1939 and 1948. He was an outstanding long jumper as well, leaping 25 feet 2 inches (7.68 m) in 1942.He served his country in 1941–1945, returned to the university, and received his B.S. degree in 1947. He surprised everyone by making the 1948 Olympic team, equaling the world record of 10.2 in the 100 m dash at the 1948 AAU championship, which was also the Olympic trials.
At the Olympic Games in London, he thought he had won the 100 m only to learn the victory was given to teammate Harrison Dillard. In the 200 m, Ewell had another close finish and again finished second – this time to teammate Mel Patton. He was added to the 4 × 100 m relay when Ed Conwell became sick and the American team rolled to an easy victory. However, the exchange between Ewell and Lorenzo Wright was ruled out of the zone and the American team was disqualified. After viewing a film of the race, however, officials reversed the ruling, and Ewell finally had his Olympic gold medal.After the Olympics Ewell lost his amateur status for accepting gifts from his fans, but he continued to compete in Australia and New Zealand as a professional. He also took part in the Scottish Border games circuit during the summer of 1950. He lived most of those weeks in the town of Bathgate. He won one of the most prestigious sprints on the Border Games circuit at Jedburgh. Running off scratch over 120 yards he ran a time of 11.37 secs. He also took part in a special invitation race in August that same year to mark his time in Scotland (run as a handicap race) over 120 yards at the famous Powderhall venue. Ewell from the scratch mark lost narrowly to Albert C Charles (off 12.5 yds).
Ewell died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Ben Olsen

Benjamin Robert Olsen (born May 3, 1977) is an American former professional soccer player and the current head coach of D.C. United. Born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near Philadelphia. He later attended the University of Virginia, when he was named 1997 Soccer America Player of the Year.Olsen spent the vast majority of his professional career in the United States with D.C. United in Major League Soccer, which he joined straight out of college. Over the course of 12 seasons with United, Olsen made 221 appearances, scoring 29 goals and making 49 assists. During that time he won two MLS Cup titles, two MLS Supporters' Shields and one U.S. Open Cup winners medal. His individual honors include two-time MLS All-Star, 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, MLS Cup '99 MVP and 2007 MLS Best XI.Olsen also earned 37 caps with the United States men's national team, winning the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and representing the United States at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Olsen announced his retirement from professional competition on November 24, 2009.

Benny McLaughlin

Bernard "Benny" McLaughlin, Jr. (April 10, 1928 – December 27, 2012) was an American soccer forward who starred in the American Soccer League in the 1940s and 1950s.  He earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team, was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1977.

Bert Schneider

Julius Gustav Albert "Bert" Schneider (July 1, 1897 – February 20, 1986)  was a Canadian welterweight boxer who competed in the early 1920s.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, was raised in Montreal, and was Jewish.
Schneider's greatest success was as an amateur, winning the welterweight gold medal in boxing at the 1920 Summer Olympics with a win over British boxer Alexander Ireland in the final.  Schneider was the first Canadian to win an Olympic boxing gold medal. Only two other Canadian boxers have achieved that feat in all the years since:  Horace Gwynne in 1932 and Lennox Lewis in 1988.

Bill Toomey

William Anthony Toomey (born January 10, 1939) is a former American track and field competitor and the 1968 Olympic decathlon champion.
Ten's my favorite number.  Ten letters in my name.  Born January 10, always wore number 10 as a ball player.  It had to be the decathlon.

A graduate of Worcester Academy and the University of Colorado, Toomey was named ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year in 1968. He set the world record in the decathlon in December 1969 and received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 1969.
He won 23 of the 38 decathlons he competed in, scoring over 8,000 points a dozen times.  He was on the cover of the October 1969 issue of Track and Field News.A week after his world record, Toomey married Olympic gold-medal winning British athlete Mary Rand in 1969 and they had two daughters, Samantha and Sarah. They divorced after 22 years of marriage.
Toomey was head coach in track and field at the University of California at Irvine in the early 1970s. Before that he worked as a television broadcaster and marketing consultant.

Bob Rigby

Bob Rigby (born July 3, 1951 in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania) is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper. Rigby played twelve seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Western Soccer Alliance and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team. Rigby was the color commentator with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Bode Miller

Samuel Bode Miller (; born October 12, 1977) is an American former World Cup alpine ski racer. He is an Olympic and World Championship gold medalist, a two-time overall World Cup champion in 2005 and 2008, and the most successful male American alpine ski racer of all time. He is also considered one of the greatest World Cup racers of all time with 33 race victories and being one of five men (and last to date) to win World Cup events in all five disciplines. He is the only skier with five or more victories in each discipline. In 2008, Miller and Lindsey Vonn won the overall World Cup titles for the first U.S. sweep in 25 years.
Miller won six medals in the Winter Olympics, the most of any U.S. skier − two silvers (giant slalom and combined) in Salt Lake City 2002, a gold (super combined), a silver (super-G) and a bronze (downhill) in Vancouver 2010 and a bronze (super-G) in Sochi 2014. Miller is one of 5 skiers who have won Olympic medals in 4 different disciplines, matching the feats of Kjetil André Aamodt and female racers Anja Pärson, Janica Kostelić and Katja Seizinger.Miller ended his career with six discipline World Cup titles and also won four World Championships titles in four different disciplines (giant slalom, combined, super-G and downhill) and one silver medal in super-G. While his skiing career was coming to an end, Miller had switched his attention and investment to horse racing. He officially retired from ski racing in October 2017.

Casey Eichfeld

Casey Eichfeld (born 15 November 1989) is an American slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level since 2004. He won gold medals in single and double canoe at the 2015 Pan American Games. He competed in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics with the best result of seven place in the C1 event in 2016. At the world championships his best achievement is fourth place in C1 in 2015.

Brendan Hansen

Brendan Joseph Hansen (born August 15, 1981) is an American former competition swimmer who specialized in breaststroke events.  Hansen is a six-time Olympic medalist, and is also a former world record-holder in both the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke events (long course).
He won a total of twenty-five medals in major international competition, eighteen gold, four silver, and three bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships.  He was a member of the 2012 United States Olympic team, and won the bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke and a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

From big names like Kobe Bryant to upcoming stars like Adam Rippon,&nbsp;these famous Olympians from Pennsylvania have achieved some of the highest honors in ...