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Athletes

147 items ranked

The most gifted athletes in recorded history

Rated 2 points - posted 14 years ago by jplamas in category Sports.

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1.

Michael Schumacher

44 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

2.

Usain Bolt

42 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

3.

Kenenisa Bekele

40 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

4.

Tiger Woods

40 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

5.

Wayne Gretsky

37 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

6.

Michael Phelps

34 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

7.

Lance Armstrong

33 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

8.

Phil Taylor

33 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

9.

Muhammad Ali

33 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

10.

Joe Frazier

33 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

11.

Pele

33 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

12.

Michael Jordan

33 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

13.

Roger Federer

32 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

14.

Christy Ring

29 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

15.

Jack Nicklaus

29 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

16.

Pete Sampras

28 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

17.

Dan Marino

28 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

18.

Jonah Lomu

28 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

19.

Brian O'Driscoll

28 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

20.

Diego Maradona

28 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

21.

Babe Ruth

26 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

22.

Earvin Johnson

24 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

23.

Sean Purcell

24 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

24.

Steffi Graf

23 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

25.

Michael Johnson

23 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

26.

Mark Spitz

21 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

27.

Arnold Palmer

19 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

28.

Miruts Yifter

19 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

29.

Joe DiMaggio

18 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

30.

Brett Favre

18 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

31.

Brian Lara

18 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

32.

Patrick Ewing

18 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

33.

Alex Higgins

17 points - added 14 years ago by guest -

34.

Paolo Maldini

16 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

35.

Peyton Manning

15 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

36.

Jesse Owens

15 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

37.

Mike Tyson

15 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

38.

Zinedine Zidane

15 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

39.

Carl Lewis

14 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

40.

Richie McCaw

13 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

41.

Lester Piggott

12 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

42.

Martin Johnson

12 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

43.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

12 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas - 1 comment

Comments:

Snooker's most naturally gifted player the game has ever seen. The ultimate player with many records in terms of career titles and centuries and in 2025, he reached the semi finals of the World Snooker Championship, twenty nine years since his first. Seven time world champion across three decades, between 2001 and 2022.

Added 3 days ago by guest, 0 points

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44.

Henry Shefflin

6 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

45.

Mick O'Connell

6 points - added 14 years ago by jplamas -

46.

kelly slater

4 points - added 14 years ago by guest -

47.

Zhao Xintong

Just been crowned China's first world snooker champion. He is one of a current crop of players from the Asian country.

0 points - added 3 days ago by guest -

48.

Mark Williams

Wales's greatest ever snooker player, who recently turned fifty years old. A three time world champion (2000, 2003 and 2018).

0 points - added 3 days ago by guest -

49.

Hollie Doyle (flat jockey)

0 points - added 6 months ago by guest -

50.

Hannah Cockroft (Paralympian track and field)

0 points - added 8 months ago by guest -

51.

Simone Biles

Legendary American gymnast

0 points - added 9 months ago by guest -

52.

Julien Alfred (sprinter)

Became St Lucia's first Olympic champion during the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 100m.

0 points - added 9 months ago by guest -

53.

Leon Marchand

French swimmer who on the 31st of July 2024 won two gold medals in different disciplines on the same night. As of 1st August, he has a total of three individual gold medals.

0 points - added 9 months ago by guest -

54.

Sophie Pascoe

Legendary New Zealand paralympic swimmer.

0 points - added 10 months ago by guest -

55.

Kylian Mbappe

Footballer from France.

0 points - added 11 months ago by guest -

56.

Armand Duplantis

Known as 'Mondo' by many. World record pole vaulter. I would certainly put him top of the all time geat vaulters, even ahead of Sergey Bubka.

0 points - added 11 months ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

Lately, he broke a world record during the Paris Olympics, he had already won the Olympic title sewn up.

Added 9 months ago by guest, 0 points

57.

Sky Brown

Skateboarder who is tipped to do well, medal wise at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She won a bronze in Tokyo.

0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

58.

Katarina Johnson Thompson (heptathlon)

Recently became a two time World Champion (2019 & 2023). Also 2022 Commonwealth champion. She has certainly picked up where Jessica Ennis Hill left off when she became world champion for the first time in 2009.

0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

59.

Kirsten Warholm 400m hurdler

Comes from Norway and already on top of the world as of 31st August 2023.

0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

60.

Mark Selby (snooker player)

The most recent multiple winner to date in World Snooker Championship with four titles since his first in 2014. Recently, he made a maximum break,147, first ever in a memorable 2023 final.

0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

61.

Luca Brecel

Snooker player from Belgium who had an incredible seventeen day adventure, overcoming Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter finals, an even incredible comeback against an unseeded Chinese player in the semi finals and then beat Mark Selby in the final to become world champion.

0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

62.

Emma Raducanu

This tennis sensation won a Grand Slam title in the States.

0 points - added 3 years ago by guest -

63.

Rachel Blackmore (jockey)

Won the 2021 Aintree Grand National on Minella Times. Has also won many Grade Ones including Honeysuckle's 2021 Champion Hurdle win.

0 points - added 3 years ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

Also a Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey courtesy of A Plus Tard's 2022 win.

Added 1 year ago by guest, 0 points

64.

Sydney Mclaughlin (400m hurdler and current world record holder)

She has just been crowned Olympic champion in Tokyo pipping compatriot and current world champion, Dalilah Muhammad in one of the great 400m hurdle races.

0 points - added 3 years ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

American 400m hurdler who recently broke the world record during the Paris Olympics on he way to the gold medal. Now a two time Olympian and a phenomenal athlete.

Added 9 months ago by guest, 0 points

65.

Armand Duplantis (pole vault)

0 points - added 3 years ago by guest -

66.

Keely Hodgkinson

Britain's newest middle distance star. Won a silver medal during the postponed Tokyo Olympics. She won gold at the European Indoor Championships earlier in 2021.

0 points - added 3 years ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

As of 6th August 2024, she has just been crowned Olympic 800m champion where she achieved in Paris Also two time European Champion.

Added 9 months ago by guest, 0 points

67.

Rachael Blackmore (jockey)

0 points - added 4 years ago by guest -

68.

Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce

0 points - added 5 years ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

One of Jamaica's greatest ever sprinters, even ahead of Merlene Ottey.

Added 9 months ago by guest, 0 points

69.

Dalilah Muhammad (American 400m world record holder and world champion)

0 points - added 5 years ago by guest -

70.

Sergio Aguero (footballer)

Comes from Argentina and plays for a Premier League team, Manchester City. One of the greatest goalscorers in the club's history.

0 points - added 6 years ago by guest -

71.

Judd Trump (snooker player)

Became World Champion on 6th May 2019.

0 points - added 6 years ago by guest - 2 comments

Comments:

As of 5th May 2025, former world champion, two time UK champion (2011 & 2024) and two Masters winner (2019 & 2023). Recently, he reached the semi finals of the World Snooker Championship, rounding off his memorable season, breaking many records including his 1,000th century.

Added 3 days ago by guest, 0 points

2019 world snooker champion who made his 1000th century at a ranking event in Cheltenham. Probably the quickest snooker player to reach the milestone.

Added 6 months ago by guest, 0 points

72.

Mohamed Salah (footballer)

0 points - added 6 years ago by guest -

73.

Noah Lyles (sprinter)

0 points - added 6 years ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

American sprinter who has just become Olympic 100 champion in an enthralling race.

Added 9 months ago by guest, 0 points

74.

Harry Kane (footballer)

0 points - added 7 years ago by guest -

75.

Steven Gerrard

0 points - added 7 years ago by guest -

76.

Robbie Power (jockey)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

77.

Laura Kenny (formerly Trott) (cyclist)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

78.

Caterine Ibarguen (Long jump)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

79.

Wayde Van Niekerk (South African born 400m runner and world record holder)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

80.

Sarah Sjostrom (swimming)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest - 1 comment

Comments:

As of 6th August 2024, she won two Olympic gold medals in different disciplines during the Paris games. She is without doubt one of Sweden's great sport stars.

Added 9 months ago by guest, 0 points

81.

Denise Lewis

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

82.

Christian Taylor

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

83.

Laura Muir

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

84.

Kendra Harrison

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

85.

Ryan Moore (jockey)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -

86.

Federica Pelligrini (swimmer)

0 points - added 8 years ago by guest -