10. Usain Bolt
This entry may turn a few heads but let it be noted: Usain Bolt is "The Fastest Man Alive". After setting world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the Bejing Olympics in 2008, and in 2012, he clearly deserves a spot on our list.
9. Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr defined and recreated the standard for defencemen in the NHL. Along with being a noted scorer (he's the only D-man to have won the Art Ross Trophy), the 5'11 Canadian was a star on International ice as well despite retiring at the age of 30.
8. Walter Payton
He's the league's most prolific running back with career records for rushing yards, touchdowns and all-purpose yards. "Sweetness" earns high honors, and a spot on our list.
7. Roger Federer
Federer enters the list as a 16-time Grand Slam winner who once spent 285 weeks at the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings. As he still swings the racket professionally, the Swiss star has won all four Grand Slams including six Wimbeldon championships, five US Opens, four Australia opens and 1 French Open.
6. Jerry Rice
One of the greatest professional American football players to ever play the game, Jerry Rice helped build a franchise (San Francisco) and created one of the most dynamic tandems in the history of American football. With three Super Bowls, 13 Pro Bowls and 12 All-Pro nominations in 20 seasons, Rice is the all-time NFL leader in receptions, touchdown receptions and receiving yards.
5. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt "The Stilt" was a legend on the hardwood showing dominance as a 7'1 center who could score 100 points in a single game and lead the NBA in assists. Though he only won an NBA Championship twice (1967, 1972), Chamberlain was a 13-time All-Star who was also a 7-time scoring champion and a 11-time rebounding champion.
4. Michael Phelps
Phelps might be a bit young for the Top 10, but the 27-year-old is the most decorated Olympian of all-time. In just three Summer Olympics, the retired swimmer won 22 Olympic medals, 18 of which were gold while eight came from the 2008 Beijing Games where he set the record for the most first-place finishes.
3. Babe Ruth
While Major League Baseball was peppered with a large handful of legendary hitters, "The Sultan Of Swat" set career records for home runs (714), RBIs (2,217) and slugging percentage (.690) in 22 seasons after converting from being a starting pitcher for the Red Sox to being a right-fielder for the Yankees.
2. Pele
Signed to a local Brazilian club at just 16, Pele became the top scorer in his league in his first season. He would go on to score 589 goals in 605 appearances and become a dominant position player in soccer with an unmatchable talent.
1. Jim Thorpe
Though his athletic career blossomed towards the start of the 1900s', Jim Thorpe is highly recognized for being one of the greatest all-round athletes. As he apparently "never practiced in his entire life", Thorpe won gold in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics, excelled in the NFL and the MLB and was even an inter-collegiate ballroom dancing champion.
Source: Likes
This entry may turn a few heads but let it be noted: Usain Bolt is "The Fastest Man Alive". After setting world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the Bejing Olympics in 2008, and in 2012, he clearly deserves a spot on our list.
9. Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr defined and recreated the standard for defencemen in the NHL. Along with being a noted scorer (he's the only D-man to have won the Art Ross Trophy), the 5'11 Canadian was a star on International ice as well despite retiring at the age of 30.
8. Walter Payton
He's the league's most prolific running back with career records for rushing yards, touchdowns and all-purpose yards. "Sweetness" earns high honors, and a spot on our list.
7. Roger Federer
Federer enters the list as a 16-time Grand Slam winner who once spent 285 weeks at the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings. As he still swings the racket professionally, the Swiss star has won all four Grand Slams including six Wimbeldon championships, five US Opens, four Australia opens and 1 French Open.
6. Jerry Rice
One of the greatest professional American football players to ever play the game, Jerry Rice helped build a franchise (San Francisco) and created one of the most dynamic tandems in the history of American football. With three Super Bowls, 13 Pro Bowls and 12 All-Pro nominations in 20 seasons, Rice is the all-time NFL leader in receptions, touchdown receptions and receiving yards.
5. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt "The Stilt" was a legend on the hardwood showing dominance as a 7'1 center who could score 100 points in a single game and lead the NBA in assists. Though he only won an NBA Championship twice (1967, 1972), Chamberlain was a 13-time All-Star who was also a 7-time scoring champion and a 11-time rebounding champion.
4. Michael Phelps
Phelps might be a bit young for the Top 10, but the 27-year-old is the most decorated Olympian of all-time. In just three Summer Olympics, the retired swimmer won 22 Olympic medals, 18 of which were gold while eight came from the 2008 Beijing Games where he set the record for the most first-place finishes.
3. Babe Ruth
While Major League Baseball was peppered with a large handful of legendary hitters, "The Sultan Of Swat" set career records for home runs (714), RBIs (2,217) and slugging percentage (.690) in 22 seasons after converting from being a starting pitcher for the Red Sox to being a right-fielder for the Yankees.
2. Pele
Signed to a local Brazilian club at just 16, Pele became the top scorer in his league in his first season. He would go on to score 589 goals in 605 appearances and become a dominant position player in soccer with an unmatchable talent.
1. Jim Thorpe
Though his athletic career blossomed towards the start of the 1900s', Jim Thorpe is highly recognized for being one of the greatest all-round athletes. As he apparently "never practiced in his entire life", Thorpe won gold in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics, excelled in the NFL and the MLB and was even an inter-collegiate ballroom dancing champion.
Source: Likes
