The greatest athletes in history

September 17, 2022
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Legends among themselves: Tiger Woods (left) and Roger Federer 2007 in Miami.

20 major titles, 103 tournament wins, 310 weeks at the top of the ATP world rankings, aesthetically raised tennis to a new level, had a lasting influence on subsequent generations of athletes and established himself as a benefactor and role model next to the court. Hardly any other athlete can claim what tennis maestro Roger Federer (41) has achieved. Blick says who the other athletes are at whose level the Basel bidder is now.

Muhammad Ali (†74), Boxen

He soon declared himself the greatest of all, and most likely he was right: Ali, who went by the name of Cassius Clay before converting to Islam, was more than just a heavyweight champion with a career record of 56 wins, 5 losses and fights of the century against Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman. He was an entertainer, conscientious objector, womanizer, civil rights activist, loudmouth, peace activist. An icon, a natural phenomenon, a proud black man. Wherever he performed, he moved the masses. At the Rumble in the Jungle, the people of the Congo sided with him, and their “Ali, Boma Ye” (“Ali, kill him”) became legendary. Moving was his return to the big stage at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where, already severely affected by Parkinson’s disease, he lit the Olympic flame.

Usain Bolt (36), track and field

The Jamaican is the fastest man in history, his 9.58 seconds, which he ran in Berlin in 2009, are still the magic mark over 100 m, he dominated his opponents at will. He also holds the world records over 200 m and 4×100 m to this day. Unforgettable also his entertainer qualities. He has eight Olympic gold medals and eleven world championship titles.

Ayrton Senna (†34), Formula One

For millions of fans, there is no discussion at all: Senna is the greatest pilot of all time. 41 victories, 80 podium places in 161 starts and three world championship titles are the bare figures for the man from São Paulo, who died in a crash in Imola on May 1, 1994. “Ayrton really believed that he was immortal,” said his archrival Alain Prost once about the devout Brazilian, who had a similarly excellent reputation among his colleagues as Federer did in the tennis circus. Comforting: Three hours before the start of Senna’s death race, the enemy Prost and Senna were still reconciled in the paddock.

Michael Jordan (59), Basketball

Ever since «The Last Dance», the Netflix generation has known what made Jordan special: irrepressible will to win, perfectionism, spectacle. He won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, in between he made a detour to baseball. Jordan also became an icon away from the parquet floor: he played himself in the film Space Jam, Nike launched its own shoe collection with Air Jordan, and the clothing brand Jordan survives to this day. In 2016, he became basketball’s first dollar billionaire.

Wayne Gretzky (61), ice hockey

«The Great One». When he retired, he held 61 different NHL records, was immediately inducted into the Hall of Fame, and his number 99 was immediately league-wide locked. No one has scored more goals, provided more assists and scored more points than the four-time Stanley Cup champion. He scored 200 points four times in one season – no one else managed to do that even once. When Gretzky was transferred to Los Angeles from the struggling Edmonton Oilers in 1988, things were going haywire in Canada. A parliamentarian from the New Democratic Party even called for the government to block the deal.

Pelé (81), soccer

It’s nasty: Younger semesters know him mainly from Viagra advertising. While video footage abounds of later-born Maradona, Cruyff, Ronaldo and Messi, anyone who wants to see Pele in action has to do their research. The triple world champion scored 1301 goals in 1390 games. Perhaps the statement by Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas best shows what makes up the myth of Pelé. Alfredo Di Stefano is said to be the best footballer in history. Pele? It doesn’t count because it’s more than that.

Tiger Woods (46), Golf

Car accidents, drugs, alcohol and affairs galore: Tiger Woods’ life is reminiscent of a soap opera. But the golf superstar, who, as a black man, stirred up a conceited white sport, dominated almost continuously from 1999 to 2010. Even today, when Woods plays, the ratings of the TV stations go through the roof. The Californian with 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 major titles is one of only three sports billionaires, alongside basketball players Jordan and LeBron James.

Michael Phelps (37), swimming

28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. To ask? No matter what sport, no one has Olympic medals anymore. With its long torso and long arms, «The Baltimore Bullet» is still considered by most professionals to be the perfect swimmer. The American set standards from the noughties, from Athens 2004 to Rio 2016, gold went to the 39-time world record holder from the USA. Today, Phelps is committed to the mental health of athletes. Also because of his own story: after London 2012 and Rio 2016, he fell into a hole and thought about suicide.

Jim Thorpe († 65), track and field, football, baseball, basketball

“You, sir, are the king of athletes,” said Sweden’s king as he presented Thorpe with the 1912 decathlon gold medal. But the first Native American to win Olympic gold could do a lot more: He played football, baseball and basketball professionally. Because he had played baseball semi-professionally before his Olympic participation, he lost the IOC gold in the decathlon and in the classic pentathlon. It was only in 1983 that it was decided that he was actually entitled to the precious metal, and it was not until 2022 that he was declared the sole Olympic champion again. Of course he didn’t see that for a long time. Thorpe, who had drinking problems after his career, was married three times and fathered eight children, died of heart failure in 1953.