10 Sports Legends
Throughout history, we have seen how athletes and adventure lovers have dedicated their lives to challenging nature and pushing their physical abilities to the limit, and many of them have set historic milestones that have left us behind. completely impressed with his talent and skills.
We've rounded up some of the world's most significant and memorable sports legends. Read on for their great stories!
10 SPORTS LEGENDS THAT MADE HISTORY
TONY HAWK
Tony Hawk is without a doubt one of skateboarding's greatest legends. He has been the only skater in history to get sponsors at the young age of 12, turn pro at 14, and become the best skater in the world at 16. Originally from San Diego, California, Hawk led a career spanning more than 17 years, winning more than 70 skateboarding contests, winning X Games gold medals in 1995 and 1997. In addition, he was crowned world champion of skateboarding in vertical mode for 12 consecutive years.
Tony Hawk always bet on skateboarding. He never got involved in other extreme sports throughout his career, not even during skateboarding's decline in the 1990s, which put many practitioners of the sport in doubt. Back then, Hawk decided to venture out with his family and open a skate-focused board and clothing store (Birdhouse Stakeboard), and also launched his iconic line of skateboarding video games! Less than a year later, this extreme sport would skyrocket! to the top!
Today Tony Hawk is considered the best skateboarder in the world for redefining vert with his gritty skills and track record, and for being the first skateboarder to achieve a 900 degree turn in the stocking pipeline. Quite a milestone!
he also created the Tony Hawk Foundation, which has dedicated itself to contributing to hundreds of skate park projects in the US.USA, especially in less privileged and low-income areas.
KELLY SLATER
Every surfer, professional or amateur, knows who the famous American surfer Kelly Slater is. A legend of surfing!
Originally from Cocoa Beach, Slater is considered one of the best and most agile in this extreme sport, if not the best in history, and one of the highest exponents and contributors to the popularization of surfing around the world.
At just 20 years old, he triumphed at the ASP World Championship, breaking the record for becoming the youngest winner in its history (which stands to this day) and also the record for the oldest after competing even at 39 years old.
he was world champion 11 times, of which 5 times were consecutive between 1994 and 1998. Slater shone in multiple competitions such as the X-Games, the Billabing Pro Mundaka, the Boost Mobile Pro, and managed to become a living legend of surfing.
ALEX HONNOLD
Climbing big walls is quite a challenge, but doing it without equipment or assistance is quite a milestone! And Alex Honnold has shone in his career as an extreme athlete precisely for this reason.
Born in Sacramento, California, Alex Honnold is a professional in the discipline of Big Wall Climbing in the free solitary style, without any protection or security. During his career, Honnold has already broken several speed and climbing records, but the most impressive has been achieving the first solo ascent of the
His great feat of him was documented in the renowned adventure documentary Free solo, awarded with an Academy Award in 2019, in the category of Best Documentary Feature. But this is not the only feat of the brave climber, he also stands out for breaking the world speed record on The Nose on El Capitan in a time of 01h 58m 07s.
he also managed the triple solo ascent of Mt Wakins, The Nose and the Northwest face of Half Dome, (all in Yosemite) in a time of 18h and 50m.
Also, Alex Honnold stands out for being the first free solo in:
- On the Moonlight Buttress wall in April 2008.
- On the Northwest face of Half Dome, in September 2008.
- At the Half Dome in 1 hour, 22 minutes in May 2012.
- On the grade V great wall route The Shining Path (5.12d) in El Potrero Chico, Mexico in a time of 3 hours…
And so many more feats! Alex Honnold is definitely an exponent in the world of solo big-wall climbing and a legend of extreme sports.
MICHAEL JORDAN
I'm sure everyone has heard of the NBA star basketball player who led the Chicago Bulls to victory for 13 seasons. That's right, Michael Jordan in his shooting guard position, is currently recognized as one of the greatest former basketball players in history.
At nearly 7' tall and originally from Brooklyn New York, Michael won 6 NBA rings with the Chicago Bulls, a league-high 30 average.1 points per game. Later in his career he went on to play for the Washington Wizards.
Michael Jordan has stood out in his career for his style, professionalism, determination and drive to win through teamwork. He has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his successful career in sports, including 10 Top Scorer titles, and has been featured in Sports Illustrated magazine some 50 times.
he was also named Best Athlete of the 20th Century by ESPN. He finally retired from basketball in 2003. He currently owns the NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets!
ROGER FEDERER
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer certainly does not need a letter of introduction. Born in Basel, Switzerland, Federer is considered the greatest tennis player of all time.
Federer has won 20 Grand Slam titles (the most in history) out of the 31 he has participated in, which is also a record number. In addition, it remained for a time of 310 weeks in the ATP #1 can, of which 237 were consecutive. Another record! His professional career began in 1998 and he remained almost uninterruptedly in the ranking of the 10 best tennis players in the world.
Roger wields a versatile, agile style on multiple surfaces, with a wide variety of shots, and extraordinary quickness on his feet. However, he seems to stand out even more for carrying a humble and composed attitude when playing, with almost elegant shots.
He is one of eight tennis players to have won the title at all four Grand Slam tournaments and has reached a record six ATP World Tour Finals, 28 Masters 1000, record 24 ATP World Tour 500 titles and 25 ATP World Tour 250. He has also won 8 Wimbledon Championship titles, 6 Australian Open titles, 5 US Open titles, and a Roland Garros Tournament title.
Roger has been named ATP Player of the Year 5 times, ITF World Champion 5 times, and has also been awarded the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award 5 times. Likewise, he was awarded the Sportsmanship Award three times. Without a doubt, Roger Federer has been crowned a true tennis legend!
MIGUEL INDURAN LARRAYA
Miguel Indurain Larraya. A complete cycling crack! The former Spanish cyclist was crowned winner of the Tour de France from 1991 to 1995 consecutively, and twice winner of the Giro d'Italia at 92' and 93'. But Miguel Indurain didn't stop there! He reached the hour record in 94' (for two weeks), became world champion in the time trial category a year later, and then emerged as Olympic time trial champion in 96'.
From then on his career continued with great success, standing out and winning multiple laps in one-week stages and the one-day classics, but he stood out especially in the time trial stages that gave him his victories. He won several laps such as the Volta a Cataluña in 1988, 1991 and 1992; Paris-Nice in 1989 and 1990; the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1990; the Spanish Road Championship in 1992; and the Dauphiné Libéré in 1995 and 1996.
he is considered one of the best cyclists in history along with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi and Bernard Hinault; and the eighth best in the Tour de France according to a panel from the Tour itself. He was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, among other awards in recognition of his sports career.
Also, he is one of the most outstanding climbers in the world of cycling. A true born athlete and a legend of cycling!
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
Michael Schumacher, has been the most awarded and admired in the entire history of Formula 1. Undoubtedly, a true crack of the discipline and an inspiring exponent of speed motorsport. After his retirement in 2006, the former German driver competed in motorcycle racing, but returned to F1 in 2010. He finally retired in 2012 from professional motorsports.
Schumacher triumphed as winner in seven Formula 1 world championships, of which two have been with the Benetton team in the years 1994 and 1995, and five with the Ferrari team between 2000 and 2004. He accumulated 91 victories and 155 podiums in his career, and has been recognized as one of the best Formula 1 drivers. A crack of motorsport!
MARC MARQUEZ
The Spanish Marc Márquez is one of the most followed motorcyclists currently due to his talent and winning ability. He has been crowned the youngest world champion in the history of Spanish motorcycling, after winning a championship in the top category of this sport (MotoGP), a title he achieved in 2013 at just 20 years of age. In addition, he is the youngest rider in history to be bi, tri, tetra, penta and six-time champion of the premier category of motorcycling.
This young motorcycling legend has won 8 World Championship titles in three different categories including 125cc in 2010; Moto2 in 2012; and six times in MotoGP in the years 2013 and 2014, and consecutively from 2016 to 2019.
Marc Márquez is currently a rider with Repsol Honda, a team for which he has accumulated 50 victories and 78 podiums in 105 races, and with which he has considered participating until at least 2024.
And it seems that talent runs in the family! Marc and his younger brother Alex, also a rider in the MotoGP category, are the only brothers to have won a Motorcycle World Championship. They are also the brothers who have coincided on the podium of a Grand Prix in this discipline the most times.
MICHAEL PHELPS
Michael Phelps has undoubtedly led an admirable career as the greatest swimmer of all time. In fact, he has been the most decorated Olympian in history, winner of 28 Olympic medals.
In total, he holds the records for the most Olympic gold medals (23), also the most gold medals in individual events (13) and also the most Olympic medals in men's events (15).
For his arduous career, Michael Phelps has been honored as Swimmer of the Year six times and American Swimmer of the Year eight times. His Olympic performance in 2008 earned him the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award.
Michael officially retired as a professional swimmer at the end of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in which he accumulated 5 gold medals and one silver. Phelps started the Michael Phelps Foundation, focused on developing swimming and promoting healthy lifestyles in 2008 and maintains it today.
TERJE HAKONSEN
Snowboarders - beginners and professionals alike - have surely been following Norwegian Terje Håkonsen's trail throughout his career! One of the greatest exponents of snowboarding of our era and of all time. Categorized as an icon of snow since its beginnings as an extreme sport, and known for being the creator of the trick The Haakon Fli.
he He was the winner of five European championships in the modality half-pipe (in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997) and the U.S Open in half-pipe three times (1992, 1993, 1995). He was champion three times in the FIS World Half-pipe Championship, in the years 1993, 1995 and 1997 in freestyle mode. Additionally, he won the Innsbruck Air & Style Contest in 1995, and was also victorious at Mt. Baker Banked Slalom 6 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004).
Terje Håkonsen also stood out in his career for setting the world record for the highest air during the qualifying round of the Arctic Challenge in Oslo in 2007, at which point he reached a height above the quarterpipe of 9.8 meters with a backside 360.
Terje Hakonsen really knew how to reach another level with his very high Airs, his new tricks in the 90's and his unmistakable style that make him a legend of this extreme sport!
In addition, he was the designer and co-creator of some of his sponsor Burton Snowboards' board models, such as the Burton Fish and the Burton Malolo. In addition, he starred in multiple snowboarding movies in which he participated with other category snowboarders such as Travis Rice, Nicollas M
Multifaceted and talented, his influence definitely made a big difference in snowboarding history. And of course, if his mentor was none other than Craig Kelly!
Yes, we are fortunate to have so much sporting talent, which fills all adventurers with inspiration to achieve our own sporting feats. What are some of your favorite athletes?
