It’s no secret that sport is often seen as a man’s world, with some of the best-known athletes on the planet being men. However, there are also many female athletes who have made history because of their skills and perseverance.
In today’s article, we will honor the women who defied sports betting odds and the restraints placed on their gender - by showcasing some of the greatest female athletes of all time. These women refused to be controlled and rose up to become some of the best-known athletes in the world.
So let’s take a look at these amazing women and everything they accomplished through their notable careers.
During her life, Babe Didrikson Zaharias would win countless awards for her achievements in sport, which ranged from track and field to golf and basketball. In 1932, she would win the Olympic gold medal for the 80-meter hurdle and javelin, as well as the silver medal for the high jump.
Zaharias then went on to win countless golf tournaments and became the first (and only) woman to win a place on the PGA tour event.
Lottie Dod was only 15 when she won the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championship, making her the youngest woman to earn the title. She then went on to win the title four more times before turning her sights to the hockey field.
During this time in her career, Dod would win numerous awards and tournaments, which included both field hockey and amateur golf. In 1908, she would take home the Olympic silver medal for her achievements in archery.
Now considered the greatest female athlete of the 20th century, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a 4-time Olympian and 6-time Olympic medal winner - making her one of the most decorated athletes on our list.
During her career, Joyner-Kersee won the gold medal for the Heptathlon twice, as well as many other awards and titles. She is also one of the most famous athletes to overcome her severe asthma.
In her lifetime, Fanny Blankers-Koen would win 4 gold medals during the 1948 Olympics, where she performed in the Pentathlon. She also set 12 world records in events such as the long jump, high jump, and sprint.
In 1999, she was voted one of the greatest female athletes of the 20th century and has since become an inspiration for women around the world.
Clara Hughes is a cycling and speed skating champion, who rose to fame as the only person (man or woman) to win multiple awards in both the summer and winter Olympics. She is also a 6-time Olympic champion.
In 2010, she was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and has been named one of the most influential female athletes of all time.
Known for her achievements in soccer, Mia Hamm appeared in the first four Women’s World Cups, winning two of the tournaments. She also won gold in the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, which earned her universal recognition.
Since then, Hamm has earned 158 career goals in international competitions, which is more than any other athlete in the world (man or woman). Hamm has also been named Women’s FIFA World Player of the Year two times.
Born in the Ukrainian SSR, Larissa Latynina first rose to prominence at the age of 21, when she competed in the 1956 Olympics. During her sporting career, Latynina would win a total of 18 Olympic medals, with 9 of them being gold.
For 48 years, Larissa held the record for most Olympic medals and remains the only gymnast (man or woman) to earn 9 gold medals. She is now credited with helping the Soviet Union establish itself as a dominant force in gymnastics.
Martina Navratilova is now considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with her career spanning over 30 years. She holds the best winning record of any tennis player in history and has won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon a record-breaking 9 times.
Navratilova is an open lesbian and has garnered much attention for her activism and support of LGBTQ+ rights. She has also donated thousands to political causes, charities, and the better treatment of animals.
Another tennis player notable for her illustrious career, Billie Jean King would win 12 Grand Slam titles and was the oldest woman to win a singles tournament at the age of 39. However, she is best known for beating Bobby Riggs in the second ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match, which took place in 1973.
She is now regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time and has been awarded numerous awards and honors for her achievements.
In the 1960 Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field. During her career, she was considered to be the fastest woman in the world and garnered much attention for her stamina and skill.
As an Olympic champion in the 1960s, Rudolph became one of the most celebrated black women in America and was seen as an inspiration by black and female athletes around the world. Her achievements have been documented in films, television shows, documentaries, and books.
