For centuries, women have struggled to make a name for themselves in a sports world that was heavily dominated by males. Despite facing challenges such as gender bias and reduced funding and training resources, there have been countless female athletes that have made incredible contributions to their respective sports. From the first woman to compete in the Olympic Games to the breakout basketball and golf stars dominating the sports world right now, this article charts the inspiring history of the world’s greatest female athletes and celebrates their achievements.
From around the world, this comprehensive list recognizes the top women athletes in history from 10 different sports, including gold medallists, world champions, and record-breakers. Let’s take a look at some of the most inspiring women in sports.
Gymnastics: Olga Korbut
Olga Korbut was a trailblazing Belarusian gymnast who rose to international fame at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, becoming known as the “Sparrow from Minsk.” At age 17, she scored perfect 10s on the balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise. She also hurled herself through the air, executing daring flips and wild combinations that had never been seen in gymnastics before.
As a result, she raised the profile of the sport, earned international renown, and received death threats from jealous competitors who had never achieved the same kind of success. In total, Korbut has won four Olympic gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals throughout her career.
Athletics: Jackie Joyner-Kersee
American heptathlete and long jumper Jackie Joyner-Kersee is one of the greatest athletes in Olympic history. The 4-time Olympic gold medal winner achieved success at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, in which she competed in a range of events including the hurdles, pentathlon and long jump.
Kersee is one of the few athletes to have won medals in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympics. She also set numerous world records throughout her career and is the only American athlete to have ever earned medals in four different Olympic Games. In 1983, she was named the US Track and Field Athlete of the Year and has since been inducted into both the US Olympic Hall of Fame and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Golf: Annika Sorenstam
Throughout her illustrious career, the Swedish-born golfer Annika Sorenstam has set the standard for female golfers. She is an 11-time major champion winner, has held 62 LPGA tour victories, and is one of just four female players to have won the Career Grand Slam.
Sorenstam was named the LPGA Player of the Year a record 8 times and in 2005 became the first woman ever to play in a PGA tournament. She also holds the record for most consecutive wins in the same year, with seven victories in 2004.
Swimming: Katie Ledecky
American swimmer Katie Ledecky is considered one of the best athletes of her generation. She burst onto the international scene in 2013, when she won five medals—four of them gold—at the World Championships at the age of just 15.
Since then Ledecky has gone on to become one of the most decorated swimmers ever. She is the fastest female swimmer in history and the current holder of the world record in the 400, 800 and 1500 meters freestyle. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she won four gold medals and one silver medal. Furthermore, in 2018 she became the only women to win five medals at the world championships.
Basketball: Diana Taurasi
Over the course of her career, Diana Taurasi has become one of the greatest basketball players of all time. As a professional, Taurasi has won five WNBA championships, was named the WNBA MVP three times, as well as an All-Star 9 times.
To date, Taurasi has made an impressive 3,361 three-pointers–the most in WNBA history–and is just the third player in the WNBA to amass over 6,000 points. Her skill and leadership have led her team to many championships, while her work ethic and commitment to her teammates are inspirational.
Track and Field: Allyson Felix
The American track and field athlete Allyson Felix is one of the most successful athletes in US Olympic history. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she became the first female track athlete to win three gold medals in a single Olympic games.
Felix holds the record for most world championship gold medals, with nine total medals across both individual and relay events. She is also the first female track and field athlete to achieve six Olympic gold medals, and the only one to have earned medals in three consecutive Olympic Games.
Soccer: Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm is a former American soccer player and one of the most celebrated figures in the sport’s history. During her 17-year professional career, Hamm won two FIFA Women’s World Cup™ titles, two Olympic gold medals, and four consecutive NCAA championships with the University of North CarolinaTar Heels.
Hamm is the second most-capped soccer player in history and holds the world record for most international goals with 158. She was recognized by Time magazine as one of the world’s most influential people, and in 1999 was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Tennis: Billie Jean King
The iconic tennis star Billie Jean King is one of the most influential female athletes of all time. After winning the Wimbledon singles title six times, King achieved success again in 1973 when she defeated Bobby Riggs in the celebrated “Battle of the Sexes” match.
King’s impressive list of achievements includes 12 Grand Slam titles, 39 Grand Slam singles titles and a record 20 Wimbledon titles, giving her more career titles than any other player in history.Her efforts to fight for equal pay for female players in professional tennis, as well as her work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, have resulted in lasting changes in the sports world and have inspired generations of athletes.
Ice Hockey: Hayley Wickenheiser
Hayley Wickenheiser is one of the greatest female hockey players in the world and one of the most successful Winter Olympic competitors of all time. As the leader of the Canadian women’s national hockey team, she has won four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, as well as six World Championship gold medals.
Wickenheiser is the first female hockey player to score at both the Olympics and the World Championships, and is currently the all-time scoring leader for the Canadian Women’s Olympic Team. She is also the first female hockey player to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame, earning that accolade in 2019.
Boxing: Claressa Shields
Regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Claressa Shields is the reigning middleweight champion and the undisputed pound-for-pound queen of female boxing. Shields is the first woman to win multiple Olympic gold medals, achieving this at the 2016 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Shields’ success in the sport has broken numerous records, such as being the first woman to secure undisputed world titles in two weight classes, and first woman to box in two different Olympic Games. She continues to break barriers in the sport, and her tenacity and confidence have made her one of the most inspiring athletes in the world.
Surfing: Layne Beachley
Regarded as one of the best professional surfers of all time, Layne Beachley is an Australian legend.She won her first professional surfing event in 1991 and went on to win seven consecutive world championships from 1998 to 2004.
Beachley is an innovator of the sport and holds numerous surfing records, such as winning more world titles than any other surfer in history. She also created her own charity, Aim for the Stars, which supports and mentors young women to reach their goals in sport and the performing arts.
From groundbreaking records to inspiring activism, these top female athletes in sports history are true heroes and serve as ongoing inspiration to female competitors everywhere. These female athletes have challenged gender bias and overcome adversity to take their place at the peak of their respective sports. As both athletes and role models, they have made invaluable contributions to the world of sports and have opened the way for future generations of female athletes.
