Some rules
1) They have to be Olympians that I have seen live and I was born in 1987 so really 1992 on when I started watching.
2) They have to have won at least 1 medal for Team USA
Here is the list....
10 Favorite Female Olympic Athletes of All-Time
10. Maya Dirado
Dorado was apart of the US domination in the swimming events at these Olympics. She showed such happiness and love for her country in the process. I just really admired her during these Rio games. Can't wait to see what she does in Tokyo.
Dorado was apart of the US domination in the swimming events at these Olympics. She showed such happiness and love for her country in the process. I just really admired her during these Rio games. Can't wait to see what she does in Tokyo.
9. Allyson Felix
Allyson Felix is the most decorated woman in Olympic history for track and field. I would be hard pressed to leave her off. She was edged in the finals of the 400m last night due to a last second dive, but I so enjoy her competitive spirit.
8. Katie Ledecky
Another newcomer to this list, Ledecky was simply dominant during these Rio games. She looks to be the female Michael Phelps and at just 19 years old, it is exciting to see what she will do next.
Allyson Felix is the most decorated woman in Olympic history for track and field. I would be hard pressed to leave her off. She was edged in the finals of the 400m last night due to a last second dive, but I so enjoy her competitive spirit.
Another newcomer to this list, Ledecky was simply dominant during these Rio games. She looks to be the female Michael Phelps and at just 19 years old, it is exciting to see what she will do next.
7. Misty May Treanor
This has been the first Olympics in a long time without Misty May winning gold in Beach Volleyball. It sure feels weird this time around, but I will always remember what she has done for Team USA. Those 3 straight golds are something that I remember fondly from the Olympics.
This has been the first Olympics in a long time without Misty May winning gold in Beach Volleyball. It sure feels weird this time around, but I will always remember what she has done for Team USA. Those 3 straight golds are something that I remember fondly from the Olympics.
6. Simone Biles
Simone Biles has already won 3 Olympic gold medals. She has already captured the hearts of America. There is already talk that she is the greatest gymnast of all-time and I'd agree. I think the most intruiging thing about Biles though is that she was born to a drug addicted mother and an absent father. She could have been a target for abortion. However, her mom still chose love and life and Simone and her sister were eventually adopted by their grandparents after spending some time in foster care. This was such an incredible happy ending!
5. Gail Devers
The long nails, the track dominance. Everything about Gail Devers was awesome, excellent, and intruiging. She was just a fascinating figure.
Simone Biles has already won 3 Olympic gold medals. She has already captured the hearts of America. There is already talk that she is the greatest gymnast of all-time and I'd agree. I think the most intruiging thing about Biles though is that she was born to a drug addicted mother and an absent father. She could have been a target for abortion. However, her mom still chose love and life and Simone and her sister were eventually adopted by their grandparents after spending some time in foster care. This was such an incredible happy ending!
The long nails, the track dominance. Everything about Gail Devers was awesome, excellent, and intruiging. She was just a fascinating figure.
4. Ali Raisman
For some reason, I saw Ali Raisman as the face of the Fierce Five and the Final Five. She was the captain, she seemed so happy, her parents were a wreck, and I have just loved every minute of it. For her to come back to a 2nd Olympics and compete in a 2nd all-around is legendary status in this country. This country is gymnastics crazed at the Olympics and everyone knows Raisman very well know.
For some reason, I saw Ali Raisman as the face of the Fierce Five and the Final Five. She was the captain, she seemed so happy, her parents were a wreck, and I have just loved every minute of it. For her to come back to a 2nd Olympics and compete in a 2nd all-around is legendary status in this country. This country is gymnastics crazed at the Olympics and everyone knows Raisman very well know.
3. Kerri Strug
Probably the most memorable single Olympic moment to date is Kerri Strug's vault to clinch gold for Team USA in 1996. Everybody loved Kerri Strug because of that, and I was no exception.
Probably the most memorable single Olympic moment to date is Kerri Strug's vault to clinch gold for Team USA in 1996. Everybody loved Kerri Strug because of that, and I was no exception.
2. Kerri Walsh Jennings
"I was born to have babies and play volleyball"
Those are the words of the legend Kerri Walsh Jennings. She has brightened all of our lives by doing just that. By doing the former and still being able to do the latter at a high level. Walsh is seeking a 4th gold medal in volleyball and has been absolutely dominant in her quest. I think and hope she gets it done. She has just been a joy to watch.
"I was born to have babies and play volleyball"
Those are the words of the legend Kerri Walsh Jennings. She has brightened all of our lives by doing just that. By doing the former and still being able to do the latter at a high level. Walsh is seeking a 4th gold medal in volleyball and has been absolutely dominant in her quest. I think and hope she gets it done. She has just been a joy to watch.
1. Jackie Joyner Kersee
My favorite female Olympian though is the great Jackie Joyner Kersee. While I only caught the tail end of her career in 1992 and 1996 in actuality, her legend paved the way for many female athletes. She was remarkable in 1992 and still captured a medal in the 1996 Atlanta games. During those two games, the broadcast certainly built her up and added to the intrigue. She is the most fascinating woman in the history of sport to me and a true legend.
10 Favorite Male Olympic Athletes of All-Time
10. Jeremy Wariner
Wariner won gold in 2004 and 2008. With 4 total medals including 3 golds, he is quite the accomplished Olympian. I loved the shades and the way he went about his business. Wariner just always seemed like a class act who loved representing his country.
Wariner won gold in 2004 and 2008. With 4 total medals including 3 golds, he is quite the accomplished Olympian. I loved the shades and the way he went about his business. Wariner just always seemed like a class act who loved representing his country.
9. Kurt Angle
Won the 1996 Olympic title with a severe neck injury. He always used the line "I won an Olympic gold medal with a broken fricken neck" and he technically did. He fractured two vertabrae, herniated two discs, and pulled four muscles during trials. After resting up some prior to the games, Angle won the gold still feeling the effects of the injury. The story rivals Kerri Strug as far as overcoming adversity and it was during the same games. However, Strug did it in the more popular sport so she got more praise. I'd say that Angle's task was even tougher than Strug. Angle had the injury the entire Olympics as well.
Won the 1996 Olympic title with a severe neck injury. He always used the line "I won an Olympic gold medal with a broken fricken neck" and he technically did. He fractured two vertabrae, herniated two discs, and pulled four muscles during trials. After resting up some prior to the games, Angle won the gold still feeling the effects of the injury. The story rivals Kerri Strug as far as overcoming adversity and it was during the same games. However, Strug did it in the more popular sport so she got more praise. I'd say that Angle's task was even tougher than Strug. Angle had the injury the entire Olympics as well.
8. Maurice Greene
Greene won 2 golds in 2000 and helped fill the void left by Michael Johnson's retirement. He will always standout as an Olympic figure to me just for being the guy that filled that void and stepped up.
Greene won 2 golds in 2000 and helped fill the void left by Michael Johnson's retirement. He will always standout as an Olympic figure to me just for being the guy that filled that void and stepped up.
7. Michael Phelps
The most decorated Olympian of all-time deserved a spot on the list. I am partial to track over swimming, but Phelps belongs on here.
The most decorated Olympian of all-time deserved a spot on the list. I am partial to track over swimming, but Phelps belongs on here.
6. Carl Lewis
Lewis in my opinion is the greatest Olympian of all-time. That comes with all due respect to the aforementioned Phelps. Carl Lewis was able to win gold in 4 straight Olympics in long jump. Winning 9 overall golds in a sport like track and field is absolutely incredible. Remarkable athlete. I remember watching the veteran Lewis somehow capture gold during the 1996 games in Atlanta and being fascinated by how dominant he was for so long.
Lewis in my opinion is the greatest Olympian of all-time. That comes with all due respect to the aforementioned Phelps. Carl Lewis was able to win gold in 4 straight Olympics in long jump. Winning 9 overall golds in a sport like track and field is absolutely incredible. Remarkable athlete. I remember watching the veteran Lewis somehow capture gold during the 1996 games in Atlanta and being fascinated by how dominant he was for so long.
5. Tom Dolan
Dolan is really high on the list, some might not even remember him. He had 3 Olympic medals though including 2 gold. The reason I loved him so much is that he had asthma and still won an Olympic gold medal. For a kid with asthma it was awesome to see. For everyone it was refreshing to see him not use his condition as an excuse.
Dolan is really high on the list, some might not even remember him. He had 3 Olympic medals though including 2 gold. The reason I loved him so much is that he had asthma and still won an Olympic gold medal. For a kid with asthma it was awesome to see. For everyone it was refreshing to see him not use his condition as an excuse.
4. Doug Mientkiewicz
Mientkiewicz captured gold as part of Team USA in the 2000 Sydney games. His status as FSU alumni added to the intrigue for me and had me paying close attention to him and how he did in those games. With baseball being my 2nd favorite sport (behind football) and favorite Olympic sport, it was easy to put him on the list. Team USA didn't dominate in baseball as it did in basketball and used minor league players. Mientkiewicz happened to be one of those players and broght home the gold. He is a fascinating person. Below is a grand slam pictured that he hit during competition.
3. Walter Dix
Walter Dix won bronze in the 100m and 200m at the Olympic games in 2008. He was our toughest competition for Usain Bolt at the time and looked like he was really starting to compete with Bolt on the world stage. However, an injury prior to the 2012 Olympics kind of eliminated that possibility. Still, Dix is high on my list because of his status as an FSU alumni and the intrigue of him challenging for the title of fastest man in the world with the actual fastest man in the history of the world. In any other era, Dix is a multiple time Olympic gold medalist. Unfortunately for him he had to deal with the GOAT and our top current sprinter (who was caught doping in the past). I will never forget what Dix accomplished though. Oh and he lived next to me for a year while we lived I lived in Tallahassee, so that might have moved him up the list.
Mientkiewicz captured gold as part of Team USA in the 2000 Sydney games. His status as FSU alumni added to the intrigue for me and had me paying close attention to him and how he did in those games. With baseball being my 2nd favorite sport (behind football) and favorite Olympic sport, it was easy to put him on the list. Team USA didn't dominate in baseball as it did in basketball and used minor league players. Mientkiewicz happened to be one of those players and broght home the gold. He is a fascinating person. Below is a grand slam pictured that he hit during competition.
Walter Dix won bronze in the 100m and 200m at the Olympic games in 2008. He was our toughest competition for Usain Bolt at the time and looked like he was really starting to compete with Bolt on the world stage. However, an injury prior to the 2012 Olympics kind of eliminated that possibility. Still, Dix is high on my list because of his status as an FSU alumni and the intrigue of him challenging for the title of fastest man in the world with the actual fastest man in the history of the world. In any other era, Dix is a multiple time Olympic gold medalist. Unfortunately for him he had to deal with the GOAT and our top current sprinter (who was caught doping in the past). I will never forget what Dix accomplished though. Oh and he lived next to me for a year while we lived I lived in Tallahassee, so that might have moved him up the list.
2. Michael Johnson
The gold shoes during the 1996 games and a 400m WR that stood until these Olympics are a big reason that Johnson is so high on the list. The fastest man in the world at the time, everyone loved Michael Johnson as he was the face of Team USA.
The gold shoes during the 1996 games and a 400m WR that stood until these Olympics are a big reason that Johnson is so high on the list. The fastest man in the world at the time, everyone loved Michael Johnson as he was the face of Team USA.
1. David Robinson
David Robinson served in the military and also was one of the most accomplished Olympians in history. He was apart of the 1992 Dream Team and also won gold for America in 1996. Robinson was dominant in Olympic play and was one of the most likable athletes of all-time. In fact, Robinson is my favorite athlete of all-time, not just of the Olympics. He is an amazing guy. It doesn't hurt that he has the same last name and that hist 1st name is my middle name. That always made me like him even more. Robinson is a great choice for favorite athlete of all-time.
David Robinson served in the military and also was one of the most accomplished Olympians in history. He was apart of the 1992 Dream Team and also won gold for America in 1996. Robinson was dominant in Olympic play and was one of the most likable athletes of all-time. In fact, Robinson is my favorite athlete of all-time, not just of the Olympics. He is an amazing guy. It doesn't hurt that he has the same last name and that hist 1st name is my middle name. That always made me like him even more. Robinson is a great choice for favorite athlete of all-time.
- Noland
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