Best Sports Role Models of All Time

By Ron Donoho on December 14, 2020

Pat Tillman is more than a football legend. He is a legendary human being.AZCardinals/Twitter

Hall of Fame basketball player Charles Barkley famously said, “I am not a role model.” We disagree.

You can debate whether athletes should be held up as role models, but sports figures can and do serve to inspire others. Over the years, many male and female athletes and coaches have showcased sportsmanship and fair play and been worthy of adulation and emulation.

These are the best sports role models of all time.

25. Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott was an inspiration on the mound.Bill Chan/AP Photo

Sport: Baseball (MLB)

Position: Pitcher

Career: 10 years (1989-96, 1998-99)

Teams: California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers

Bottom Line: Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott played 10 seasons in the major leagues.Mark Lennihan/AP Photo

Jim Abbott was born without a right hand. When he signed with the California Angels in 1988, he became the first MLB player with a disability to take the pitcher’s mound.

Abbott threw with his left hand and deftly fielded his position by switching a right-handed glove back and forth. Always in the media glare, Abbott patiently took questions about his fielding/pitching motion.

In 1993, he won the Freedom Forum Institute’s “Free Spirit Award” for his work with children.

24. Amy Purdy

Amy Purdy had both her legs amputated below the knee at the age of 19.Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Photo

Sport: Paralympic snowboarding

Career highlights: 2014 Paralympic bronze medalist, 2018 Paralympics silver medalist

Bottom Line: Amy Purdy

Amy Purdy has turned hardships into championships.Alison Yin/AP Photo

Seven months after a medical condition caused the 19-year-old Amy Purdy to have both her legs amputated, she took up snowboarding. She won a bronze medal in the 2014 Paralympics and a silver medal in 2018.

The actress/model/motivational speaker co-founded the nonprofit Adaptive Action Sports and was named one of Oprah Winfrey’s “SuperSoul 100” influential leaders in 2016.

23. Michael Oher

Michael Oher played eight seasons in the NFL.Nick Wass/AP Photo

Sport: Football (NFL)

Position: Offensive lineman

Career: 8 years (2009-16)

Teams: Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers

Bottom Line: Michael Oher

Michael Oher’s life story was made into a movie.Richard Drew/AP Photo

You can see how Michael Oher’s life played out in the major motion picture “The Blind Side.”

Born in Memphis, Oher never knew his father, his mother was a crack addict, and he was surrounded by drug users. Homeless for a stretch, he went into the foster care system and was eventually adopted into a supportive family.

After buckling down in school, he excelled on the football field as an offensive lineman and was drafted into the NFL by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009.

22. Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph was the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s.AP Photo

Sport: Track and field sprinting

Career highlights: Bronze 1956 Melbourne Olympics (4×100), three golds 1960 Rome Olympics (100, 200, 4×100)

Bottom Line: Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.Marty Lederhandler/AP Photo

Wilma Rudolph was physically disabled due to the polio virus and wore leg braces until the age of 12.

That slow start, however, didn’t hold her back from the Olympic successes in 1956 and 1960. After winning three track medals in the 1960 Games, she was dubbed “The World’s Fastest Woman.”

She used her fame to elevate women’s track and field in the U.S. and was regarded as a civil rights and women’s rights pioneer. 

21. Meb Keflezighi

Meb Keflezighi won the 2014 Boston Marathon.Elise Amendola/AP Photo

Sport: Marathon running

Career highlights: Silver 2004 Olympics (marathon), won 2014 Boston Marathon and 2009 New York City Marathon

Bottom Line: Meb Keflezighi

Meb Keflezighi was born in Eritrea.David J. Phillip/AP Photo

One of 10 children, Meb Keflezighi and his family were Eritrean refugees who migrated to the U.S. in 1987.

After excelling in track and field at UCLA, he trained and became the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon. He won the 2009 New York Marathon and the 2014 Boston Marathon.

He wrote the book “Run to Overcome,” and advocates healthy living and positive lifestyle choices for kids through his MEB (Maintaining Excellence Balance) Foundation.

20. Simone Biles

Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast.Charlie Riedel/AP Photo

Sport: Gymnastics

Career highlights: Four-time gold medalist at 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics (team, all-round, vault, floor exercise), one bronze at 2016 Rio Olympics (balance beam)

Bottom Line: Simone Biles

Simone Biles, center, was born in Ohio in 1997.Matthias Schrader/AP Photo

Simon Biles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast of all time. She won a combined total of 25 Olympic and World Championship medals, and was the 2016 Olympic all-around gold medalist.

She had to overcome an early life in foster care after being born to a drug-addicted mother. Biles wrote an autobiography entitled “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance” to encourage others to “reach for their dreams.”

19. Marek Bush

Marek Bush went to Central Valley Academy in Ilion, New York.marekbush/Instagram

Sport: High school wrestling

Career highlights: 2018 New York state champion in 126-pound class

Bottom Line: Marek Bush

Marek Bush won a Musial Award in 2019 for his sportsmanship.Central Valley School District/Facebook

Good sportsmanship at the high school level was exemplified by Marek Bush in a 2019 wrestling match that was about to be served up as a win after a freak injury to his opponent.

Trailing in the final period, Bush, a sophomore and a reigning Division II New York state champion, refused to accept a tainted victory. When his 126-pound opponent came back to finish the final 32 seconds of the match, Bush had a choice: inflict pain to win, or play possum.

He chose the latter — and the ensuing standing ovation for him was memorialized on the CBS Evening News.     

18. Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn won a record 82 World Cup races in her career.Marco Trovati/AP Photo

Sport: Skiing

Career highlights: Gold 2010 Vancouver Olympics (downhill), bronze 2010 Vancouver Olympics (super-G), bronze 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics (downhill), 82 World Cup wins

Bottom Line: Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn, left, was one of the greatest skiers of all time.Marco Trovati/AP Photo

Her victories on the slopes are difficult to count. Lindsey Vonn has won a record eight World Cup season titles and a total of 82 World Cup races in five disciplines. Add to that the fact that she’s won three gold medals in four Olympic Games (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2018).

The inspirational aspect of her career is a drive to bounce back after injuries. She’s broken bones, torn ligaments and suffered concussions.

During the 2006 Olympics, she was airlifted off the mountain after a crash, but was back competing two days later. That’s the heart of a champion.

17. Pat Summitt

Pat Summitt won 1,098 games as the Tennessee women’s basketball coach.Mark Humphrey/AP Photo

Sport: Women’s college basketball

Position: Head coach

Career: 38 years (1974-2012)

Teams: University of Tennessee

Bottom Line: Pat Summitt

Pat Summitt won eight national championships at Tennessee.Pat Sullivan/AP Photo

The hard-edged Pat Summitt — known for her icy stares — won 1,098 games as the Lady Vols basketball coach, before retiring in 2012 due to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

During her 38-year career at Tennessee, she won eight national championships. Sporting News named her 11th (and the only woman) on its list of Greatest Coaches of All Time in all sports. 

Summitt, who died in 2016 at the age of 64, was a legend in the sport and taught her players to play hard and with great sportsmanship. Everyone who knew her loved her.

16. J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt is a three-time NFL defensive player of the year.David J. Phillip/AP Photo

Sport: Football (NFL)

Position: Defensive end

Career: 10 years (2011-present)

Teams: Houston Texans

Bottom Line: J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt gives back to the community.Brett Coomer/AP Photo

Since being drafted by the Houston Texans in 2011, J.J. Watt has won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times and is the first player in the league to ever record two 20-plus sack seasons.

His charitable work is extensive, and in 2017, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year — stemming largely from his personal efforts to raise $37 million to help Houstonians recover from Hurricane Harvey.

15. Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach, right, is one of the best women’s soccer players of all time.Martin Meissner/AP Photo

Sport: Women’s soccer

Career highlights: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2012), Women’s World Cup champion (2015)

Bottom Line: Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach is a soccer fan favorite.David Duprey/AP Photo

During her prolific career as a member of the game-changing U.S. women’s soccer team, the outspoken Abby Wambach inspired young girls to challenge the notion that men’s sports were superior.

She played forward for the national team from 2001 to 2015 and holds the world record for most international goals (184) by both male and female soccer players.

In 2011, she became the first soccer player of either gender to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.

14. Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack when she was 13.bethanyhamilton/Instagram

Sport: Surfing

Career highlights: Survived 2003 shark attack, “Soul Surfer” movie (2011) based on her life

Bottom Line: Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton gained her first sponsorship by age 9.bethanyhamilton/Instagram

In 2003, the 13-year-old Hamilton survived a shark attack at Tunnels Beach in Kuai during which she had her left arm bitten off.

One month later, she returned to her passion and won several surf competitions. Hamilton won the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete the following year and has made numerous appearances on TV, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Ellen Degeneres Show.”

Hamilton’s charity, Friends of Bethany, reaches out to young amputees.

13. Dan Jansen

Dan Jansen was the best speed skater in the world for many years.David Breslauer/AP Photo

Sport: Speedskating

Career highlights: Gold medal 1994 Lillehammer Olympics (1,000 meters), spring world champion (1988, 1994)

Bottom Line: Dan Jansen

Dan Jansen won Olympic gold in the men’s 1,000-meter speedskating race in 1994.Amy Sancetta/AP Photo

Before racing in the 1988 Olympics, Dan Jansen was told that his sister was dying of leukemia. He was the favorite to win, but fell in two speedskating events and failed to medal.

Four years later, Jansen was again the favorite but also missed the medal stand. At the next Winter Games, held in 1994, in his last chance, Jansen set a world record and won the 1,000-meter event.

For his grit and determination, the U.S. Olympic team chose him to carry the flag at the closing ceremonies.

12. Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski is the winningest coach in college basketball history.Michael Dwyer/AP Photo

Sport: College basketball

Position: Coach

Career: 46 years (1975- present)

Teams: Army, Duke

Bottom Line: Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski has won five NCAA titles at Duke.Gerry Broome/AP Photo

Mike Krzyzewski’s longevity and achievements as the coach of dynasty basketball program are astounding. Since 1980, he has won more than 1,000 games (and counting) and five NCAA national championships.

“Coach K” also led three Olympic basketball teams to gold medals (2008, 2012 and 2016). NBA teams have wooed him, but his loyalty remains with Duke.

In 2012, Krzyzewski was given the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award for civic service and charitable efforts.

11. Tony Gwynn

Tony Gwynn hit .338 in his career.Frank Polich/AP Photo

Sport: Baseball (MLB)

Position: Outfielder

Career: 20 years (1982-2001)

Teams: San Diego Padres

Bottom Line: Tony Gywnn

Tony Gwynn played his entire career with the San Diego Padres.Kent Horner/AP Photo

Tony Gwynn was a class act. Beloved in San Diego for playing his entire 20-year career with the underachieving Padres, Gwynn was a 15-time All-Star who finished with a .338 batting average and was elected to the Hall of Fame.

Gwynn famously turned down larger contract offers to stay with the small-market Padres. And after retiring, nothing made him happier than taking a job as a baseball coach at his alma mater, San Diego State University.

He died of cancer in 2014 at the age of 54.

10. Serena Williams

Serena Williams turned pro in October 1995 at the age of 14.Chris Symes/AP Photo

Sport: Women’s tennis

Career highlights: 23 Grand Slam singles titles, $93.6 million in career earnings

Bottom Line: Serena Williams

Serena Williams, right, has won over 840 matches in her career.Andy Brownbill/AP Photo

Serena — and her sister Venus — have served as role models for young Black female athletes since they burst onto the tennis scene as teenagers in 1995.

Serena’s 39 major title wins (including 23 singles championships) are tied for the third-most all-time.

Throughout her career, she has never blinked in the face of media scrutiny and bravely returned to form after giving birth in 2018, which controversially caused her to lose her international ranking.

9. Walter Payton

Walter Payton rushed for 16,726 yards in his career.Fred Jewell/AP Photo

Sport: Football (NFL)

Position: Running back

Career: 13 years (1975-87)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Bottom Line: Walter Payton

Walter Payton, right, was one of the best running backs in NFL history.John Swart/AP Photo

The nine-time Pro Bowler who played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987 once held the records for career rushing yards and touchdowns. Bears coach Mike Ditka called Peyton — nicknamed “Sweetness” — one of the greatest football players and human beings he had ever seen.

Payton died of a rare liver disease in 1999 at the age 45 and is credited for creating national awareness for organ donations.

Each year, the NFL gives out a humanitarian award that is named in his honor.

8. Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King is a legend in tennis.AP Photo

Sport: Women’s tennis

Career highlights: 39 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 women’s doubles, 11 mixed doubles)

Bottom Line: Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King stood up for gender equality.AP Photo

King won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles during a career that spanned from 1959 to 1983.

She was the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 1973, she won the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against Bobby Riggs.

She has long been an advocate for gender equality and social justice. During the 1970s, she led the campaign for equal prize money for men’s and women’s tournaments.

7. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was nicknamed “The Greatest.”John Rooney/AP Photo

Sport: Boxer

Career highlights: 56 career wins, 37 knockouts, three-time lineal heavyweight champion

Bottom Line: Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is one of the most famous athletes of all time.AP Photo

Born Cassius Clay and nicknamed “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali was a controversial figure who is widely regarded as one of the most celebrated athletes in the world — and one of the greatest boxers ever to step in the ring.

He won gold at the 1960 Olympics, and prevailed in 21 title bouts, but was also a heavyweight outside the ring. He was idolized by the counterculture movement for refusing to be drafted into the military in 1966, and was outspoken about civil rights issues.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984, but continued to make public appearances and showed off a sense of humor even as his condition worsened. Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74.

6. Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig played in 2,164 career major league games.AP Photo

Sport: Baseball (MLB)

Position: First baseman

Career: 17 years (1923-39)

Teams: New York Yankees

Bottom Line: Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig always had time for fans.AP Photo

Lou Gehrig was nicknamed “The Iron Horse” when he played for the New York Yankees because he was in the lineup for 2,130 consecutive games — a record that stood for 56 years until it was topped by Cal Ripken Jr.

Gehrig took himself out of the lineup in 1939 because he was hampered by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neuromuscular condition now referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He died two years later at the age of 37, after giving the famous “Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth” speech at Yankee Stadium.

MLB’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is annually given to the player who exhibits his integrity and character.  

5. Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. was picked in the second round of the 1978 MLB draft.Tom Lynn/AP Photo

Sport: Baseball (MLB)

Postion: Shortstop, third base

Career: 21 years (1981-2001)

Teams: Baltimore Orioles

Bottom Line: Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal Ripken was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.Roberto Borea/AP Photo

Lou Gehrig was “The Iron Horse,” and Cal Ripken Jr. was dubbed “The Iron Man.”

During 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken topped Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played with 2,632. Ripken also finished his career with 3,184 hits and was a 19-time All-Star.

In 1994, he won the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the MLB player who is personally involved in charity work. Ripken has donated to a number of charitable causes, including research on Lou Gehrig’s disease.

4. Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman played 60 games in the NFL.Paul Connors/AP Photo

Sport: Football (NFL)

Position: Safety

Career: 4 years (1998-2001)

Teams: Arizona Cardinals

Bottom Line: Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman turned down millions of dollars to serve his country.AZCardinals/Twitter

A free spirit who marched to his own drumbeat, Pat Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998 after excelling at linebacker at Arizona State University. He moved to safety in the NFL, and in 2000, he recorded 155 tackles.

At one point during his pro career, he turned down a big-money contract offer from another team out of loyalty to the Cardinals. After the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Tillman passed on the NFL and signed up with the Army Rangers to serve in the invasion of Iraq.

Tillman was subsequently killed in a controversial friendly-fire incident at the age of 27. His number has been retired by both the Cardinals and ASU.

Related: Pat Tillman, a True Hero

3. Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente had 3,000 career hits.Rusty Kennedy/AP Photo

Sport: Baseball (MLB)

Position: Right field

Career: 18 years (1955-72)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates

Bottom Line: Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente was one of the good guys.AP Photo

Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American player enshrined in the Hall of Fame. His MLB career included 3,000 hits and a .317 lifetime batting average. The Puerto Rico native played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972 and was named to the All-Star Team 15 times.

Clemente’s career ended in 1972 when he died in a plane crash during an effort to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was only 38.

MLB’s annual Roberto Clemente Award goes to the top player who also is personally involved in charity work. 

2. John Wooden

John Wooden, center, won 10 national championships at UCLA.AP Photo

Sport: College basketball

Position: Head coach

Career: 29 years (1946-75)

Teams: Indiana State, UCLA

Bottom Line: John Wooden

John Wooden won 664 games in his coaching career and had an .804 career winning percentage.AP Photo

“The Wizard of Westwood” won 10 national championships as head coach of UCLA, including seven titles in a row.

During John Wooden’s reign, his team won a record 88 consecutive games. The beloved coach and mentor to his players is remembered for his inspirational sayings (“failing to prepare is preparing to fail”) and devotion to practice.

He authored a book that contained the Pyramid of Success — philosophical building blocks for winning in basketball and in life.

1. Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was the first Black baseball player in MLB history.AP Photo

Sport: Baseball (MLB)

Position: Second base, third base, first base

Career: 10 years (1947-56)

Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers

Bottom Line: Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson changed the game.AP Photo

In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first African-American to play in baseball’s major leagues. He was a special player, and in a 20-year career, he was named the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and elected to the All-Star Team six times.

But it took a special human being to endure the taunts and racial epithets hurled at him from both players and fans in the stadium seats. Robinson endured and paved the way for other Black players to enter the league.

Fittingly, his jersey number (42) was retired by all teams in MLB.