Throughout the many decades of rich American sporting history, there has been a huge range of men and women who have performed and represented America to the highest level in their respective sports. Whether the sport is in the Olympics, from Boxing and Swimming to being worldwide names in the NBA or NFL, America has been home to some of the biggest sporting stars on the planet!
The team behind many matched betting strategies and guidance of ProfitDuel have taken a dive into the athletes of America and how they shaped their own sports through their character, skill and determination!
Muhammad Ali
Known to be one of the best boxers in the history of the sport, Muhammad Ali is one of the biggest names in sports and is known across the globe as a true sporting superstar. He not only showed impeccable boxing skills and was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, but he was also known as an activist away from the sport.
Muhammad Ali was remembered for his social message of black pride and resistance to white domination, breaking barriers for the black community. The boxing global star was also known to refuse induction into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and his iconic way with words, spouting self-descriptive phrases such as “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”.
Creating unforgettable rivalries with boxers such as Joe Frazier and George Foreman, Muhammad Ali was a cultural icon with his charitable work against poverty and support of the African-American community not going unnoticed. He was not just a sports legend but a symbol of courage and conviction, with his impact transcending the world of sports!
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Displaying some of the best scoring abilities the sport has ever seen, he has been part of some of the most successful sporting teams throughout the NBA franchise whilst also being known for his iconic sporting moments and off-court influence.
Best known for his time at the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, he was able to lead the team to six championships throughout the 90s, winning the NBA Finals MVP each time. He was a 14-time NBA All-Star and earned 5 regular-season MVP awards. He has also won the NBA scoring title 10 times, as he was known for his incredible scoring ability, performing under pressure and making clutch plays.
One of the fiercest competitors on the court, he also became a global influence off-court due to his partnership with Nike, which led to the creation of the Air Jordan line of sneakers. Michael Jordan is one of the most famous global superstars in the sporting world!
Serena Williams
Trailblazing for women’s sports, Serena Williams is known to be one of the greatest female tennis players ever, breaking many records and setting the standard for female tennis and women’s sports in general.
Serena Williams has 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which is one of the most for both men and women in tennis. Her powerful serve, pure athleticism and mental toughness made her one of the most dominant forces throughout tennis for over two decades, with Williams being ranked world No. 1 in singles for 319 weeks. She is also one of the only few players in the entire sport to complete a career Grand Slam, which involves winning at least once in all four major tournaments.
Not only is Serena Williams an icon for her ability and skills, but she has battled health issues through life-threatening childbirth and through being a vocal advocate for gender equality, racial justice and mental health. She has used her platform to fight for equal play in sports, speaking out against discrimination and working to empower young girls and people of color.
Michael Phelps
Known to be one of the best athletes the world has ever seen, Michael Phelps is best known to be the greatest Olympic swimmer of all time and the best Olympian of all time. Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals of any athlete, with 23 golds. These medals were won across five Olympic games from 2000 to 2016. His success throughout the Olympics is unmatched, making him the face of modern Olympic swimming.
Throughout his career, Phelps was part of some of the most iconic sporting moments ever, including his 8 gold medals in a single Olympics in the Beijing 2008 events. His dramatic win in the 100m butterfly at Beijing was one of the closest finishes in Olympic history, as he edged his rival out by just 1/100th of a second.
What makes Phelps stand out from a large number of other athletes across other sports is his consistency and mental toughness. Phelps was a relentless competitor, with his ability to sustain excellence over such a long period. His ability to consistently perform under pressure was a key part of his success as he often thrived in high-stakes races, where his focus, discipline and confidence were key factors in securing the most gold medals ever.
