Many of us enjoy playing sports in our free time. But some people make a career out of it. The gap between amateur and professional is enormous. But there is also a big difference between sportspersons in the professional world. Some people stand head and shoulders above others in their sport. Let's take a look at some of the GOATs of the sporting world.
Serena Williams is the greatest female tennis player of all time. She has dominated the sport since turning professional in the 1990s. Winning 23 Grand Slam titles led to her being ranked No. 1 on 8 occasions between 2002 and 2017. Amazingly, she won the Australian Open in 2017 while she was pregnant.
Usain Bolt is an incredible athlete. Born in Jamaica, he is considered the greatest sprinter of all time. He came to prominence in 2008 when he won gold and broke the world record for the 100 m and 200 m sprints. He went on to win gold in both races in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, too. Though he retired in 2017, his records are yet to be touched.
In 1975, a child prodigy was born in California. Tiger Woods started playing golf before the age of 2. He played and won many tournaments throughout his childhood. At age 20, he turned professional. He dominated the sport for many years.
In 2001, he became the first player to win four consecutive major golf titles, known later as the "Tiger Slam." After some personal problems and injuries in the late 2000s, he made many comebacks. Woods is tied for most PGA wins, and he is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time.
Jonathan Edwards is a former British triple jumper. He has been the world record holder since 1995. His record jump was 18.43m, but it was not ratified because it was windy when he jumped. In 2001, he held gold medals in the four majors: the Olympics, the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and the European Championships.
Edwards was a Christian for much of his early life. He even refused to compete on Sundays for many years. He changed his mind in 1993 and went on to qualify for the World Championships that year. In 2007, he renounced his faith. Later, Edwards was given an honorary doctorate for his contributions to sport.
At 5 years old, Lin Dan was a defiant child. His parents wanted him to play the piano, but he yearned to play badminton. As a five-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion, I'm sure his parents don't mind now! During his career, he has won all nine major titles in badminton, known as the "Super Grand Slam." Lin Dan is not just a great athlete; as a professional player, he attended university in China and earned a Master's degree.
If you are a basketball fan, you will recognise this name. LeBron James is one of the stars of the NBA. He has been named the NBA finals MVP, Most Valuable Player, four times, second only to Michael Jordan. But that is not all! He was the scoring champion in 2008, and Sportsperson of the Year in 2012 and 2016!
The world of sport is full of amazing athletes. But from time to time, someone breathtaking comes along. Who knows who will be the GOATs of the future?