From Michael Phelps to Usain Bolt: Here are the top 7 Olympians of the 21st Century
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Top 7 Olympians of the 21st century
Athletes aren’t born as we see them, especially when we look at the top 7 Olympians of the 21st Century. They are made as we see them, like diamonds baked in heat and pressure. But what makes an athlete an inspiration? A role model for many, the most essential quality of an athlete is the tenacity they exhibit in their physical dynamism and sportsmanship. The strenuous efforts they put in game after game is commendable.
All athletes have bad days, but the rigour and mental strength that the best of them display is a lesson for how we should lead our lives. The idea of putting together a list of the best athletes of the 21st century is to not only deliver a message to sports enthusiasts but also all those who believe in the spirit of hard-work, discipline, endurance and perseverance.
Also read :- “Dream, plan, reach” – Michael Phelps’ University of Alabama address on youth lauded for having ‘great impact’
Here’s the top 7 Olympians of 21st Century
1. Michael Phelps
Olympic Games: 5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
The former US swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of the 21st century. With 28 medals to his name, 23 of them being Gold, he’s the best athlete to grace the Olympics stage in this 21st century. He made a commitment before the Beijing Olympics (‘08) that he will win all the 8 events in the swimming category, and boy did he achieve that ft. incredibly.
I guess he just doesn’t like “silver” as a metal. Jokes aside, Phelps is a prime example of – “hard work beats talent”. He famously said “you can’t put a limit on anything” and he had the mental strength to abide by it.
2. Usain Bolt
Olympic Games: 4 (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
The Jamaican sprinter needs no introduction. The guy literally held talks with air when he took to the tracks. They say – “lightning doesn’t strike twice”. But it did in his case, a total of 8 times, both literally and figuratively.
He holds the world record in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay. He dominated one of the most awaited events at the Olympics for almost a decade. ‘Lightning Bolt” as he’s famously called after all his accolades, Usain Bolt has etched his name that too in ‘Gold’ in the Olympics history.
Also read :- “Kept me on my toes” – Usain Bolt on Justin Gatlin’s role in thriving him to reach excellence
3. Natalie Coughlin
Olympic Games: 3 (2004, 2008, 2012)
Natalie Anna Coughlin Hall, perhaps “the most talented swimmer of her generation”, is a 12 time Olympics medalist. Phelps dominating the aquatic centres over the past few Olympics did steal some of the limelight around the same time but she became the face of women swimming and a role model for millions.
Natalie is tied for the most Olympic medals won by a female swimmer in Olympics history. A three-time Olympic gold medalist, Natalie has accumulated 60 medals in her 13-year international swimming career.
4. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Olympic Games: 4 (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
“Pocket Rocket”, name given to her by a journalist quite practically resembled her performance on the track and she did more than just good to live by that name. Winning a total of 8 Olympic medals with 3 Gold medals, she is arguably one of the fastest women to grace the tracks at the Olympics.
Despite her struggles with injury and suspension, the Jamaican born sprinter time and time again proved that grit and determination is no match for her age. At 35 and being a mom, the Jamaican sprinter is the fastest women in the world and proved it by winning her fifth 100 meter world title in July 2022.
5. Allyson Felix
Olympic Games: 4 (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
She is America’s most decorated female track & field athlete. She has a total of 9 medals thus breaking Usain Bolt’s record of most medals by a single athlete in track and field. With Olympic glory and world championships staring down on a 17 year old prodigy, she did not let the pressure of high expectations get to her.
Instead, when she crossed the finish line for the last time in July 2022, she said – “my biggest accomplishments are the things that didn’t necessary get a medal”. She was referring to when she found her voice outside the track on women’s right, during her crackdown at Nike on pregnancy issues.
6. Ryan Lochte
Olympic Games: 3 (2012, 2016, 2020)
12 Olympic medals, 6 of them being gold is no normal feat for a person that too in a much competitive sport as swimming. The American, a not so serious character in terms of his discipline and behaviour could definitely have done more with a talent of such quantum.
He gave trials for his fifth Olympic games at Tokyo but was unable to qualify for the event for which he holds the world record. The 36 year old, father of two labeled it the most important swim meet of his career trying to transform his image of ‘bad-boy’ back in the day. Nevertheless, he’s a living great of the game and will be remembered for his laid back lifestyle and still becoming the second most decorated Olympic swimmer after Phelps.
Also read :- What is the Secret Behind the Rise of China in Swimming at Tokyo Olympics?
7. Marit Bjørgen
Olympic Games: 5 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Winter Olympics aren’t that famous when compared to summer Olympics. But Marit Bjørgen, has done all she can do to level that. She has won 15 Olympic medals in the ‘Cross-country Skiing’ event making her the most decorated female Olympian. Skiing as a sport is not that famous as it has its own niche but Marit Bjørgen has contributed her life to definitely change that landscape by making history.
At the end, I would just like to say that all athletes are no less than an inspiration for all of us. The athletes that people consider rising stars aren’t really just pretty faces, with great lives. They are people like you and me who get soiled day and night for their dreams to turn to reality.
Also read :- “I had the success”: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clinches gold at blistering speed as Jamaica clean sweep women’s 100m
Also read :- From Shaq to Phelps: 5 athletes other than Usain Bolt who have trademarked their iconic moments
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