The Most Popular All-Time Sports Personalities of USA

Sports is an influential force that unites people of all backgrounds, producing iconic athletes who inspire millions of young people to follow their passion for a career in athletics.

Tom Brady tops our list, even with Deflategate still being in effect he remains one of the world’s most well-known quarterbacks.

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady has long been one of the most beloved American sports figures. At 42, this six-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL record holder holds several milestones including touchdown passes and passing yards, in addition to being two-time MVP and four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Brady began playing baseball and football as a child in California before opting out of playing college baseball to pursue an NFL career. After being selected sixth overall in the 2000 NFL draft by New England Patriots, he joined them.

He is known for his tireless drive toward perfection and has changed the way many athletes view pre-workout nutrition. Additionally, Brady has inspired thousands of young people to pursue their dreams and follow their passion. Yet despite all this success he remains humble and down to earth; married to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen whom he shares two children with.

2. Vladimir Karelin||Most Popular All-Time Sports Personalities of USA

Vladimir Karelin of Russian Wrestling takes second place on our list of most-famed sportsmen of all time, winning three Olympic Gold Medals and nine World Championships along the way and widely considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers ever seen in action.

Footballer Pele was one of the greatest players ever and won three World Cups with Brazil – widely considered one of the greatest. Additionally, Pele also became an ambassador for sport globally as an advocate against poverty through sporting activity.

Abebe Bikila earned two Olympic gold medals while running barefoot at both Olympic Games in 1960 and 1964, as a marathon runner. Other notable sportspeople on this list include Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and Lin Dan (badminton star). Sergei Bubka (Soviet and Ukrainian pole vaulter) also features prominently.

3. Michael Johnson

Former world and Olympic record holder in both 200 metres and 400 metres, Johnson rose to fame as a household name after winning gold medals at both events at Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Later he decided to return his 4x400m relay Olympic gold medal won in Sydney 2000 because some team members may have taken performance enhancing drugs.

Johnson is adept in front of the camera and frequently appears in commercials and television appearances. Additionally, Johnson provides his services as a motivational speaker to both corporate and educational audiences. Married twice already and currently living with Armine Shamiryan in Marin County California with their second spouse Armine Shamiryan; Johnson enjoys wine so much he maintains a wine refrigerator in his home bar! Additionally he holds professional certification in sports management making him an inspiring figure to all around.

4. Nadia Comaneci

Comaneci became an international superstar at 14 when she scored seven perfect 10s at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Gymnastics competition and inspired millions of teenage girls worldwide to don leotards and visit their nearest gym. For two weeks she was widely known throughout the globe, her victories overshadowing any Cold War hostilities on earth.

Comaneci quickly became a living legend after scoring her perfect score, appearing on Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated magazine covers in a single week. An instrumental piece known as “Nadia’s Theme” reached number one on music charts while scalpers charged exorbitant fees to get tickets for her events.

Comaneci now spends her time between appearances and business matters, owning and operating a gymnastics center as well as gymnastic equipment lines and editing a magazine focused on gymnastics. Additionally, she’s married fellow Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner and has one son together with him.

5. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Joyner-Kersee was renowned for her successes in both the heptathlon and long jump, making history by becoming the first woman ever to score over 7,000 points in both events and set national records in both disciplines. She inspired generations of young girls around the globe. She held national records in both disciplines during her time.

At four Olympic Games, she won three gold and two bronze medals, setting world records in both heptathlon and long jump events. Furthermore, she earned seven consecutive national heptathlon titles as well as eight national long jump titles–including her record-setting 24-foot-7 inches leap in 1994 – before setting multiple national heptathlon and long jump records over her lifetime.

Joyner-Kersee soon established herself as an active philanthropist and advocate for women’s issues upon her retirement from competition, founding the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation as well as being involved with an initiative through Comcast that provides high-speed Internet for low-income families. Additionally, she wrote her memoir entitled A Kind of Grace which details this work.

6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Abdul-Jabbar was an outstanding NBA player of his era and one of its most dominant figures. A six-time champion and record scorer, he earned six championships throughout his tenure with the league.

Osgood was an exceptional defensive player. While lacking the physical strength of NBA centers like Chamberlain and Reed, he had a fine post game and elegant moves such as his signature “skyhook,” making him nearly impossible to block.

Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons for both the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, amassing an astonishing number of points during that time. In addition, he won six NBA championships and was selected MVP six times during that span. Post-retirement from playing, Abdul-Jabbar has remained active in sports circles as an author, public speaker, assistant coach/scout as well as founding his own foundation aimed at providing STEM education to underserved children.

7. Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens was one of the greatest Olympians ever and personifies the ideals behind the Olympic Games. At Berlin 1936 he earned four gold medals – in 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, long jump and 4×100 relay events.

Owens excelled at interscholastic competition during high school and was heavily recruited by colleges due to his athletic prowess. Ultimately he settled for Ohio State University despite segregation problems within its dormitories; part-time work helped support him while training for Olympic glory.

At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the national anthem as a sign of protest against racial inequality. Owens voiced his opposition against their gesture; as a result he became embroiled in controversy and later relocated to Chicago where he founded a public relations agency.

8. Jim Brown

Jim Brown was an unstoppable running back for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965, setting NFL records and being recognized with Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1957 and rushing over 1,000 yards every year but 1962.

He made several Western and blaxploitation films as well as serving as a civil rights leader during his life, becoming one of the first elite athletes to address race-based issues as modern civil rights movements gained steam during the 1950s.

He established the Black Economic Union, working to expand economic opportunities for minority-owned businesses. Brown was arrested six times – mostly for domestic violence charges – during a time when athletes and actors rarely faced accountability for such transgressions. He passed away at age 87.

9. Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe was not only a great tennis player but an exceptional individual as well. A pioneer in one of the more conservative sports ever devised, when not making headlines for breaking barriers on court he would further social causes and spread social justice awareness.

Ashe was an individual of great conviction who diligently investigated complex issues. He taught himself academic medical literature so he could discuss topics like apartheid and AIDS with authority.

After retiring from tennis in 1968, Arthur Ashe established a program for inner city children to teach them tennis while helping develop their self-confidence, discipline and academic attentiveness. Subsequently he became engaged with civil rights activism against apartheid which saw him arrested outside South African Embassy in Washington before founding Arthur Ashe Foundation for Defeat of AIDS later on.

10. Venus and Serena Williams

The Williams sisters have become one of the most iconic duos in sports history. Their story of perseverance from humble origins to world dominance resonated deeply with American audiences; thus transforming tennis from an exclusive realm into something everyone could enjoy. Compton-born Alyson and Venus became faces for an elite sport once dominated by those with wealth and privilege.

At 14 years old, Serena Williams began playing tennis professionally and quickly rose to the top of their respective games. Serena won her first major tournament known as a Grand Slam tournament in 1999. wikipedia link for more.>>>

Both sisters faced off against one another on numerous occasions throughout their careers, often winning one match while facing each other head-to-head. Although both sisters possessed similar talent, Serena held an edge over Venus despite both winning seven Grand Slam championship finals between them; moreover they combined to claim 28 doubles titles between them, six belonging to Venus and 12 from Serena respectively. Both sisters won three Olympic Gold Medals in tennis. Read More>>