Arrived at work this morning at 5:30am. Whew…hate these early mornings, but at least I get done by about noon and have the whole day ahead!
I was watching ESPN Classic at around 7:30 and the special Who’s Number 1 came on. It was AWESOME! They had a number of women listed including:
Nadia Comaneci: first woman gymnast to achieve a Perfect 10 (they have since changed the rules in gymnastics and no one will EVER recieve a 10 as the scoring has moved to a scale of 20.)
Mia Hamm: Youngest National Player and World Cup Player. First-ever three-time U.S. Soccer athlete of the year, male or female (1994-1996) … Member of the Gold Medal winning U.S. Women’s National Team at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Gertrude Caroline Ederle: Was the first woman to succesfully swim across the English Channel, completeing the feat on August 30th (my birthday!), 1926, in 14 hours and 39 minutes.
So then I did a simple search on Google for “greatest women athletes of all time” and found that Sports Illustrated did a piece on it…here are their results!
1. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Track and Field
–Won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals over four consecutive Olympic Games. (1962)
2. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Track and Field
–Ultimate multisport athlete won three Olympic medals to go with 31 LPGA titles. (1911–1956)
3. Billie Jean King, Tennis
–Opened minds by beating Bobby Riggs in 1973 “Battle of the Sexes”; opened doors by helping establish Women’s Sports Foundation in ’74. (1943)
4. Sonja Henie, Figure Skating
–Dominated figure skating with 10 consecutive world championships and three Olympic gold medals. (1912-1969)
5. Maritina Navratilova, Tennis
–Martiina Navratilova (#5) and Chris Evert (#6) each won 18 Grand Slam titles; together, their rivalry elevated women’s tennis. (1956)
6. Chris Evert, Tennis
–Martiina Navratilova (#5) and Chris Evert (#6) each won 18 Grand Slam titles; together, their rivalry elevated women’s tennis. (1954)
7. Bonnie Blair, Speed Skating
–Won a U.S.-record five individual gold medals over three Olympic Games. (1974)
8. Wilma Rudolph, Trach and Field
–Overcame polio to win Olympic gold. (1940-1994)
9. Nadia Comaneci, Gymanstics
–First gymnast to receive a perfect score in Olympic competition. (1961)
10. Tracy Caulkins, Swimming
–Most versatile swimmer ever and winner of three Olympic gold medals. (1963)
11. Flor
ence Griffith Joyner, Track and Field
12. Mia Hamm, Soccer
13. Nancy Lopez, Golf
14. Steffi Graff, Tennis
15. Cheryl Miller, Basketball
16. Margaret Court, Tennis
17. Mary T. Meagher, Swimming
18. Olga Korbut, Gymnastics
19. Peggy Fleming, Figure Skating
20. Joan Benoit Samuleson, Distance Running
21. Dawn Fraser, Swimming
22. Teresa Edwards, Bastketball
23. Julie Krone, Horse Racing
24. Ann Meyers, Baskteball
25. Jean Driscoll, Wheelchair Racing
26. Fanny Blankers-Koen, Track and Field
27. Mickey Wright, Golf
28. Maureen Connolly, Tennis
29. Janet Evans, Swimmer
30. Althea Gibson, Tennis
31. Mary Decker Slaney, Track and Field
32. Dorothy Hamill, Figure Skating
33. Suzanna Lenglen, Tennis
34. Lyuboz Egorova, Cross Country Skiing
35. Kathy Whitworth, Distance Running
36. Larrisa Latynina, Gymnastics
37. Grete Waitz, Distance Running
38. Katarina Witt, Figure Skating
39. Amy Van Dyken, Swimming
40. Michelle Akers, Soccer
41. Pat McCormick, Diving
42. Getrude Ederle, Swimming
43. Wyomia Tyus, Track and Field
44. Nancy Lieberman-Cline, Basketball
45. Picabo Street, Skiing
46. Anne Donovan, Basketball
47. Tenley Albright, Figure Skating
48. Lyne Hill, Rock Climbing
49. Rosi Mittermaier, Skiing
50. Susan Butcher, Dogsledding
Thanks to all these ladies that have changed the face of women’s sports as we know it. Without their efforts we wouldn’t be where we are today! Free to compete!
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