Throughout sports history, many great athletes have graced fans with their talents, but certain individuals stand out for laying the groundwork for others to follow. In honor of Black History Month, here are the 10 most impactful Black athletes in American sports history.
Muhammad Ali
Jim Brown
Jim Brown’s impact was equally significant on and off the football field. As an eight-time NFL All-Pro with the Cleveland Browns, he remains the only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (1957). Beyond football, Brown advocated for Civil Rights, participated in the Cleveland Summit, and later created the Amer-I-Can program in Los Angeles to help ex-convicts and troubled youth transform their lives.
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens made history at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, becoming the first Black athlete to win multiple gold medals in a single Olympiad. Competing under Adolf Hitler’s regime, when people of color were typically forbidden from competition, Owens won four gold medals in track and field. His achievements transcended sports, and in 1976, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for his contributions to Civil Rights and youth advocacy.
Related: Jesse Owens’ Presidential Medal of Honor sets auction record, sold for $128K
Serena Williams
Tiger Woods
Dominque Dawes
Dominique Dawes made history at the 2000 Olympics by becoming the first Black gymnast to win a gold medal. Her success blazed a trail for future champions Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles. Douglas became the first Black gymnast to win gold in the all-around competition at the 2012 London Olympics, while Biles elevated the sport further by becoming the most decorated Olympic gymnast with 11 medals, including seven gold.
Related: 2024 Paris Olympics: 10 athletes making their return, including Simone Biles
Arthur Ashe
Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph (center) made Olympic history at the 1960 Games in Rome, becoming the first American to win three gold medals in a single Olympics. Her impact extended beyond athletics when she refused to attend her hometown celebration in Clarksville, Tennessee, because of segregation — a courageous stand against racial discrimination.
Related: Top 10 USA Olympics track victories ever, including Wilma Rudolph
Bill Russell
Bill Russell dominated basketball both on and off the court during the 1960s. His athletic achievements include 11 championships and five MVP awards, but his pioneering role as the first Black head coach of any major American sports team in 1966 proved equally significant. As player-coach of the Boston Celtics, he led the team to a championship in 1967-68. Russell’s continued advocacy for civil rights earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
Related: NBA permanently retires Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, broke baseball’s color barrier and changed American sports forever. During his career (1947-1959), Robinson earned Rookie of the Year honors (1947), an MVP award (1949), and six consecutive All-Star selections. His success opened doors for legendary players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr. Robinson entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, and in 1997, Major League Baseball retired his number 42 league-wide and established April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day.