Half a century of excellence
Among many impressive feats, the tennis player also holds the record for winning more Grand Slam singles titles than any other player (both male and female) during the Open Era.
The swimmer made history and became the oldest swimmer to ever compete in the Olympic Games. Torres was 41.
The MMA fighter won the first women's fight in UFC history and became the first champion. She also won an Olympic medal in judo, became a WWE champion, and starred in movies. In 2018, Rousey also became the first female fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Hamilton lost her left arm in a shark attack when she was a teen. She adapted, overcame her trauma, and became a professional surfer. Her amazing journey is portrayed in the biopic 'Soul Surfer' (2011).
Patrick became the first female racing driver to secure the top spot in the pole at the Daytona 500. "I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," she said.
The basketball player holds a record 2,000-points/1,000-rebounds/1,000-assists, making her the first player, man or woman, to reach this milestone in NCAA basketball history.
In 2012, Attar became the first Saudi woman to compete in track and field at the Olympics. "For women in Saudi Arabia, I think this can really spark something to get more involved in sports, to become more athletic," the athlete said.
In 1993, Krone became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race. She then became the first woman to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Sorenstam became the first woman to play in a PGA event since 1945.
The US soccer star made history in 1999 by winning the World Cup. In 2013, Hamm became the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame.
Rheaume made history in 1992 by becoming the first woman to appear in an NHL pre-season game. She went on to win silver for Canada in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
The American track and field athlete has held the women's world records in both the 100 meters and 200 meters since 1988!
Stone was the first woman to play professional baseball in the US. Stone was second base in the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League in 1953.
Lieberman was 17 when she made history by being part of the US Olympic team for the 1976 Montreal Games. In 1986, she made history again by becoming the first woman in a men's pro league.
The German tennis superstar completely dominated the sport in her time. She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked world no. 1 for a record 377 weeks.
The baseball player became the first girl to play in the Little League World Series in 1984.
Sources: (ESPN) (Glamour) (E! News)
King made history in 1973 when she defeated Bobby Riggs, in a match that became known as the "Battle of the Sexes."
In 1938, Zaharias became the first woman to play in a PGA event at the Los Angeles Open. She also excelled in other sports, including basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming, and track and field.
Gibson was the first Black tennis player in history to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open singles championships.
Vonn goes down in sports history for winning three Olympic medals, eight World Championship medals, and a whopping 82 World Cup race wins!
In 1967, Switzer became the first woman to run and finish the (then men-only) Boston Marathon. A man infamously tried to tear off her bib during the marathon, but Switzer's boyfriend stopped him.
The blind American swimmer is the most decorated Paralympian in history, with 55 medals to her name.
The soccer star won numerous awards, including a Golden Boot, a Golden Ball, and the FIFA Women’s 2019 Player of the Year Award. Rapinoe has been a champion for equal rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
In 1926, Ederle became the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel. Not only did she achieve this amazing feat, but she also did it faster than all the men who crossed the Channel before her.
In 1975, Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest. By 1992, the Japanese mountaineer had become the first woman to have climbed all of the Seven Summits (the highest mountains in each continent).
Navratilova is one of the greatest tennis players in history. But not only is she a living legend of the sport, Navratilova was also one of the first openly gay sportswomen, and a champion for the LGBTQ+ community in sports in general.
The Soviet gymnast holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals won by a gymnast (both male or female). Latynina won nine in total.
As of 2019, Biles became the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in World Championships history, Teen Vogue reports. On June 6, 2021, the gymnast claimed her seventh consecutive all-around title at the 2021 US Gymnastics Championships in Texas.
Biles is the first American woman to win the title seven times, breaking her tie with Clara Schroth Lombady, who competed in the 1940s and early '50s. Alfred Jochim, who competed in the 1920s and early '30s, is the only other American gymnast to collect seven titles, E! News reports. Biles has a total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, which make her the most-decorated American gymnast ever.
Comaneci was just 14 when she became the first gymnast to achieve a perfect score of 10 at the Olympic Games. The Romanian gymnast won a total of five Olympic gold medals.
Throughout the history of sports, women have broken down barriers, overcome obstacles, and achieved extraordinary feats. From sports pioneers to record-breaking performances, in this gallery you'll find a list of some of the most successful women in sports, and indeed the world.
You might not have heard about all of them, but you definitely should. So click through and celebrate the achievements of these inspirational sportswomen.
The most influential female athletes of all time
While some may have escaped your notice, they're certainly worth discovering
CELEBRITY Sport
Throughout the history of sports, women have broken down barriers, overcome obstacles, and achieved extraordinary feats. From sports pioneers to record-breaking performances, in this gallery you'll find a list of some of the most successful women in sports, and indeed the world.
You might not have heard about all of them, but you definitely should. So click through and celebrate the achievements of these inspirational sportswomen.