The most influential female athletes of all time

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.

2 / 31 Fotos

Serena Williams -

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.

3 / 31 Fotos

Ronda Rousey -

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.

4 / 31 Fotos

Babe Didrikson Zaharias -

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.

5 / 31 Fotos

Danica Patrick -

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.

6 / 31 Fotos

Nancy Lieberman -

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.

7 / 31 Fotos

Dara Torres -

The swimmer made history and became the oldest swimmer to ever compete in the Olympic Games. Torres was 41.

8 / 31 Fotos

Martina Navratilova -

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.

9 / 31 Fotos

Junko Tabei -

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).

10 / 31 Fotos

Bethany Hamilton -

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).

11 / 31 Fotos

Megan Rapinoe -

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.

12 / 31 Fotos

Florence Griffith-Joyner -

The American track and field athlete has held the women's world records in both the 100 meters and 200 meters since 1988!

13 / 31 Fotos

Manon Rheaume -

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.

14 / 31 Fotos

Lindsey Vonn -

Vonn goes down in sports history for winning three Olympic medals, eight World Championship medals, and a whopping 82 World Cup race wins!

15 / 31 Fotos

Althea Gibson -

Gibson was the first Black tennis player in history to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open singles championships.

16 / 31 Fotos

Toni Stone -

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.

17 / 31 Fotos

Julie Krone -

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.

18 / 31 Fotos

Nadia Comaneci -

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.

19 / 31 Fotos

Annika Sorenstam -

In 2003, Sorenstam became the first woman to play in a PGA event since 1945.

20 / 31 Fotos

Sarah Attar -

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.

21 / 31 Fotos

Larisa Latynina -

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.

22 / 31 Fotos

Billie Jean King -

King made history in 1973 when she defeated Bobby Riggs, in a match that became known as the "Battle of the Sexes."

23 / 31 Fotos

Mia Hamm -

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.

24 / 31 Fotos

Sabrina Ionescu -

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.

25 / 31 Fotos

Gertrude Ederle -

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.

26 / 31 Fotos

Kathrine Switzer -

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.

27 / 31 Fotos

Steffi Graf -

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.

28 / 31 Fotos

Trischa Zorn -

The blind American swimmer is the most decorated Paralympian in history, with 55 medals to her name.

29 / 31 Fotos

Victoria Roche -

The baseball player became the first girl to play in the Little League World Series in 1984.

Sources: (ESPN) (Glamour) (E! News)

30 / 31 Fotos

0 / 31 Fotos

Simone Biles -

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1 / 31 Fotos

Simone Biles -

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2 / 31 Fotos

Serena Williams -

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.

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3 / 31 Fotos

Ronda Rousey -

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4 / 31 Fotos

Babe Didrikson Zaharias -

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.

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5 / 31 Fotos

Danica Patrick -

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.

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6 / 31 Fotos

Nancy Lieberman -

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.

Getty Images

7 / 31 Fotos

Dara Torres -

The swimmer made history and became the oldest swimmer to ever compete in the Olympic Games. Torres was 41.

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8 / 31 Fotos

Martina Navratilova -

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9 / 31 Fotos

Junko Tabei -

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10 / 31 Fotos

Bethany Hamilton -

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11 / 31 Fotos

Megan Rapinoe -

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12 / 31 Fotos

Florence Griffith-Joyner -

The American track and field athlete has held the women's world records in both the 100 meters and 200 meters since 1988!

Getty Images

13 / 31 Fotos

Manon Rheaume -

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.

Getty Images

14 / 31 Fotos

Lindsey Vonn -

Vonn goes down in sports history for winning three Olympic medals, eight World Championship medals, and a whopping 82 World Cup race wins!

Getty Images

15 / 31 Fotos

Althea Gibson -

Gibson was the first Black tennis player in history to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open singles championships.

Getty Images

16 / 31 Fotos

Toni Stone -

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.

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17 / 31 Fotos

Julie Krone -

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.

Getty Images

18 / 31 Fotos

Nadia Comaneci -

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.

Getty Images

19 / 31 Fotos

Annika Sorenstam -

In 2003, Sorenstam became the first woman to play in a PGA event since 1945.

Getty Images

20 / 31 Fotos

Sarah Attar -

Getty Images

21 / 31 Fotos

Larisa Latynina -

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.

Getty Images

22 / 31 Fotos

Billie Jean King -

King made history in 1973 when she defeated Bobby Riggs, in a match that became known as the "Battle of the Sexes."

Getty Images

23 / 31 Fotos

Mia Hamm -

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.

Getty Images

24 / 31 Fotos

Sabrina Ionescu -

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.

Getty Images

25 / 31 Fotos

Gertrude Ederle -

Getty Images

26 / 31 Fotos

Kathrine Switzer -

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.

Getty Images

27 / 31 Fotos

Steffi Graf -

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.

Getty Images

28 / 31 Fotos

Trischa Zorn -

The blind American swimmer is the most decorated Paralympian in history, with 55 medals to her name.

Getty Images

29 / 31 Fotos

Victoria Roche -

The baseball player became the first girl to play in the Little League World Series in 1984.

Sources: (ESPN) (Glamour) (E! News)

Getty Images

30 / 31 Fotos

The most influential female athletes of all time

While some may have escaped your notice, they're certainly worth discovering

29/07/24 | StarsInsider

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.