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Sporty star signs -

Is athletic success written in the stars for some zodiac signs more than others? Are tenacious Taureans and fiery Scorpios born to slay the competition? When it comes to athletic excellence, some signs crop up again and again in this gallery of sporting stars past and present, while others are conspicuous by their absence.

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Capricorn -

Capricorn characteristics include tenacity, independence, and discipline: all worthy attributes for an athlete.

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Muhammad Ali - Capricorn -

One of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali's fighting spirit helped him "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." An inspirational figure both inside and outside the ring, few argued with Ali's claim to be The Greatest.

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Larisa Latynina - Capricorn -

Capricorn Larisa Latynina rivals Simone Biles for gymnastic success. She won gold for the Soviet Union on her Olympic debut in 1956, going on to win 17 more Olympic medals during her career. Her record medal tally was only broken by Michael Phelps in 2012.

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Aquarius -

Innovative, uncompromising and self-confident, Aquarians might be natural born leaders in the board room or on the sports field.

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Michael Jordan - Aquarius -

Aquarian sports legend Michael Jordan has been a game changer on and off the basketball court. The entrepreneurial star's many achievements include scooping the NBA Most Valuable Player title five times, and becoming the world's first billionaire athlete in 2009.

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Cristiano Ronaldo - Aquarius -

Cristiano Ronaldo famously jostles with Lionel Messi for the title of soccer's GOAT (greatest of all time). When he's not scoring for club and country, the entrepreneurial striker has found time to launch footwear brands and even his own hotel chain.

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Pisces -

Empathetic and intuitive, Pisceans are known for their artistic nature. That artistry seems to translate to the world of sports too: there are more Pisceans on this list than any other star sign.

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Simone Biles - Pisces -

Simone Biles demonstrates the Piscean artistic streak in fine style. With her bronze in the balance beam event at Tokyo 2020, the artistic gymnast tied Larisa Latynina for total Olympic and world championship medals. Biles' decision to withdraw from several events during the Tokyo Games for mental health issues is in keeping with the Piscean tendency to listen to their gut feeling.

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Marta - Pisces -

Empathetic Pisceans make great team players, and Brazilian women's soccer maestro Marta is an inspiring example. The six-time FIFA Player of the Year has spurred the Brazilian side to victory on many occasions, and at the Tokyo Olympics became the first player, male or female, to score in five consecutive Olympic tournaments.

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Katie Ledecky - Pisces -

Swimming superstar Katie Ledecky just had to be a Pisces, the water sign symbolized by two fish. Seemingly born for the water, the serial record-crusher has won more Olympic and world championship golds than any other female swimmer in history.

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Brigid Kosgei - Pisces -

Female Pisceans are clearly a force to be reckoned with: Kenyan Brigid Kosgei is the fastest female marathon runner of all time. In 2019, she ran the Chicago Marathon in 2:14:04, breaking Paula Radcliffe's previous record by over a minute.

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Gemini -

Gemini characteristics include loyalty and sociability, making them front runners for team sports.

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Venus Williams - Gemini -

Venus Williams is one of the sporting world's most famous Geminis. And while she slayed at singles, she's also won a raft of medals in partnership with sister Serena. The pair have won 14 doubles Grand Slams and two mixed doubles Grand Slams, and that's in addition to their outstanding individual achievements.

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Athing Mu - Gemini -

Gemini sports star Athing Mu shines on her own and as part of a team. She won a gold medal for Team USA with a national record-breaking time in the 800 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also won a second gold as part of the 4x400 m relay race.

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Novak Djokavic - Gemini -

The long-standing ATP world number one,  Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is at his strongest in the singles events, but likes to try his hand at mixed doubles, too.

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Cancer -

Typical traits of water sign Cancer include sensitivity, loyalty and compassion: a combination that lends itself well to sportsmanship.

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Lionel Messi - Cancer -

For a long time, Argentine striker Lionel Messi showed unparalleled loyalty to Barcelona. The superstar striker signed for the Spanish team aged just 13, staying for over 20 years until his move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

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Megan Rapinoe - Cancer -

Two Cancerians shared the stage at the 2019 Ballon d'Or awards for best soccer player in the world. As Lionel Messi scooped the men's award for the sixth time, US star Megan Rapinoe took hers for her success in the women's game.

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Michael Phelps - Cancer -

Few athletes define success like American swimmer Michael Phelps. Arguably the greatest Olympian in history, the intuitive water-sign star has swum his way to 23 gold medals: more than double the haul of his nearest rivals.

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Leo -

Fiery, feisty Leos are known for being self-assured and for loving the limelight.

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Usain Bolt - Leo -

Lightning-fast Usain Bolt has had plenty of opportunity to revel in the world's gaze. The charismatic Jamaican runner has been described as the face of the Olympic Games, thanks to a series of world record times in the men's 100 and 200 meter sprints.

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Libra -

Balanced libras strive for fairness and justice, and seek out strong partnerships and mental stimulation.

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Serena Williams - Libra -

Libra tennis sensation Serena Williams found her perfect partnership in the doubles game with sister Venus, as well as striving for further success in the singles game, even beating her own sibling on occasion. Serena Williams holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles of all time, with a total of 23 Grand Slam tournament wins.

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Scorpio -

Intense, passionate, and whip-smart, Scorpios are known for their air of mystery.

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Eliud Kipchoge - Scorpio -

Perhaps record-breaking Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchough channeled that famous Scorpio passion when he became the first person to finish a marathon in under two hours. The powerful athlete took 20 seconds off the previous record when he powered to victory in October 2019.

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Sagittarius -

Free-spirited, independent, and adventurous, Sagittarians are renowned for their engaging personalities.

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Florence Griffith Joyner - Sagittarius -

True to her spirited star sign, Florence Griffith Joyner made a career out of being both super fast and super fashionable. The American sprinter with the dazzling race kit set world records for the 100 meter and 200 meter events in 1988, becoming a popular sports personality in the process.

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Paula Radcliffe - Sagitarrius -

Another speedy Sagittarian, Paula Radcliffe is arguably the greatest British distance runner of all time, and scooped the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award in 2002. The now-retired athlete was the fastest female runner in the world for 16 years until 2019, when Brigid Kosgei beat her 2:15:25 record.

Sources: (Olympics.com) (NBA.com) (Vogue) (ESPN) (MensJournal)

See also: Motivational quotes from the world's greatest athletes

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