The pioneers who redefined sports history -

Legends in sports have often broken barriers, set incredible records, and achieved “firsts” that have defined their careers and inspired countless others. Recently, for example, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score 900 career goals. In this gallery, we’ll explore other world-famous athletes who had “firsts”  in their respective sports and fields. From Usain Bolt to Serena Williams, these athletes redefined history.

Curious about who made the list? Click through now.

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Serena Williams -

American tennis player, Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981, and grew up in Compton, California. She leads all Americans (men and women) in Grand Slam singles titles with an impressive 23 wins.

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Jackie Robinson -

Born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. 

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Simone Biles -

Simone Biles was the first female gymnast to win six world all-around titles and perform several incredible moves, including the Yurchenko double pike vault.

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Michael Phelps -

Michael Phelps was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. He is an American swimmer who became the first person to win eight gold medals at a single Olympics in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

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Roger Federer -

Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981 in Basel, Switzerland. He was the first male tennis player to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

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Usain Bolt -

Jamaican athlete, Usain Bolt became the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4 x 100-meter relay in a single Olympics. 

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Tom Brady -

Born on August 3, 1977, in San Mateo, California, Tom Brady was the first NFL player to win seven Super Bowl titles as a quarterback.

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LeBron James -

LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He was the first NBA player to score 30,000 points, record 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists in a career.

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Lionel Messi -

Argentina's Lionel Messi became the first footballer to score 91 goals in a calendar year in 2012. He scored 79 for Barcelona and another 12 for his national team.

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Tiger Woods -

With a victory at the 2001 Masters, Tiger Woods became the first golfer to win all four major championships consecutively—The Masters, The U.S. Open, The British Open (Open Championship), and the PGA Championship.

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Babe Ruth -

Born Gorge Herman Ruth on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, MD. Babe Ruth was the first Major League Baseball player to hit 700 home runs. He passed away in 1948.

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Katherine Switzer -

American runner, Katherine Switzer was born on January 5, 1947, and later became the first woman to officially run in the Boston Marathon in 1967.

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Wilma Rudolph -

Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children in her family. She overcame severe illnesses and became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympic Games (1960).

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Marta Vieira da Silva -

Brazilian football player, Marta Vieira da Silva, was born on February 19, 1986. She was the first footballer (male or female) to score in five different FIFA World Cup tournaments.

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Rafael Nadal - Born on June 3, 1986, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal later became the first male tennis player to win 14 French Open titles.

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Florence Griffith-Joyner -

In 1988, at the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul, she became the first woman to hold both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprint world records simultaneously.

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Venus Williams -

Born on June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, California, Venus Williams became the first African-American woman in the Open Era to be ranked number one in singles tennis.

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Jim Thorpe -

Jim Thorpe became the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the US at the Stockholm Olympic Games in 1912.

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Danica Patrick -

Born March 25, 1982, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race in 2008.

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Magic Johnson -

Born August 14, 1959, Earvin "Magic" Johnson became the first rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award in 1980.

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Kelly Slater - Kelly Slater was born on February 11, 1972, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and was the first surfer to win 11 World Surf League titles.

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Pelé - Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He was the first footballer to win three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970).

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Bobby Orr -

Canadian-born Bobby Orr was the first NHL defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy for most points in a season in 1970.

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Allyson Felix - Allyson Felix was born on November 18, 1985, in Los Angeles, CA, and was the first American track and field athlete to win 11 Olympic medals. 

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Jerry Rice -

In 2001, Jerry Rice became the first NFL player to score 200 career touchdowns.

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Annika Sörenstam - Swedish professional golfer Annika Sörenstam became the first female golfer to compete in a men's PGA Tour event since 1945 in 2003.

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Michael Schumacher -

Michael Schumacher became the first Formula 1 driver to win seven World Championship titles.

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Tony Hawk -

On June 27, 1999, Tony Hawk became the first skateboarder to successfully land a 900-degree spin in competition.

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Cristiano Ronaldo -

On September 5, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first football (soccer) player to score 900 career goals.

Sources: (Britannica) (ESPN) (Jackie Robinson Foundation) (Sky News) (Olympics) (Associated Press) (United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum)

See also: Crazy sports of the ancient world

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