14 of the Best Female Athletes of All Time

Jackie Joyner-Kersee - A multi-talented athlete, Joyner-Kersee was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the women’s heptathlon, which she did at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. She also won gold medals in the long jump and the 4x400 meter relay in Los Angeles in 1984.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias - A pioneering golf and basketball player, Didrikson Zaharias was the first American to win three gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the 80-meter hurdles and javelin throw. She later became an All-American basketball player, dominated the LPGA Tour, and won 10 major championships in golf.

Venuste N’Dongala - N’Dongala represented the Central African Republic in the 100-meter and 200-meter races at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. She was the first female athlete from her country to compete in the Olympics and was the first female African athlete to win an Olympic medal, a bronze in the 200-meter races.

Nadia Comaneci - Comaneci was the first gymnast to ever score a perfect 10 at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. She earned seven perfect 10s over the course of the Games and won three gold medals.

Wilma Rudolph - Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, she won gold in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4x100-meter relay races.

Althea Gibson - Gibson was the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament when she won the French Open in 1956. She also won Wimbledon twice (1957 and 1958) and the US Open twice (1957 and 1958).
(Original Caption) 6/27/1957-London, England- Althea Gibson, in action at Wimbledon, is shown is some fancy hand and foot action during play against Mrs. Z. Kormoczy of Hungary in the second day round of Tennis Championships at Wimbledon. Miss Gibson won in two straight sets in this first round of the ladies singles.

Shirley Strickland - Strickland was an Australian track and field athlete who won three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki in the 80-meter hurdles, 4x100 meter relay, and 4x400 meter relay. She was the first woman to win three individual titles at a single Olympics.

Fanny Blankers-Koen - Blankers-Koen was a Dutch track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1948 London Olympics in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 80-meter hurdles, and 4x100 meter relay. She was the first woman to win four gold medals at a single Olympics.

Florence Griffith-Joyner - Griffith-Joyner was an American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4x100 relay. She set world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter.

Haley Cope - Cope was an American swimmer who won the 100-meter backstroke at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She was the first American woman to win the event since 1988.

Kayla Harrison - Harrison is an American judoka who won the gold medal in the 78-kilogram weight class at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She was the first American woman to win a gold medal in judo.

Annika Sorenstam - Sorenstam was a Swedish professional golfer who won 72 LPGA Tour events, including 10 major championships. She was the first woman to break the 60-stroke barrier and won the LPGA Player of the Year award a record eight times.

Gertrude Ederle - Ederle was a pioneering American swimmer who became the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926. She also set world records in multiple events and was the first woman to swim the 500-yard and 1000-yard freestyles in less than six minutes.

Misty May-Treanor - May-Treanor was a beach volleyball player who won three gold medals at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics in Athens, Beijing, and London respectively. She is widely considered the greatest beach volleyball player of all time.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee - A multi-talented athlete, Joyner-Kersee was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the women’s heptathlon, which she did at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. She also won gold medals in the long jump and the 4x400 meter relay in Los Angeles in 1984.