Famous African American Athletes - List of Famous African American Athletes

A sport is not just another means of recreation anymore. Over the years, it has also emerged as a form of entertainment. A few athletes alone have managed to turn even the most boring matches into nail-biting contest. They have managed to get people glued to their television screens and hundreds of spectators to the nearest stadiums. African American athletes, in particular, are known not just for their stamina and great physique, but their ability to turn the tables in even the toughest of situations. Be it cricket, Basketball, Tennis, wrestling, golf or football, African American athletes have been outstanding achievers in almost every sport. Basketball players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, in that regard, have been the poster boys of the sport. They have gifted basketball players several unforgettable nail-biting moments. Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s career record has been unbeatable till date. Ali has won most of the matches he has participated in and has been more of a nightmare to most of his opponents. The boxer’s life was also the inspiration behind the critically and commercially acclaimed biopic ‘Ali’. A few other noteworthy African American athletes who are popular for their abilities are Tennis stars Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Arthur Ashe, ace golfer Tiger Woods, as well as yesteryear baseball star Jackie Robinson. Here’s a list which consists of the names of several African American athletes who are now legendary figures and are the role models of several budding sportsmen.

Check out the list of notable African American Athletes. Some of the notable African American Athletes are Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Tiger Woods, Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens.

The Most Famous African American Athletes

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Mike TysonJune 30, 1966AmericanMike Tyson is a former heavyweight boxing champion, known for his ferocious and intimidating style
Muhammad AliJanuary 17, 1942AmericanMuhammad Ali was a legendary boxer who became the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion
Leon SpinksJuly 11, 1953AmericanLeon Spinks is an American former boxer who became the world heavyweight champion in 1978
Serena WilliamsSeptember 26, 1981AmericanSerena Williams is an all-time great women's tennis player
Kobe BryantAugust 23, 1978AmericanKobe Bryant is one of the most significant contemporary American basketball player who plays for the ‘Los Angeles Lakers’
Michael JordanFebruary 17, 1963AmericanMichael Jordan is a retired basketball player, known for being the ‘NBA’ champion on six occasions
Michael JohnsonSeptember 13, 1967AmericanMichael Johnson is a record-breaking sprinter, who has won several gold medals
Jackie RobinsonJanuary 31, 1919AmericanJackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in the Major League Baseball (MLB)
Jesse OwensSeptember 12, 1913AmericanJesse Owens was a legendary track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
George ForemanJanuary 10, 1949AmericanFamously known to the world as ‘Big George’, George Foreman is a former World Heavy Weight Champion, Olympic gold medalist, a pitch man, an entrepreneur and an author
Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis is one of the greatest track and field athletes that the sporting world has till date witnessed

AmericanJuly 1, 1961250 views

Bill Russell

Bill Russell is a retired basketball player widely considered one of the best players in NBA history

AmericanFebruary 12, 1934248 views

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is an American retired track and field athlete who won three Olympic gold medals at different games

AmericanMarch 3, 1962200 views

Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe was a professional tennis player, and the first black man ever to win singles title at at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open

AmericanJuly 10, 1943177 views

Leon Spinks

Leon Spinks is an American former boxer who became the world heavyweight champion in 1978

AmericanJuly 11, 1953422 views

Jack Johnson (Boxer)

Jack Johnson was the first African American to become the world’s heavyweight boxing champion

AmericanMarch 31, 1878170 views

Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph was an American sprinter who was considered the fastest woman of her times

AmericanJune 23, 1940201 views

Willie Mays

Willie Mays is a retired American professional baseball player who was a center fielder with the New York and San Francisco Giants for the most of his career

AmericanMay 6, 1931156 views

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is a professional golfer and one of the most successful golfers of all time

AmericanDecember 30, 1975217 views

Althea Gibson

An American tennis player, professional golfer, Althea Gibson was the first woman, of African-American origin, to carve a niche in the international tennis arena

AmericanAugust 25, 1927163 views