The Most Impressive Athletes Of All Time
Sports continue to transfix our society. Different sports are popular in different countries, but one thing’s for sure; athletes are among the biggest stars in the world no matter where.
One thing that can make athletes memorable is their size. There’s something about seeing an athlete that’s quite literally larger than life that draws our attention. Of course, being big and tall doesn’t always mean having an edge on the competition, but it definitely helps when it comes to many sports.
Let’s take a look at some of the most impressive athletes of all time and see how these men and women have been able to astound us with their size and ability.
41. Maria Sharapova (Tennis)
If you’re even a bit interested in tennis then you know the name, Maria Sharapova. This Russian superstar has been ranked Number #1 worldwide in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association, not once, not twice, but FIVE different times! Tennis pros and aficionados largely consider her to be one of the best tennis players of all time.
41. Maria Sharapova (Tennis)
She was also a silver medalist in the 2012 Olympics. Though she retired in 2020, she leaves behind an absolutely incredible legacy. Among her achievements are five grand slams, six WTA Tier 1 singles titles, and three WTA Premier Mandatory singles titles.
40. Hong-man Choi (Kickboxing/MMA)
Hong-man Choi looks extremely intimidating due to his size, but despite being 7’2″ and well over 300 pounds, he was more of a sideshow during his MMA and kickboxing career. The South Korean had many nicknames, including the “Techno Giant,” “Korean Monster,” and “Korean Colossus.” Unfortunately, he didn’t have quite as many wins.
40. Hong-man Choi (Kickboxing/MMA)
He did beat former baseball great Jose Canseco in a freak show matchup but notably lost to standout fighters like Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Maybe that’s why he took up singing, acting, and modeling? Choi could be called a jack of all trades with this resume!
39. KONISHIKI (Sumo)
Konishiki Yasokichi was a Hawaiian-born sumo wrestler, who at the height of his career weighed in at a massive 633 pounds! He was the first non-Japanese born wrestler to get to the level of ōzeki, which is the second highest rank in sumo wrestling. At the time he was the heaviest sumo wrestler ever. He was surpassed by 645-pound wrestler Ōrora in 2017.
39. KONISHIKI (Sumo)
Konishiki competed in 81 tournaments and won 649 bouts in the top division of sumo wrestling, but has since retired. He is also known by the nicknames “Meat Bomb” and “Dump Truck”, which we’re sure are compliments in the sumo world!
38. Ronnie Coleman (Bodybuilding)
In some ways, Ronnie Coleman is small for this list, as he’s only 5’11” tall. But that’s the only thing small about him. His arms measured 24 inches around during competitions, those are some incredibly large muscles! Coleman typically competed at about 300 pounds as a bodybuilder. Many regard him as the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
38. Ronnie Coleman (Bodybuilding)
And there’s a good reason for that, too. Coleman won the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition a record 8 times (more than Arnold Schwarzenegger) and won 26 IFBB competitions, as well. And he did it standing four inches shorter than Arnie! Though he didn’t star in as many movies, this bodybuilder is an absolute legend.
37. Zdeno Chara (Hockey)
Hockey is a sport full of surprisingly humble athletes, but don’t get it twisted – these are also some pretty tough, scary characters. Look at Zdeno Chara, for instance. Chara is an incredible 6’9″ tall. Not the kind of guy you’d want to get in a fight with. With his ice skates on, he towered over opponents at over 7′ tall.
37. Zdeno Chara (Hockey)
Chara had quite a slap shot, too, proving that he had some skills to go along with his remarkable size. He won five straight hardest shot challenges at the NHL All-Star Game. The Slovakian athlete’s longest run with a team was with the Boston Bruins.
36. Mariusz Pudzianowski (Strongman/MMA)
Mariusz Pudzianowski isn’t astonishingly tall (6’1″) but he’s absolutely stacked with muscle. Don’t let the pictures fool you, Mariusz is built around functional strength instead of just looks. This guy can deadlift over 900 pounds! He built his 300-pound physique while competing in strongman competitions like the World’s Strongest Man, which he won a record five times during his career.
36. Mariusz Pudzianowski (Strongman/MMA)
If that doesn’t prove the sheer muscular strength this dude holds, nothing will! He then moved on to MMA, where he has compiled a respectable record of 12-6 and continues to compete to this day. Though he’s branched out just a bit for competitions like Dancing with the Stars in home country of Poland.
35. Eddy Curry (Basketball)
Eddy Curry’s 7-foot height alone would not help him make this list as he’s a basketball player. It’s not a huge deal to see a player that tall on the court. But his successful career with the NBA makes him a noteworthy athlete. He’s best known for playing on the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and the Dallas Mavericks.
35. Eddy Curry (Basketball)
Unfortunately, he grew in the wrong direction during his career and his weight became a serious issue. So much so that his trainer said it would be “delusional” for a team to expect him to get back to his listed playing weight of 285 pounds. But Curry doesn’t need to worry about all that since his retirement in 2013
34. Florence Griffith Joyner (FloJo)
Florence Griffith Joyner was an American track and field athlete known as the fastest woman of all time. She won this title based on her record-setting 100m and 200m dashes in 1988. From a young age, she was involved in sports, and even ran track meets as a child! People loved her for her amazing skills and unique style.
34. Florence Griffith Joyner (FloJo)
It’s no wonder she grew up to be the track superstar that she was. In fact, she would go on to win a whopping three gold medals in the 1988 Olympics! Even after retirement, she managed to stay in the spotlight through endorsement and acting gigs. Sadly, Florence passed away at the age of 38 due to an epileptic seizure.
33. Lisa Leslie (Basketball)
Lisa Leslie is an astoundingly tall woman, towering at 6″4 feet tall! It’s no wonder she was a pro basketball player. Her accolades include winning Most Valuable Player in the WNBA, as well as being a four-time Olympic gold medalist. She was also added to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015
33. Lisa Leslie (Basketball)
She’s currently not spending her time in sports since her retirement from the Los Angeles Sparks in 2009. But she’s been keeping busy since her basketball career ended. Leslie broke into the world of modeling, as well as working as a sports commentator. We think she’s more than qualified for both of those jobs!
32. Paul Millar (Soccer)
Scottish soccer player Paul Millar stood at an amazing 6’10” during his career. He’s thought to be a bit taller than Belgian goalkeeper Kristof Van Hout, which would make him the tallest person in the history of the game. Though officially people credit Van Hout as being the tallest. This giant player had his soccer career cut unfortunately short.
32. Paul Millar (Soccer)
Millar was not nearly as successful as England’s Peter Crouch during his soccer career, as he was often seen playing in League Two instead of the top tier, but he did notch Elgin City FC’s first playoff goal. Sadly, he tore his ACL in 2014 and was never the same, retiring in 2016.
31. Sharran Alexander (Sumo)
Most of the athletes on this list are men, but some female athletes wowed onlookers with their athletic skill and sheer size. Sharran Alexander competed in sumo wrestling and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest sportswoman in 2013, weighing in at 448 pounds. She’s also taken home 4 gold medals in international competitions.
31. Sharran Alexander (Sumo)
She is one of the few women recognized by the British Sumo Federation. Sharran didn’t become a sumo wrestler until she was 41 years old, but she was still able to compete in the World Sumo Championships in Japan! Just goes to show that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
30. John Daly (Golf)
John Daly is not any taller than many men, as he stands at just 5’11”. However, his huge girth has made him notable on the golf course throughout his lengthy career. He reportedly weighed as much as 285 pounds during his career. Though it’s possible he packed on more pounds than that, eventually looking for ways to keep his weight down.
30. John Daly (Golf)
He even underwent lap band surgery in 2008. Daly is also notable for eschewing the class associated with golf. He was noted for smoking two packs per day and used to drink as much as 28 cans of Diet Coke daily. We can’t help but wonder if this lifestyle helps or hinders his ability to play. Maybe he has some kind of secret strategy?
29. Dalip Singh Rana (Pro Wrestling)
Better known as “The Great Khali,” Dalip Singh Rana stands at an amazing 7’1″. Though he competes in what many might consider a sport for show, he did have to have some amount of athleticism to compete in the WWE and eventually win the promotion’s world championship in 2007. He broke into pro-wrestling after working with the Punjab police.
29. Dalip Singh Rana (Pro Wrestling)
He was the first Indian wrestler to sign with the WWE and he has also parlayed his impressive size into movie and TV roles, such as Adam Sandler’s The Longest Yard. He’s also appeared in two Bollywood films! Now that’s a man of many talents.
28. Yao Ming (Basketball)
Yao Ming is one of a number of players in NBA history who measured at 7’6″ or taller, but he is unquestionably the most effective of all of them. The Chinese phenomenon was selected first by the Houston Rockets and provided quite a return on the investment, being selected to eight All-Star teams while playing with surprising finesse and skill.
28. Yao Ming (Basketball)
Ming was also a player for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. Unfortunately, like many extremely tall players, ankle and foot injuries slowed down the end of his career and caused him to retire. Nevertheless, his name will live on in the world of basketball. You’re not a real fan of the sport if you haven’t heard of him!
27. Darya Klishina (High Jump)
Darya Igorevna Klishina is one of the best long jumpers in the game. All of her accomplishments were a result of her well-disciplined training both in the gym and on the track. Her father is also a former athlete, which likely helped her along her path to success. One of her great achievements was her 7.03 meter jump in 2010, the second-best junior mark of all time.
27. Darya Klishina (High Jump)
Unfortunately, Klishina’s name has come to be associated with a controversy surrounding the Russian national federation. Klishina, along with 19 other Russian athletes, decided to compete in the 2016 Brazil Olympics as neutrals. As a result, they faced scrutiny from their home country, with many Russians calling them “traitors.”
26. Gheorghe Muresan (Basketball)
Gheorghe Muresan is tied with Manute Bol as the tallest player in NBA history, as both men were 7’7″ tall. He was a fairly successful player, too, topping the league in field goal percentage twice and earning the Most Improved Player Award in 1996. The athlete is best known for his time with the Washington Bullets and the New Jersey Nets.
26. Gheorghe Muresan (Basketball)
Unfortunately, injuries limited his career, as with many other exceptionally tall players. His tall stature has also landed him some acting gigs, he appeared in the film “My Giant” and Eminem’s music video for “My Name Is” mostly due to his astonishing height.
25. Andre the Giant (Pro Wrestling)
Professional wrestling has continued to be a popular spectacle, despite the fact wrestlers sometimes don’t actually fight. People want to tune in and watch these larger-than-life personalities duke it out in the ring. And this was extremely true when it came to Andre the Giant. If you’re not a wrestling fan you might recognize him from his role in the nostalgic classic “The Princess Bride.”
25. Andre the Giant (Pro Wrestling)
Andre was 7’4″ and weighed over 500 lbs. Here, you see him dwarfing the people around him. The French pro wrestler was even nicknamed “The Eighth Wonder of the World”. Unfortunately, his condition of acromegaly also led to an early death at age 46.
24. Aaron Judge (Baseball)
Aaron Judge is famous size but also his strength. The New York Yankees slugger has wowed fans by hitting 52 home runs as a rookie in 2017 while winning the Home Run Derby. This incredible player has hit 158 home runs over the course of four full seasons! If that isn’t impressive we don’t know what is.
24. Aaron Judge (Baseball)
He stands at 6’7″, but as you can see in this photo of him with smaller player Jose Altuve, he isn’t exactly skinny and has the power to spare. In fact, he was unanimously chosen as Rookie of the Year in 2017! This incredible athlete is still playing for the Yankees and we hope to see more incredible feats from him!
23. William Perry (Football)
Better known as “Refrigerator” or even “The Fridge” (because he was as big as one), William Perry was not only a huge competitor but a larger-than-life personality. He fit in perfectly with all the other big names and outlandish individuals on the 1985 Chicago Bears, likely the greatest football team of all time.
23. William Perry (Football)
But you’d probably be pretty intimidated to go up against him in any sport! The Fridge was an NFL Rookie of the Year. He weighed in at 335 pounds before many linemen tipped the scales at that size. Here’s another surprising fact; his 1985 Super Bowl ring was a size 25!
22. Eric “Butterbean” Esch (Boxing/MMA)
Many of the athletes on our list look like video game characters, and usually, that’s a good thing. Maybe not so with Eric “Butterbean” Esch, however, who bears an unfortunate resemblance to King Hippo from the classic NES game “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.” Those star-spangled boxers certainly give him a distinct look. Maybe that’s what he was going for?
22. Eric “Butterbean” Esch (Boxing/MMA)
Butterbean is not quite 6-feet tall but at over 400 pounds he’s still quite the giant. And no, that’s not all muscle. Still, he knocked out dozens of opponents while compiling a 77-10-4 boxing record. He also had a 17-10-1 MMA record and went 3-4 in kickboxing.
21. Peter Crouch (Soccer)
Although Peter Crouch is not the tallest soccer player of all time, he is arguably the most successful tall player. Crouch stands at an impressive 6’7″ tall, but still has the coordination of a much smaller man. This made him an incredibly advantageous player to have on any team, and he’s played with over 10 of them!
21. Peter Crouch (Soccer)
As a star in the Premier League for years, Crouch proved himself to be capable in the club and international scenes, as he also played for England’s national team. His height was particularly helpful in helping him score header goals throughout his career. This legend has built up his value, he’s the 5th most expensive British player of all time!
20. Manute Bol (Basketball)
Some players in the NBA are attractions because of their amazing talent. Fewer, like Manute Bol, are attractions simply because of their size alone. People definitely went to Washington Bullets games to gawk at this athlete, who was the tallest player in NBA history at 7’7″. How often do you see a player that tall, even in a sports arena?
20. Manute Bol (Basketball)
Even better, he once played alongside Muggsy Bogues, who stood at just 5’1″! Bol was a successful player, blocking 2,086 shots in his career. He’s known as one of the best shot blockers in the game’s history. Sadly, this basketball legend died of kidney failure in 2010 when he was only 47.
19. Bob Sapp (Kickboxing/MMA)
Bob Sapp was an athlete who might’ve blurred the lines of reality and fiction better than anyone. He washed out of the NFL but found fame in Japan, where people embraced his menacing style and 350-pound frame. His wrestling style can be best described by his nickname as “The Beast,” due to his Tarzan-like villainous persona when he entered the ring.
19. Bob Sapp (Kickboxing/MMA)
He competed in MMA and kickboxing in Japan while also performing as a pro wrestler, and rumors of his participation in fixed fights show that he was more into performing than brawling, despite his size. Sometimes it’s all about giving the people a show! The fighter retired in 2014, after all, The show can’t go on forever.
18. Ivo Karlovic (Tennis)
Ivo Karlovic stands above the competition in the world of tennis – literally. Even the most skilled players were concerned about facing a man who could serve from such a great height. That’s probably why he holds the record for most aces. He was a pretty good player, too, holding rank as high as 14th in the world at one time.
18. Ivo Karlovic (Tennis)
Karlovic also has the second-hardest serve of all time at 156 miles per hour. That’s a pretty fast ball! Believe it or not, his second serve was just as deadly. He once had a second serve of a record 144 mph! He’s one of the tallest plays in the sport and he’s got the skills to back it up.
17. Dekoda Watson (Football)
Dekoda Watson is an example of how the legends surrounding players are often even more impressive than their stature. At 6’2, 245 pounds, and the physique of a bodybuilder, Dekoda always attracted more attention for his physique than his play. He wasn’t picked until the 2010 NFL Draft’s 7th round, that’s when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
17. Dekoda Watson (Football)
However, he is mostly known for a widely circulated photo that was heavily Photoshopped to make him appear to look like The Hulk himself. Though he spent most of his career playing for the Buccaneers, he had stints with the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and the Seattle Seahawks.
16. Blanka Vlasic (High Jump)
High jump is a difficult sport to succeed in if you aren’t tall. Still, it takes more than height to succeed at the event, otherwise, it would just be a matter of who the tallest person in the world is. But some athletes, such as the 6’3″ Blanka Vlasic, not only have the perfect frame for the sport but the athleticism and coordination to succeed at a high level.
16. Blanka Vlasic (High Jump)
She started out in track and field, proving she has a variety of talent in her arsenal. The Croatian athlete took home medals at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games and has many gold medals from various championships, too. She formally retired in 2021, unfortunately missing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to an injury.
15. Paul “Big Show” Wight (Pro Wrestling)
The Big Show is a professional wrestler who follows the proud tradition started by Andre the Giant himself. At 7′ tall and 383 pounds (though in typical pro wrestling fashion, he’s often billed at “500 pounds”), he towers over the large men of the WWE. This is a literal BIG attraction for any fan of pro-wrestling.
15. Paul “Big Show” Wight (Pro Wrestling)
Big Show also lives with acromegaly, but unlike Andre the Giant he received surgery to stop his condition from getting worse. Also unlike other huge wrestlers, like the Great Khali, his personality and athleticism have given his career tremendous longevity, and he still competes fairly regularly to this day. As of 2021, he has no plans of retirement.
14. Nate Newton (Football)
Although Nate Newton wasn’t always the tallest man on the football field, he was often the biggest in terms of his overall size. In a sport of absolutely huge men, Newton stood out as an offensive lineman that could keep his quarterback protected and push forward to secure running lanes for greats like Emmitt Smith. 6’3” tall and 335 isn’t remarkable for an NFL player, but he made it count!
14. Nate Newton (Football)
In fact, none other than Troy Aikman said that Newton was one of the key reasons he was able to lead the Dallas Cowboys to multiple Super Bowl wins. Newton earned an impressive six Pro Bowl selections. You can’t call yourself a Cowboys fan without knowing this guy’s name.
13. Emmanuel Yarbrough (Sumo/MMA)
Emmanuel Yarbrough towered over most athletes in both height and overall size. Not only did he stand at an impressive 6’8″, but he also reached an astounding 882 pounds! That’s pretty impressive for someone who could compete in sports. He ballooned in size as he transitioned from college wrestling to sumo wrestling. He even made the Guinness World Record for the heaviest living athlete.
13. Emmanuel Yarbrough (Sumo/MMA)
He even competed in the original Ultimate Fighting Championship, though that didn’t go so well for him. Sadly, Yarbrough passed away from a heart attack. The athlete struggled with maintaining his health throughout his career. It’s unfortunate he wasn’t able to compete and show the world more of his talent.
12. Phil Blackmar (Golf)
In a sport like golf, there isn’t any clear advantage to be gained from being taller than your opponents. Usually height and weight are not notable traits for pro golf players. The game doesn’t require a lot of running or heavy lifting. However, with custom clubs, it would appear that you can perform well despite having much taller legs and longer arms than your opponents.
12. Phil Blackmar (Golf)
That was the case for 6’7″ Phil Blackmar, who competed for 15 years on the PGA Tour. Surprisingly, Blackmar isn’t the tallest PGA Tour player ever – that goes to Craig Smith, who is 6’8″. Blackmar had three PGA Tour wins during his career.
11. John Isner (Tennis)
John Isner stands tall at 6’10” and is far from just being a sideshow on the tennis court. Since turning pro in 2007, he’s had a great run, winning at least one tournament each year from 2010 onward, with the exception of 2016. He’s the third tallest in the game and is known for his powerful serve.
11. John Isner (Tennis)
In fact, he holds the record for hitting the ATP’s fastest “official” serve. Isner has the distinction of being ranked in the top ten in the world during his career. He’s also played in the two longest matches in tennis history, both of which took place at Wimbledon.
10. Shawn Bradley (Basketball)
It’s quite surprising that at 7’6″ Shawn Bradley isn’t the tallest player in NBA history. It just goes to show how many giants there are in this sport! He’ll have to settle for a tie for third place with fellow standout Yao Ming. However, Bradley definitely had a better career than the players taller than him, Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan.
10. Shawn Bradley (Basketball)
He retired at 14th on the blocked shots list and even got to appear in Space Jam! Though he’s probably most remembered for getting dunked on many, many times. Unfortunately, In 2021 the former athlete suffered a terrible accident that left him paralyzed.
9. Loek Van Mil (Baseball)
Loek Van Mil, whose full name is Ludovicus Jacobus Maria Van Mil, was a Dutch player who unfortunately never made it to the big leagues, but still ranked as the tallest pitcher in professional history at 7’1″ during his time in the minor leagues. He made it as high as the AAA ranks but never made a big league debut with the Minnesota Twins.
9. Loek Van Mil (Baseball)
Though they were more than happy to include him in some marketing photos, and you can’t really blame them. A play that big would definitely get people watching from the stands. However, Van Mil has pitched in the World Baseball Classic for the Netherlands.
8. Shaquille O’Neal (Basketball)
Shaquille O’Neal, or simply “Shaq”, is one of the most well-known basketball players of all time. He stands at 7″1 and weighs a massive 324 pounds. The average person dwarfs in comparison to this basketball giant! Over the course of nineteen years, this basketball star played for six different teams.
8. Shaquille O’Neal (Basketball)
Shaq is also known by a number of different nicknames, mostly given by journalists, these include: “The Diesel”, “Shaq Fu”, “The Big Daddy”, “Superman”, “The Big Agave”, “The Big Cactus”, and “The Big Shaqtus” among others. He’s also had his time on screen, playing in a number of TV shows and movies.
7. Althea Gibson (Tennis)
Althea Gibson was one of the biggest names in tennis, and the first African American to win a Grand Slam title. It has been said that Gibson “is one of the greatest players who ever lived.” Her legacy was particularly important, as it was highly taboo for an African American to compete in tennis at the time.
7. Althea Gibson (Tennis)
In 1980 she became one of six women to be added to the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Though she passed away in 2003, her legacy lives on. In fact, there is even a bronze statue of her where she used to run clinics for young players in Newark, New Jersey.
6. Nikolai Valuev (Boxing)
If you think it would be scary to step in the ring with a wrestler the size of Andre the Giant, check out this boxer! Nikolai Valuev, who is an astounding 7′ tall and 328 pounds, was an intimidating sight to behold and tough to face because of his long reach. He’s known as the biggest and heaviest boxer in the sport’s history.
6. Nikolai Valuev (Boxing)
It’s no wonder he held the heavyweight title two times, in 2005 and 2009. Boxers practically had to jump to hit him in the head! He held a 50-2 record in his career and even was a WBA champion.
5. John Scott (Hockey)
The toughness of NHL players is not up for debate. Even if they know they’re going to lose, most hockey players will bravely stare down an opponent and drop their gloves if that’s what they have to do. They’ll take every risk to stand up for a teammate or rile up their team for a comeback victory.
5. John Scott (Hockey)
But even the toughest NHL player thought twice before tangling with John Scott, who stood an imposing 6’8″ tall. He was no string bean, either. The man was extremely strong and could toss around other players as if there was nothing to it. He’s played for 6 different teams and retired in 2016.
4. Jon Rauch (Baseball)
Baseball is a sport where being extremely tall can be a detriment or an asset. As a batter, tall height gives you a huge strike zone to cover, but as a pitcher, you have leverage that helps you throw down toward the batter, which is a massive advantage. This pro pitcher was known for more than just his impressive height.
4. Jon Rauch (Baseball)
Jon Rauch stands 6’11”. But he wasn’t just a one-trick pony. Along with being the tallest MLB pitcher ever, he had five pitches in his arsenal, including a nice curveball and a tricky cut fastball. We’d be sweating if we were up against him on the field!
3. Margo Dydek (Basketball)
We get used to seeing male basketball players 7′ tall and higher, but female players of that height are much rarer. As such, Margo Dydek’s 7’2″ height made her stand out among the competition on the court, you can tell just by looking at the photo below! And it’s not just her height that made her an impressive player.
3. Margo Dydek (Basketball)
She was picked first in the 1998 WNBA draft by the Utah Starzz and held the record for all-time leader in blocks. Dydek also competed in her home country of Poland and was the MVP in the Polish League Finals of 1999-2000. Sadly this amazing athlete passed away in 2011, at the young age of 37.
2. Nataliya Kuznetsova (Bodybuilding)
Nataliya Kuznetsova is known as the heaviest professional female bodybuilder, weighing in at a massive 243 pounds. As you can see, most of that weight is pure muscle! She started her bodybuilding journey by powerlifting at the young age of fourteen. Clearly, all those years of hard work paid off! She’s shared many photos of her bodybuilding journey.
2. Nataliya Kuznetsova (Bodybuilding)
The success she’s achieved through her hard work is inspiring. In addition to being the heaviest female bodybuilder, she has also broken world records in deadlifting, bench pressing, and arm lifting! She’s married to fellow bodybuilder Vladislav Kuznetsov. We wonder how much gym equipment they have at home!
1. Troy “Escalade” Jackson (Basketball)
Many of the huge athletes on our list have been more effective at their sports because of their size and strength, but in the case of Troy “Escalade” Jackson, you could argue that being big was not always an asset. Although Escalade played basketball, he was a streetball player, so finesse and showmanship were more important than fundamentals.
1. Troy “Escalade” Jackson (Basketball)
The 6’10”, 500-pound player was a high school and college star before dazzling fans with surprising dribbling and deft passes in the And 1 tour. Though his older brother Mark Jackson was an NBA player, Troy kept his play confined to college basketball. Sadly this legend passed away at 38 due to hypertensive heart disease.