Top 10 Athletes that Broke Records Part Two

Written by Mark Pulcifer

In our first installment, we recalled the stories of Jesse Owens, Billie Jean King, Joe Louis, Dock Ellis, and Arthur Ashe. These individuals were able to capitalize on the fame that accompanied their extraordinary sports performances, and make a difference for their communities. While there are many athletes that could accompany the five we have already recalled, here are five more to round out our list of 10 athletes that broke records: on and off the field.

5. Alice Coachman
Alice Coachman sure could jump high. She had broken both the high school and collegiate high jump records while competing barefoot before attending the Tuskegee Institute on a scholarship. Alice Coachmen represented the United States in the 1948 Olympics after the ones in 1940 and 1944 were canceled due to World War II. Held in London, Coachman showed up and took home the gold medal in the high jump, becoming the first African American to achieve this. Coachman ended up becoming the only female athlete from the United States to earn a medal at that Olympics. Coachman utilized her fame to become a spokesperson for Coca-Cola in 1952, and became the first African American to earn such an endorsement deal. Eventually, she would give back by helping younger athletes and supporting retired Olympic veterans through the Alice Coachman Track and Field Foundation.

4. Marta Vieira da Silva
On the soccer field, Marta Vieira de Silva is a force to be reckoned with. Having achieved status and recognition to the point of being referred to as just “Marta” – like Pelé, Romário, and Ronaldinho – this Brazilian soccer player makes a compelling case as the greatest female soccer player of all time. Her 115 career goals, 17 of which came in the FIFA World Cup competition, left an enduring mark on the sport (a record for men and women). She was the first female soccer player to score in five straight Olympic Games, as well as the only person in the history of either competition to score in five editions of the World Cup. In July of 2018, Marta was appointed by the United Nations as a Goodwill Ambassador, which would provide her a forum to “support UN Women’s work for gender equality and women’s empowerment across the world, inspiring women and girls to challenge stereotypes, overcome barriers and follow their dreams and ambitions.” 

3. Jennifer Azzi
Jennifer Azzi is a gold medal Olympian who participated in the women’s basketball team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. She later pursued a professional career after being a standout basketball player for Stanford, first in the American Basketball League and then in the WNBA. After playing for five years in the WNBA, she retired from the sport in 2004. Basketball would yet again come calling—this time with Azzi as the head coach at the University of San Francisco. However, it wasn’t until 2016 that she came out publicly as gay. Azzi said this about coming out, "I, too, lived a long time not being 100 percent honest. Kind of the don't-ask-don't-tell kinda of thing. And it's so stupid. I don't know why we do that, but we do that. I'm a college coach. Is it going to hurt me with recruiting? What are people going to think? And you are constantly worrying about those things. What I realized in watching Rick (Warriors president Rick Welts) in his path and his journey is that there is nothing more powerful than living the truth. And the best thing I can do for my team is be authentic and true to myself."

2. Alysia Montaño
Alysia Montaño was a track and field runner who specialized in the 800 m distance. She participated in both single and relay events, and arguably should have taken home a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. She was in the lead for the duration of the 800 m race, but several kickers passed her in the latter stages, and she came in fifth overall. Mariya Savinova and Ekaterina Poistogova were the two Russian girls who overtook her. Both of them were found guilty of doping, and although Savinova was disqualified, Poistogova was not, despite receiving a lifetime ban. With Poistogova maintaining her medal, Montaño was kept in fourth place and missed her bronze opportunity. Montaño would later receive national attention for competing in the 2014 USATFs Outdoor Track and Field Championships by running the 800 meters despite being eight months pregnant. If accomplishing that feat once wasn't enough, she repeated it in 2017, this time four months pregnant, in the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She describes that experience by recalling: “Everyone is like, ‘Oh, you’re going to be faster than you were last time, because you’re less pregnant,” said Montano. “I’m like, ‘I’m still pregnant.’”

1. Simone Biles
When Simone Biles made her senior international debut in 2013, she didn’t immediately establish her dominance in the world of artistic gymnastics. Competing in the U.S. Classic in July of 2013, Biles fell several times and twisted her ankle on the floor exercise, preventing her from competing in the vault. This led her to consult a sports psychologist, who helped her with strategies to manage anxiety and strengthen her confidence. With these new tools, Biles set the gymnastics world on fire. She won gold in Antwerp, Belgium, in October of the same year at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Over the next six years, she would win a literal stack of additional gold medals: 4 at the Olympics, 19 at the World Championships, and 2 at the Pacific Rim Championships. Her decision to withdraw from the 2020 Olympics following an episode of "the twisties," which led her to lose air awareness while performing twisting components, may be what people will remember her for most in recent times. This polarizing action drew a range of responses, to which Simone simply replied, “I say put mental health first. Because if you don't, then you're not going to enjoy your sport and you're not going to succeed as much as you want to. So it's OK sometimes to even sit out the big competitions to focus on yourself, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person that you really are—rather than just battle through it.”