ESPN ranks Bolt as ninth greatest professional athlete since 2000

By Sports Desk July 19, 2024

The fastest man to ever live, Usain Bolt, was ranked ninth on a list of the top 100 professional athletes since 2000 compiled by American sports channel ESPN on Thursday.

Bolt, an eight-time Olympic champion, 11-time World champion and the world record holder in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, was the highest ranked of only three track and field athletes in the whole list.

The other two track and field athletes on the list are American seven-time Olympic and 14-time World champion Allyson Felix at 63 and Jamaican three-time Olympic champion and 10-time World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at 77.

The list was topped by Michael Phelps with Serena Williams, Lionel Messi, LeBron James and Tom Brady rounding out the top five.

The three names immediately ahead of Bolt are Roger Federer at six, Simone Biles at seven and Tiger Woods at eight while Kobe Bryant came in just behind Bolt at 10.

 

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