It seems as though there has been a divide between the two genders, especially in sports, ever since the competitions began. Women are just as strong—but in a different way—as men. This difference has never hindered women, especially not these women, who continue to defy the limits of what is considered possible as they dominate in their chosen fields.
When it comes to sports, we might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of male names, so it’s about time we shed some light on the accomplishments and feats of these amazing athletes. These women have dedicated themselves to setting the bar even higher. By the end of this article, we know some of these ladies are going to have a few new fans rooting for them.
Golf With Gulbis
This lady turned the tables when she entered the green arena of golf. Many thought it couldn’t be done, but one Natalie Gulbis managed to make the sport more interesting than ever. People who had never watched golf before began to tune in after she released her swimwear calendar in 2004.
Also of note was her 2012 Sports Illustrated appearance, which featured her in a creative body-paint spread. Many men were already watching golf for the athleticism, but this gal brought in more eyes towards her direction whenever she swung.
Jumping For Michelle
This is Michelle Jenneke. She garnered plenty of new fans when her 2012 Pregame Dance went viral. She was included in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue the following year. But even before all this, she was already well-known in her own country as a gifted 100m hurdler.
Her Instagram account has over 500,000 followers, and she keeps it fresh by posting images of her activities and extracurriculars. She isn’t just all brawn—she also has plenty of brains to spare. At Sydney University, this hurdler studied mechatronics, a branch of engineering.
The Smashing Beauty of Anna Kournikova
This stunning former professional tennis player from Russia was born with athleticism coursing through her veins. Her mother competed in 400-meter dashes, her brother competes in professional golf, and her father, a former wrestler, teaches martial arts in Moscow.
She rose to worldwide popularity while still a teenager in the late 1990s and has since graced the covers of several publications, including Maxim and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was listed in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World in 2002.
Hitting Home Run With Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch is synonymous with softball. The two-time all-star has represented the Chicago Bandits, Arizona Wildcats, and, of course, Team USA, which she helped carry to victory multiple times. They earned a gold medal in 2004 and a silver four years later.
Her fans were sad when she announced her retirement in 2010, but she remained active in the industry. She remained as a commentator with ESPN for college games and National Pro Fastpitch. Finch was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People Magazine.
Aly Raisman Raises The Roof
Another big star in American gymnastics is Aly Raisman. In both 2012 and 2016, she captained the victorious Fierce Five. She was the most decorated gymnast at the 2012 Olympics in London, winning two golds and one bronze.
Fans were thrilled when she joined Dancing With The Stars, where she placed 4th with her partner, Mark Ballas. She must have mixed her routine inside the ballroom to have gotten so far. She also was photographed in a bikini for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2017 and 2018.
The Beautiful Game With Alex Morgan
The beautiful game, also known as soccer, tends to be dominated by men, but the girls don’t shy away from this competitive sport. Women like Alex Morgan make this sport her life. Morgan was previously named one of the highest-paid female soccer players by Time Magazine in 2015. However, 2019 was one of her busiest and most successful years.
This Californian has been on the covers of several magazines, including Time and Sports Illustrated. She was named in "Time's Top 100 Most Influential People.” She also helped Team USA win the Women's World Cup against France.
All Out For VanZant
Paige VanZant is most known for her fighting prowess in the UFC strawweight and flyweight bouts, where she is currently ranked 13th. She came close to appearing on the UFC program in 2013 but was denied due to her age (she was a few months shy of 21 at the time.)
Her fans flocked to the bookstore when she released an autobiography, Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life. She has been on a few television shows, including Chopped in 2017 and season 22 of Dance with the Stars, where she finished second with pro dancing partner Mark Ballas.
Rising With Allison Stoke
This young lady won over millions of hearts after being photographed while preparing for her performance in the pole vaulting event. Allison Stokke is undoubtedly the most renowned woman in pole vaulting. Even people who don't follow the sport are likely to know who she is.
These appearances helped drop her into publications like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. Years later, she partook in a slew of significant brand endorsements, including one with Nike.
Hanging Ten With Alana Blanchard
Like other sports, surfing comes with its challenges and risks. It’s just that there is more at stake with surfing, as surfers often paddle into the open sea, risking their lives from huge waves and the threat of sharks. A shark attack is something that famed surfer Alana Blanchard has experienced first-hand.
But it was her love for the sport that kept her coming back and performing even after the unfortunate incident. Alana also works as a bikini model for Curl Swimwear and just earned an endorsement agreement with Reebok.
A Slam Dunk With Jennifer Lacy
It seems that athleticism is in this basketballer’s genes. Jennifer Lacy’s father was a Major League Baseball player. She joined the WNBA after playing basketball in college at Pepperdine University and spent the 2008 and 2009 off-seasons in China, where she played for Beijing Shougang.
Her ex-girlfriend, former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw, assaulted her in 2013, pouring gasoline on her vehicle and shooting at it while she was inside. Miraculously, she was unharmed throughout the assault, and Holdsclaw was arrested as a result. I guess it is not only fans that these sports stars have to look out for after a game.
Game, Set, And Match With Camila Giorgi
This Italian professional tennis player made her Women's Tennis Association debut in 2011 after winning the Maiden International Tennis Federation competition in 2009. In the same year, she reached the finals in Raleigh and finished the year with 36 victories.
Her name? Camila Giorgi. She won her first WTA championship in 2015 and, three years later, reached her highest career ranking to date of #26. Giorgi has 237,000 Instagram followers and 280,000 Facebook fans.
Serving With Marta Menegatti
When one wants to train to become the next great athlete, one should start young. Marta started when she was just ten years old. It certainly paid off because she now has two golds, seven silvers, and seven bronze medals from the FIBB Beach Volleyball World Tour.
She and the rest of the Italian women's national team won their first World Tour championship in September of 2015. On a more personal note, she was dating Alex Rangers, another Italian volleyball player. She has approximately 50,000 Instagram followers and is highly active there.
She Is Beauty; She Is Grace—She Is Gabby Douglas
Gabby's elder sister taught her how to perform her first cartwheel when she was only a toddler. At the age of eight, she had already earned a gold medal. She began full-time training at the age of 14, and by 2010, she had won gold medals in various major contests.
2012 was a watershed moment for her and the rest of the Fierce Five when they took home gold at the Summer Olympics in London. Gabby earned an additional gold medal as the All-Around Gold Medalist. She was the first African American to achieve so in the history of the games.
Finishing Strong With Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick is a household name. Even people who are not into racing are familiar with her. It doesn’t hurt that in addition to being a great sportsperson, she’s a beauty to behold. Her looks have gotten her attention from male fans of the sport in particular.
She's been on the covers of several publications, including Sports Illustrated several times. She made history the day after her first Indy 500 when she became the first woman to lead a lap during the race. She is often considered the most successful woman in open-wheel racing history.
No Introduction Needed: Serena Williams
Serena Williams is in a league of her own when it comes to tennis. She is one of the most well-known names in professional women's tennis, along with her sister Venus. To be honest, they're two of the most well-known players in professional tennis, if not all of the professional sports.
Serena started her fashion brand and, according to Inc.com, a venture capital investment business for women—Serena Ventures—which has already invested in over 30 firms. Billie, MasterClass, and LOLA are among the firms she has invested in.
Gold For Vonn!
The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inducted Vonn in 2019. In addition to her gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics' downhill event, she is one of only two female skiers in history to win four World Cup Overall Championships.
But her talent and skill is not the only thing that stands out from the crowd—she is also very good-looking. This is something that magazines have taken notice of. She was included in different sports magazines like Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue—three times.
Robin Bone Soars High
This three-time U Sports national pole vaulting champion is from Canada. She's recently signed with The Slu Agency in Miami and Los Angeles. She also has a nearly 30,000-follower Instagram account where she publishes photographs of her daily workouts and contests.
But before she became so renowned for pole vaulting, she competed in a different sport: gymnastics. She was forced to give it up after suffering repeated concussions, as she told the CBC. As a consequence of her injuries, she now wears a distinctive helmet throughout her sports engagements.
Ready For Becky Lynch?
Becky Lynch, also known as Rebecca Quin, is a sultry Irish wrestler that has earned quite a reputation for herself in the WWE, where she wowed crowds aplenty. She began her career in wrestling in 2002 and joined the WWE in 2012.
This young lady cannot be put down. When she gets knocked out, she knows how to get back up again. Last year, she had an incredible year, winning many titles and defending her reputation in Smackdown’s Women's Championship. The wrestler has also made television appearances—once to execute stunts for an episode of Vikings and again for a part in Marine 6: Close Quarters.
Maria Sharapova—Need We Say More?
This young lady does not need any introduction—we know well enough that everyone knows her name. This five-time Grand Slam winner has been playing professional tennis since she was fifteen years old. This Russian professional is a major competitor, having won at least one championship every year throughout her long career.
Talent plus good looks can be a killer combination. She's done a lot of modeling and endorsement work for a lot of big businesses, including an eight-year, $70 million agreement with Nike and appearances in publications like Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Hope Solo Is #1 In Our Hearts
For those who have never seen a women's soccer game in the United States, Hope is very much the face of the sport. Solo, one of the best goalies in the world, has played in various major tournaments worldwide, including the Olympics, where she qualified three times and won two gold medals.
She represented her country in the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007, 2008, and 2011, when she became the second goalkeeper in history to achieve 100 caps. She's been in a variety of publications and television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dancing with the Stars, and Piers Morgan Tonight.
Sharp Shooter Antonija Sandric
We look up to our elder siblings—that may be something we have in common with this superstar. Her elder sister may have inspired this Croatian pro-basketball player to get her start in the profession. She started her professional career in 2005 and was awarded "Miss Mediterranean" in 2009 while representing her country in the Mediterranean Games.
She participated in the 2012 Olympics and was named The Bleacher Report's "Most Attractive" during the games. They aren't the only ones to have taken note of her gorgeous looks; she is often considered Croatia's most attractive sportswoman.
Hilary Knight Always Makes Our Day
This woman is the definition of a tough cookie— she’s willing to brawl out with the best of them. She has a sweet grin that says, "I could absolutely hurt you—" and she might—which is part of what makes her so amazing.
She's won eight gold medals in the last several years, including one at the 2018 Winter Olympics, when she scored the winning goal for the team. The other seven were competing in the IIHF Women's Ice Hockey Championships. So don’t count this lovely lady out—being tough is what it takes to make it.
Having A Smashing Time With Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki, a professional tennis player from Denmark, rose to the top of the global rankings by playing two-handed and backhand tennis. She's won 30 singles championships in the Women's Tennis Association, finishing second in the 2014 US Open, just behind Serena Williams.
She seems to have good luck with her love life as well as in her game. Her dating history reveals that she loves to date sporty males. For example, she dated Irish professional golfer Rory Mcllroy for two years, from 2011 to 2014, before moving on to NBA champion David Lee.
Get Knocked Out By Gina Carano
New fans likely fall head over heels for her, both figuratively and literally. Gina Carano is a well-known MMA fighter. She's had several major feuds with other prominent figures in the industry, like Ronda Rousey and The Cyborg.
If her face looks familiar it is because she began her acting career as an extra in Quentin Tarantino's successful 2003 film Kill Bill. However, her parts grew in importance as the years passed. She co-starred in films like Fast & Furious 6, in which she had two fantastic combat sequences with Michelle Rodriguez.
Flipping Over For McKayla Maroney
She was a part of the 2012 London Olympics' winning "Fierce Five" squad. You may also remember her from a viral image in which she wears a freshly earned silver medal with a nasty grimace. Who can forget that look?
It was named the "McKayla is not impressed" look and is a meme still used in appropriate situations today. She also experimented with acting in 2012, with a six-episode recurring appearance on the CW's primetime comedy Hart of Dixie.
Having A Swimmingly Good Time With Chloe Sutton
This three-time gold medalist and former member of the United States Olympic team is an American professional swimmer. Her Twitter account has over 15,000 followers, and she's been tweeting images of her new husband, Jake, lately.
This young swimmer is no stranger to the online world. She also owns and runs a website, chloesutton.com, where she discusses swimming tips and tactics, as well as current events and promotions, such as the swim camp she runs for kids.
Eugenie Bouchard, Tennis Legend
This pro tennis player from Canada is often dubbed one of the most attractive ladies in the sport. She won the Junior Wimbledon title in 2012. She had a fantastic year in 2012, winning several doubles and singles matches, as well as her first $50,000 award at the ITF Challenger.
Heroes have bad patches too, and 2015 was just not her year. She was forced to withdraw from the 2015 US Opens after slipping and hitting her head, resulting in a concussion for which she subsequently sued the Tennis Association. Fans will be glad to know that she is okay now.
Viona Harrer Flies On Ice
This lady has had an incredible life, having paved numerous paths for women in Germany and worldwide. When she was just 16 years old, she was already a member of the German Ladies Ice Hockey National Team. For a few years before that, this goalkeeper was the sole female on the Bad Tölz squad.
At the 2009 Women's Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia, she won “Best Goalkeeper.” Harrer hasn't played in a professional game in quite some time, but she's earned her spot on our list. It is a good thing she didn’t melt the ice because of her fiery looks.
Scoring For Jonelle Filigno
Because she scored the game-winning goal against Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics, the Canadian pro soccer star is a household name in her homeland. That year, Canada won the bronze medal for defeating France.
This beautiful game has produced many stunning athletes but none more so than Jonelle Filigno. She just struck a business agreement with Adidas and now promotes them on her social media channels, which have approximately 50,000 followers.
Michelle Waterson Conquers All!
This Karate champion is known for her stunning looks as well as her stunning punches. Her Instagram account has over one million followers, and she routinely shares images of herself in bikinis, as well as pictures of her family and everyday life.
She could knock you with a punch or, better yet, with just her smile. She was the world's best female atom-weight boxer in the 2013 to 2014 season. Fight Mom, a documentary about her, was released in 2016. She's also been on American Ninja Warrior and Bully Beatdown, among other series.
Killer Player Kayla McBride
Kayla McBride has always enjoyed basketball, but it was in high school that she began to take it seriously, winning District 10 Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010. She also played all four years of college at Notre Dame and was drafted into the WNBA in 2014 by the San Antonio Stars.
But it wasn't simply her playing talent that caught people's attention; it was also her amazing smile. She relocated to Nevada in 2018 after signing with the Las Vegas Aces. People’s hearts were falling all over the court for this player.
Chloe Kim: Melting Ice And Hearts
She may be small, but in 2018, this professional snowboarder made history by being the first woman to win two gold medals in snowboarding at the Winter Games in South Korea, and she was the youngest woman to win a gold medal in the sport at the Games ever.
She is a four-time X Games gold winner and the current World, Olympic, and X-Games champion in the halfpipe. Several ESPY awards were presented to her in 2018, including the “Best Female Athlete” award. She revealed in 2019 that she will be taking a break from snowboarding to attend Princeton University.
The Champ Ronda Rousey!
In 2008, Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey became the first woman to win a judo medal in the Olympics, and she went on to pursue an MMA career. She won the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship in 2011 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame a few years later.
She opted to start a pro wrestling career with the WWE in 2018, when she became the Raw Women's Champion, as if being a judo and MMA champion wasn't enough. She's also done some acting, such as in Furious 7, where she played Kara.
The Dominican Dynamite Winifer Fernandez
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Winifer Fernandez is a skilled volleyball player. She earned multiple NORCECA U20 Championship accolades in 2010, including “Best Digger and Receiver.” She earned gold and the “Most Valuable Player” title at the same tournament two years later.
That was not, however, her only gold medal of the year. She also won one in the U23 Pan-American Cup. She won two more in 2016 and 2017, including one from the Bolivarian Games. She is still one of the most popular female athletes on the internet.
Rice Raising Makes Waves
After her career, the former professional swimmer from Australia was swimming in gold medals. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, she won three gold medals. In 2014, she formally resigned from the sport, although she continued to instruct to stay involved in the industry.
She featured on Celebrity Apprentice in Australia's third season, much like many of the other women on this list. The gold champion now calls Los Angeles home. She is, however, allegedly planning to create a swimming institute in India to help future Olympians take gold in the 2024 Games.
Gracie Gold Gracefully Takes The Win
On ice, Gracie Gold, often known as Grace, lives up to her name. She's won a slew of medals, including an Olympic team bronze in 2014 and the NHK trophy the same year, making her the first and only American woman to do so.
Gracie is no stranger to challenges, but like most people, she has a weakness. She has openly discussed her dealings with depression to the public. In 2020, she will compete in the Eastern Sectional Championships. She has a long list of sponsorships, including being selected as the face of CoverGirl in 2013.
Captain Ali Krieger
When she was a senior at Penn State, this pro soccer player was the captain of her squad. Her professional career started with Washington Freedom shortly after graduating, and by 2008, she was called to play for the United States women's national team in the Summer Olympics.
Her outstanding performance as a right defender in the FIFA Women's World Cup match earned her a spot on FOX's “Soccer's Best 11”. She also has a big heart in addition to being a fantastic soccer player. She is involved with several non-profit groups, including MiracleFeet and Athlete Ally, which seek to ensure that all sexual orientations are treated equally in professional athletics.
Ellen Hoog For The Win!
Hoog has been a member of the Dutch Women's Field Hockey Team since 2004. She's competed in over 125 matches since then, winning many medals, including two golds at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She had just won the Women's Hockey World Cup with her team a few years before, in 2006.
When she netted the game-winning shot in 2016, she earned another Olympic medal, this time silver. Hoog is sponsored by Ritual Hockey, with whom she shares some of her pre-game routines, like putting on her right shin guard before her left.
Natalie Is Like A Swan In The Water
This former Olympian is regarded as one of the best female swimmers of all time. Throughout her career, she's won 12 Olympic medals, including being the first woman to swim the 100-meter backstroke in under 60 seconds—before she was even 20.
She's also won three “American Swimmer of the Year” accolades and one World Swimmer of the Year award. She's been the face of C20 Coconut Water and has a variety of endorsement partnerships. She's also been in periodicals and television shows such as Dancing with the Stars and Chopped.
The Image of Grace: Sasha Cohen
This California teenager holds an Olympic medal in singles figure skating, three World Champion medals, an Olympic silver medal, and a Grand Prix Championship prize. Needless to say, she’s highly accomplished on the ice.
Her looks have dazzled not only judges in the rink but also her fans. Her profile translated well to television. She's appeared in and played parts in Las Vegas, Sharknado 5, Blades of Glory, and Bratz: The Movie, among other TV shows and films.