Each Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky have been included in American sports activities media outlet ESPN’s record of high 100 skilled athletes since 2000, revealed on Thursday morning. Phelps was ranked No. 1, whereas Ledecky was No. 15.
In line with ESPN, the record was determined based mostly on over 70,000 votes from contributors for the media outlet, together with ones from exterior america. As well as, solely athletic accomplishments from previous 2000 have been thought-about. The record included athletes from 16 totally different sports activities, and in addition ranked each female and male athletes.
- For the total record, click on right here.
Right here was ESPN’s full methodology:
Specialists in particular person sports activities have been requested to vote to rank the highest athletes of their sport since Jan. 1, 2000 (no accomplishments earlier than this date have been to be thought-about). These votes pared down swimming pools in every sport to lists of 10 to 25 athletes every, which constituted the general candidate pool for the highest athletes of the twenty first century up to now. Every voter was introduced two randomly chosen names and requested to choose which one has had the higher profession within the twenty first century. Throughout repeated, randomized head-to-head matchups, greater than 70,000 votes have been forged at this stage, and utilizing an Elo ranking system, the record was pared down from 262 to 100. That record was then evaluated by a panel of specialists for any inconsistencies or oversights, ensuing within the high 100 rating seen right here.
Phelps is probably the most adorned Olympian of all-time with 28 Olympic medals (23 of them being gold), and in addition received a file eight gold medalist at a single Olympic video games on the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He additionally damaged 39 totally different world data, which is probably the most of any swimmer acknowledged by World Aquatics. He was notably ranked No. 1 over different outstanding twenty first century athletes reminiscent of Tom Brady, Lebron James, and Lionel Messi.
Right here’s ESPN’s written blurb for Phelps:
On the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Phelps earned a historic eight gold medals, greater than any athlete in a single Olympics, whereas breaking world data in seven of his eight races. All through the Video games, followers and members of the media tried to crack the code on what made Phelps — who ultimately received 23 Olympic gold medals and have become probably the most adorned Olympian of all time — so unbeatable. His mom, Debbie Phelps, was in Beijing, and infrequently fielded their questions. Was it his size-14 ft? His extra-long arms? His breakfast routine? “No,” Debbie answered repeatedly. “It’s his exhausting work.” — Alyssa Roenigk
In the meantime, Ledecky can also be probably the most achieved swimmers of all-time. Her six particular person Olympic gold medals is probably the most for a feminine swimmer, and the second-most for a swimmer not named Phelps. In 2023, she handed Phelps to changing into the winningest swimmer in World Championships historical past with 21 gold file medals. She at the moment holds the 16 quickest instances ever within the 800 free, in addition to the 19 quickest instances within the 1500 free. Right here’s ESPN’s blurb for her:
“I used to be anticipating rather a lot quicker.” That was Ledecky’s response to successful the 1,500-meter freestyle by 20 seconds at Olympic trials in June, within the quickest time clocked this yr. For greater than a decade, Ledecky has owned the race referred to as the “swimmer’s mile,” which was added to the Olympic lineup in 2020. The 27-year-old is anticipated to win gold once more in Paris, the place she can also be the favourite within the 400 free, 800 free and 4×200-meter relay. Since first breaking the world file within the 1,500 free in 2013, she has shaved 16 seconds off her time whereas additionally successful extra Olympic and world championship gold than any girl in historical past. — Alyssa Roenigk
Although ESPN considers its’ record a world one, it nonetheless stays very American-centric. 56 of the highest 100 ranked athletes are from america, and 67 of them are North American. As well as, it’s dominated by athletes who play in American skilled sports activities leagues — 56 complete athletes on the record play or performed within the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, or WNBA. The game with the most important worldwide illustration was soccer, the place 14 of the 15 athletes weren’t American. In complete, there have been 80 male athletes and 20 feminine athletes ranked.
