Alana Blanchard, 32 – Hawaii, United States

There are world-renowned surfers, and there are models. But Alana Blanchard from Hawaii is both. As a four-year-old girl, she was introduced to the world of surfing by her father. Her progress was evident as five years later, she was competing professionally.

Blanchard’s modeling career began in 2004 when she began partnering with “Rip Curl Swimwear.” As compelling proof of her success, she’s also won many championships throughout her career, including the Women’s Pipeline Championships in Hawaii and the Billabong Pro Pre Trails in Hookipa, Maui. In 2021, Blanchard and her fiance welcomed a son.

Gracie Gold, 26 – Massachusetts, United States

Grace Gold holds the highest short program score recorded by a female American figure skater. But if that isn’t good enough, she’s also the first and only American woman to win an NHK Trophy title; she certainly does her name proud.

Gold fell in love with skating as an eight-year-old girl, and soon enough, she began training with coaches Amy Vorhaben and Max Liu. And apart from being a two-time U.S. national champion, she has also won the Word team trophy twice. In 2022, she made an appearance at the U.S. Championships.

Allison Stokke, 33 – California, United States

Allison Stokke discovered early on that she wanted to be a pole vaulter. So even as a high school student, she was already breaking records. However, her career took quite a turn when she became an internet sensation in 2007. Thankfully, Stokke remained committed to her end goal.

In her first year of college at the University of California, Berkeley, she broke the school record for a first-year athlete. And once she was done with her degree, Stokke continued to pole vault professionally. She also did a spot of modeling for brands like “Athleta,” “Nike” and “Uniqlo.” In 2021, she gave birth to her daughter, Maya.

Hilary Knight, 32 – California, United States

The name Hilary Knight is familiar to every fan of Ice Hockey. And she deserves every bit of fame she gets. It’s one thing to win a Gold medal at the IIHF World Women’s Championships; however, Knight has won seven of those with the U.S. National Team.

It wouldn’t be farfetched to say that she’s been on a winning streak since the start of her career. Knight has undoubtedly set herself apart from the rest both locally and internationally. Her exceptional performance explains why she made the cut for the U.S. team, which competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Paige VanZant, 28 – Oregon, United States

Paige Michelle VanZant is another name to remember. Though she’s best known for her prowess as a mixed martial artist—thanks to a record that features more wins than losses. Still, VanZant is also a professional wrestler, an artist, and a model.

Interestingly, she came upon a gym while searching for a dance studio. Years later, it’s safe to say she was suitably distracted because soon enough, she began training in boxing and martial arts. VanZant made her professional debut in 2012, a match she won. And in March 2022, she signed a contract with All Elite Wrestling.

Stephanie Rice, 33 – Brisbane, Australia

Stephanie Rice is a former competitive swimmer from Australia, with the active word here being former because she retired in 2014. But during her time as a competitive swimmer, Rice recorded enough wins to prove her worth.

During Beijing’s 2008 Summer Olympics, she won three gold medals. Then in 2009, she also received the Medal of the Order of Australia for her achievements. Though she has already said goodbye to the sport, her past record made her a worthy candidate for induction into the Sport Australia Hall of fame in 2019.

Lauren Sesselmann, 38 – Wisconsin, United States

Multitalented is the word to describe the American-born Canadian soccer defender Lauren Sesselmann. She’s got a taste for soccer and basketball, and though she played both in high school, college was a different world, and she had to choose a specialty.

We know what choice she made because she started playing soccer professionally after her time at Purdue University. In 2022, she was a defender for the Santa Clarita Heat. But Sesselmann’s talents also fall into the art department, and she’s made appearances in movies and series, including “Love Afterlife.”

Holly Sonders, 35 – Ohio, United States

Holly Sanders has got several titles to her name, and being the Jack of all trades has served her well. While studying journalism at Michigan State, she led the school team, “The Spartans,” to a victory at the Big Ten Women’s Golf Championship. Soon enough, she received the Academic All-Big Ten honor.

However, Sonders has also enjoyed a successful career in entertainment. In 2014, she was one of the primary reporters for “FOX Sports,” providing coverage for all events year-round. In 2021, she was credited as both writer and producer of “OutKick the Coverage.”

Ellen Hoog, 36 – Bloemendaal, Netherlands

An analysis of female field hockey would be incomplete without mentioning Ellen Hoog’s name. So when she’s described as one of the best Dutch hockey players of her generation, you should know it says a lot about her skills on the field.

Hoog began playing field hockey as a seven-year-old girl, and by 16, she’d polished her skills enough to be selected for her first senior game. Hoog made her debut for the Netherlands women’s national team in 2004. However, by 2017, when she retired, she’d received several accolades for her individual and team plays.

Blair O’Neal, 40 – Illinois, United States

Blair O’Neal is another famous golfer who deserves mention. During her time at Arizona State University, she represented her team in golf championships. After college, she began her professional golfing career while juggling an equally notable modeling career.

O’Neal’s stint as a model featured her in various publications like “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit” and “Maxim.” In addition, thanks to her relationship with the Golf Channel, she’s appeared on shows like “Como Concepts,” “Playing Lessons,” and “Morning Drive.” In 2020, she competed in the celebrity division of the LPGA alongside Annika Sorenstam.

Alex Morgan, 32 – California, United States

Not every professional soccer player can boast of being on Time’s list of 100 most influential people. Still, Alex Morgan made the cut in 2019. When you consider her numerous achievements and income, it’s easy to believe that assessment.

Morgan was the youngest player when she joined the U.S. national team in 2011. But when she finished the 2012 season with 28 goals and 21 assists, it became clear that her age didn’t matter as much as her skills. Morgan’s still going strong, though, and in 2022, she played with San Diego Wave F.C.

McKayla Maroney, 26 – California, United States

McKayla Maroney comes from an athletic family; her father was a quarterback, and her mother was into figure skating. So understandably, as a child, Maroney was very motivated to begin gymnastics. Nothing could stand in her way once she decided that she wanted to make it to the Olympics.

Today, Maroney is the proud owner of several medals, including gold and silver medals from the 2012 Summer Olympics and another gold medal at the 2013 World Championships. In addition, in 2013, she became the first American woman to defend a world title on vault. Also, in 2021, she appeared in several T.V. commercials for GEICO.

Gabby Douglas, 26 – Virginia, United States

Retired artistic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas is the first African American to become the Olympic individual all-around champion. In addition, she’s also the first U.S. gymnast to win gold at both individual and team competitions at the same Olympics. Douglas is a go-getter, and it shows.

But if you think she’s impressive now, wait until you discover her career inspired the 2014 lifetime biopic, “The Gabby Douglas Story.” Although Douglas retired in 2016, she’s still very active in the media. In 2020, she brought her winning streak to “The Masked Dancer” before appearing as a guest on “Today” In 2021.

Ali Krieger, 37 – Virginia, United States

As the daughter of a professional soccer player and an equally invested older brother, it’s no surprise that Ali Krieger went down a similar path. And after spending 12 years with the “Prince William Sparklers,” with her father as coach, Krieger developed quite a competitive spirit.

Krieger has received dozens of honors throughout her professional career. In 2022, she played for NJ/NF Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. But the sport is not all that brings her joy because, in 2021, Krieger welcomed her first child, a baby girl.

Hope Solo, 40 – Washington, United States

Hope Solo from Richland, Washington, is a World Cup champion and a two-time Olympic Gold medalist. As one of the greatest female goalkeepers ever, she holds the U.S. record for most career clean sheets.

Solo got her first taste of soccer from a young age, and while her father caused the spark, she kept the fire burning all by herself. In 2016, she earned her 100th shutout during a friendly game, making her the first female goalkeeper to achieve that many shutouts in international competitions. In 2022, she launched her podcast “Hope Solo Speaks.”

Eugenie Bouchard, 28 – Québec, Canada

Eugenie Bouchard is a Canadian tennis player. As a credit to her skills, she is also the first Canadian-born player playing for Canada to reach the Grand Slam tournament singles final. In 2013, Bouchard was named WTA Newcomer of the Year.

Her professional tennis career began in 2005 when she participated in the Open Super 12 in France. Bouchard has long shed her newcomer tag after nearly two decades as a professional tennis player. Her numerous awards show how she’s been spending her time. In 2021, she signed an endorsement contract with “New Balance.” That same year she picked up a commentary job with “The Tennis Channel.”

Maria Sharapova, 34 – Nyagan, Russia

Here’s another tennis player you should definitely have on your radar. Maria Sharapova competed on the WTA Tour from 2001 to 2020. Throughout her career, she’s been ranked World No. 1 in women’s tennis for 21 weeks. However, that’s not all she’s known for.

Sharapova is clearly a force to be reckoned with. She corroborated that fact when she published her autobiography, “Unstoppable. My Life So Far,” in 2017. She’s also launched her very own tennis apparel line. So it was only fitting in 2021 when she appeared in the documentary film “Success Formula.”

Danica Patrick, 40 – Wisconsin, United States

Danica Patrick’s sport of choice is race driving. She is the most successful woman in American open-wheel car racing history and the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race. In fact, her achievements are too great to count.

During her junior year out of high school, Patrick dropped out to pursue their dream. Although she faced many oppositions at the start of her career, her success has undoubtedly muted naysayers. Patrick retired professionally in 2018, but she’s since taken up other jobs in the sports industry. In 2022, she commentated on some rounds of the NASCAR Cup series.

Robin Bone, 28 – Toronto, Canada

Robin Bone, or ‘Helmet Girl’ as she’s fondly known, is a gymnast turned professional vaulter. Although gymnastics was always her number one passion, she had to give up the sport after several concussions. Fortunately, Bone didn’t allow the sad course of events put her down.

We imagine it would be difficult to give up a sport after investing a good chunk of your life in it. But she’s done well to earn a solid reputation as a professional pole vaulter. Even if she has to wear a helmet each time she competes.

Silje Norendal, 28 – Kongsberg, Norway

Silje Norendal is a former Norwegian snowboarder who was at the forefront of the snowboard world for over a decade throughout her career. So it must’ve been quite a surprise when she announced her retirement at the Laax Open in 2019. Still, her fans understood that she was ready to explore new horizons.

Before saying goodbye to the sport, Norendal had eight World Cup podiums, four X Game wins, and the 2019 Utah slopestyle world championship silver to her name. So you know she’s not called Norway’s snowboard queen for nothing. In 2021, she gave birth to her first child with Alexander Bonsaksen named Bianca.

Antonija Sandrić, 33 – Šibenik, Croatia

Antonija Sandrić had varying sports interests ranging from basketball to volleyball as a young girl. However, it didn’t take long before she stuck with the former and kicked off the Vidici Dalmostan. By 2007, she signed with Jolly JBS and won the Croatian championship and cup the following year.

Sandrić was also part of the Bronze-winning team at the 2009 Mediterranean Games. Her shooting skill and style of play aren’t all she’s known for. Sandrić revealed she’s received modeling offers which she declined. In 2015, she tied the knot with basketballer Marko Sandrić, and in 2022, they welcomed their second child.

Michelle Waterson, 36 – Colorado, United States

In 2022, Michelle Waterson remained number eight on the UFC women’s strawweight rankings. However, as impressive as that may sound, she was once number one in the world in the Atomweight division. With her impressively long list of accolades, including the 2020 September Fight of the Month Award, you’ll be wrong to underestimate Waterson.

Although Waterson learned karate at a young age, she picked up a career as a model. But by college, she realized she had a knack for fighting. Since her MMA debut in 2007, she’s been a regular face in the octagon. You’ve probably seen her in films like “Fight Night,” “MacGruber,” and “Jackie.”

Camila Giorgi, 30 – Macerata, Italy

Camila Giorgi’s good looks are hard to miss, but you’re missing the bigger picture if that’s all you know her for. After all, in 2021, she defeated former world number one Karolina Pliskova to win the National Bank Open. Growing up, Giorgi’s initial interest in gymnastics quickly shifted to tennis, and having a father who doubled as a coach helped.

However, through training with renowned coach Nick Bollettieri, she improved. As a result, Giorgi’s improvement to being ranked number one in Italian tennis in 2022 isn’t surprising. However, a grand slam title remains evasive as her 2018 run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon remains her best result.

Alica Schmidt, 23  – Worms, Germany

Running is Alicia Schmidt’s forte, and with 200m, 400m, 800m, and 4 x 400m events under her belt, there’s no disputing that fact. However, suppose you’re based in Germany and need a compelling reason to train at MTV Ingolstadt. In that case, knowing Schmidt began her career at the facility may help.

Being a part of the medal-winning relay teams at the U20 Championship and U23 Championship in the 2017 and 2019 editions has undoubtedly bolstered her reputation. In 2021, she was in the contingent of German runners for the 4 x 400m event. Surprisingly, Schmidt also worked from 2020 to 2021 as the fitness coach for “Borussia Dortmund.”

Chloe Kim, 21 – California, United States

Chloe Kim headlined the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Winning gold at the halfpipe event again made her the first snowboarder to ever defend their medal at the event. That record is one more on an impressive list and brought her career medal tally to 14.

Unsurprisingly, Kim’s started snowboarding as early as age four. By six, she was competing as a member of Team Mountain High. Seven years later, in 2013, Kim was a member of the U.S. Snowboarding team. With her level of success, she’s become an icon, and there’s no stopping her. In 2022, “Fortnite” made Kim a playable character in their game.

Serena Williams, 40 – Michigan, United States

No mention of female tennis greats is complete without Serena Williams. Winning her 23rd grand slam title at the 2017 Australian Open cemented her legendary status. Since a maternity leave later that year, she’s had setbacks but in 2020 won the ASB Classic.

Being the daughter of tennis coaches must have been a good headstart for Williams. And by age nine, she was enrolled in a tennis academy. Williams faced a rough start to her professional career, but her perseverance obviously paid off. She’s also won 14 doubles grand slam titles by teaming up with her sister Venus. In 2022, Williams was a guest presenter at the Oscars.

Natalie Gulbis, 39 – California, United States

Golf isn’t widely played and certainly not by four-year-olds, right? That first part may be accurate, but there’s Natalie Gulbis to prove you wrong for the latter. That interest led to her first tournament title at age seven. From that point on, it was conquest after conquest for Gulbis. By 2005, she received a golf scholarship to the University of Arizona.

The year 2007 has to be one of Gulbis’ most memorable. She won the Evian Masters with its $450K prize money and was awarded the William and Mousie Powell Award the same year too. In 2021, she partook in several competitions, including the Volunteers of America Classic.

Lolo Jones, 39 – Iowa, United States

Lolo Jones should be a familiar face if you follow track and field events. She’s certainly been around for a while, with four gold medals spanning 2008 to 2015. Jones passionately pursued her dreams from a young age, even separating from her family to access training at a point.

Being good at different sports is nothing short of fantastic, and Jones knows all about the feeling. She doubles as a bobsledder, and in the 2021 IBSF World Championships in Germany, she clinched her second gold medal alongside Kaillie Humphries. She’s also appeared in several magazines and, in 2020, participated in the reality show “The Challenge.”

Sydney Leroux, 31 – Surrey, Canada

Meet Canadian football player Sydney Leroux, another spawn of sport-oriented parents. While her father was a pro baseball player, her mother played softball for the Canadian national team. So although Leroux showed promise in 4 x 100m relay races, she stuck with football.

Joining Coquitlam City Wild in 2003, she helped the team to three consecutive championships. She went pro in 2005 and joined the Vancouver Whitecaps. Since 2008, she’s represented the U.S., and her record-equalling five goals in a qualifying match against Guatemala summarizes her prowess. In 2021, Leroux signed a contract extension with Orlando Pride.

Michelle Wie, 32 – Hawaii, United States

Surely Michelle West qualifies if the word overachiever could accurately describe any golfer. Because by age 10, she made history by being the youngest qualifier for a USGA championship. Not resting on her oars, she turned pro before her 16th birthday earning endorsement deals from “Nike” and “Sony.”

While West has achieved five LPGA Tour wins to date, including the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship. However, her 2014 U.S. Women’s Open remains her only major championship. That same year, she clinched the Rolex Annika Major Award. West is married and, in 2020, welcomed her daughter.

Misty May-Treanor, 44 – California, United States

Wonder what it takes to become the most successful beach volleyball player? For Misty May-Treanor, what it took was 112 championship wins in domestic and international competitions. By the end of her professional career in 2012, she was a three-time Olympic gold medalist.

May-Treanor’s success becomes even more admirable when you know the obstacles she overcame to achieve what she did. Of course, her 2010 autobiography, “Digging Deep in Volleyball and Life,” provides all the details. In 2017, she was inducted into the Southern California Indoor Hall of Fame. As of 2021, May-Treanor was the director of volleyball operations at Long Beach College.

Ronda Rousey, 35 – California, United States

Ronda Rousey is a force of nature, and her ring name ‘Rowdy’ says just as much. In 2022, she performed on WWE’s SmackDown brand. But she got most of her fame and popularity during her time with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Rousey is the first female American to get an Olympic medal in judo. Following her surprising retirement from mixed martial arts in 2016, she became the first female fighter to join the UFC Hall of Fame. Outside of the ring, she also doubles as an actress and has featured in movies like “The Expendables 3” and “Mile 22.”

Jennie Finch, 41 – California, United States

Jennie Finch started playing softball at age five. And thanks to her father’s influence, she started pitching at eight. Considering her early introduction to the sport, we’re not surprised that Finch was a California Interscholastic Federation Division II choice during her sophomore year.

Out of school, Finch took the world by storm and won the Women’s College World Series in 2011. Also, in 2004, Finch led the U.S. Women’s national softball team to receive a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. So when she retired in 2010, it was with a spotless reputation and an impressive portfolio. In 2021, Finch appeared on “MLB The Show 21.”

Lindsey Vonn, 37 – Minnesota, United States

Lindsey Vonn from Minnesota is one of the greatest skiers. To doubt this would be denying the plethora of wins she’s garnered throughout her impressive career. In fact, with 82 World Cup wins, she even surpassed Annemarie Moser-Poll of Austria, who previously held the record for most victories at the World Cup.

Vonn learned how to ski at the hands of her grandfather, and later on, she joined the U.S. ski team. Having grown up with a taste for excellence, she devoted her efforts to climbing up the ranks. Then in 2000, she made her World Cup debut at age 16. In 2022, Vonn released her memoir, “Rise: My Story.

Caroline Wozniacki , 31 – Odense, Denmark

Here’s another sportswoman who’s built her career on a ladder of firsts. If you’re an avid tennis fan and the name Caroline Wozniacki is unfamiliar, you might be doing something wrong. After all, she is the first woman from a Scandinavian country to be named the top tennis player globally.

Wozniacki made her debut in 2003 on the ITF Junior Circuit. And between that time and her eventual retirement in 2020, she won several titles, including her only Grand Slam in 2018. In 2022, Wozniacki starred in the documentary series, “Wozniacki & Lee.”

Michelle Jenneke, 28 – New South Wales, Australia

You may remember Michelle Jenneke from her pre-race warmup videos, which went viral on YouTube in 2012. But suppose videos of her dancing seem interesting enough. In that case, you may be even more impressed by her career as a hurdling career. And would it surprise you to learn she’s also a model?

Jenneke broke a national record when she competed in the 2010 Australian Junior Championships. She earned a silver medal for the 100m hurdles at the Summer Youth Olympics that same year. Unsurprisingly, in 2018, she represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games. In 2022, Jenneke competed at the NSW State championship.

Aly Raisman, 27 – Massachusetts, United States

We’ve come across our fair share of athletes, and a common theme that runs through their coming-of-age stories is how they started training for their chosen sport early. Still, it’s pretty surprising to discover that Aly Raisman began gymnastics when she was 18 months old.

Such a head start may have largely contributed to her success as an artistic gymnast. So by her retirement in 2020, she was a two-time Olympian and the third-most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history. In 2022, Raisman advocated for victims of assault in the documentary series “Darkness to Light.”

Jennifer Lacy, 39 – New York, United States

Jennifer Lacy is the daughter of a former Major League Baseball player. So growing up in a very sport-focused home may have inspired her foray into basketball. Although she began in high school, she got significant recognition while playing for the Pepperdine Waves in college.

Soon enough, she was signed by Arizona, U.C. Santa Barbara, Washington, and California. When Lacy went pro in 2006, she joined the WNBA as a free agent. Starting her time in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, she last played for the Connecticut Suns in 2015.

Lucy Robson, 27 – London, United Kingdom

Lucy Robson was born in London but moved to Florida with her family at age 10. Fortunately, this transition was one of several factors that sparked her interest in golf. In high school, she qualified for several championship games and later played for the University of South Florida.

Now, Robson hasn’t attained the level of fame that would make her Hall of Fame material, but she’s well on her way. She’s received the title of ‘Treasure Coast Player of the Year’ two years in a row. In addition, as a testament to her work as an influencer and model, in 2022, she announced a partnership with “Blue Tees Golf.”

Anna Kournikova, 40 – Moscow, Russia

Anna Kournikova may be better known for her work as a television personality than for her tennis career. But this is not to say that she wasn’t a notable player in the sport. In fact, she achieved immense success and was crowned the world’s No. 1 player in doubles.

Teaming up with Martina Hingis, she won two Grand Slam titles in Australia and two WTA Championships. However, Kournikova retired in 2003 and decided to divert her talents elsewhere. In 2011, she worked as a trainer on NBC’s “The Biggest loser.” In 2020, Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias welcomed their third child together.