Tourfolio

There are athletes you’ll never hear about, athletes who gain some popularity from their abilities and there are athletes that take on god-like status by their country..or even better, the world. This article goes through ten of the most well known athletes that have become deities within their country.
Edison Arantes do Nascimento “Pelé” (Brazil – Football)
Pelé started playing football at the age of 15 and won his first World Cup at the age of 17. The popular nicknames given by footballs fans throughout the world have been “The King”, “The King Pele” and “The King of Football”. He was co-awarded with the FIFA Player of the Century award alongside Diego Armando Maradona of Argentina. A life-sized statue of Pele now stands inside the Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador, Brazil after being vandalized in June 2007 when the statue stood outside the stadium. The statue was erected shortly after Brazil won its third World Cup in Mexico in 1971.

Diego Armando Maradona (Argentina – Football)
This football player is famously known for scoring the The Goal of the Century after masterly weaving through six defending players during the 1986 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final between Argentina and England. A statue was built outside Estadio Azteca (Azteca Stadium) to commemorate the honor of scoring the Goal of The Century. Maradona also increased his Argentinean hero status after making a remark after beating England 2-1 in the 1986 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final, that winning was “revenge” for the Falklands War in 1982. He was co-awarded with the FIFA Player of the Century award alongside Pelé, Brazil’s legendary football player.

Yao Ming (China – Basketball)
This 2.29 meter (7 foot 6 inches) giant is by far one of China’s most well-known athletes. In 2005, he was named a national model worker, although controversial, for his contributions to social development and basketball. During a press conference in June 2008, he launched “The Yao Ming Foundation” which greatly helped funding to the earthquake ravaged provinces of Sichuan and Gansu. The celebrity spotlight on Yao Ming continues to shine brightly with his ability on the court. This is easily evidenced by the cult-like status he has achieved throughout China’s populace.

Babe Ruth (United States – Baseball)
“Babe”, “The Sultan of Swat” and “The Bambino” are famous names given to this widely regarded American baseball player. The popularity surge of baseball in the 1920’s has been credited to Babe Ruth’s big swings leading to increased scoring from what was originally a low scoring game. In the United States, Babe Ruth’s name is part of a popular sport phrase to describe outstanding athletes in other sports by saying, “He/She is the Babe Ruth of (insert sporting activity here)!”

Wayne Gretzky (Canada – Hockey)
“The Great One” is regarded as the greatest hockey player based on statistics such as scoring over 200 points in a single season. It doesn’t hurt that his hockey jersey number #99 has been retired by all National Hockey League teams. You also know you’ve become a hockey legend when a specific part of the ice rink is named after you, such as “Gretzky’s Office”. This famous name was given to the area directly behind the opposing goalie’s net as Wayne Gretzky was known for setting up goals with great precision from this angle.

Usain Bolt (Jamaica – Sprinting)
Acknowledged as “The Lighting Bolt” by fans and the media, this Olympic winning Jamaican born sprinter holds the fastest 100 meter sprint, clocking in 9.58 seconds. In recognition of one of the world’s fastest sprinters, the Jamaican government has renamed the Highway 2000 (between St. Catherine and Clarendon parishes) to know be known as the “Usain Bolt Highway”. Usain Bolt has also been honored with full diplomatic status after receiving the ‘Order of Jamaica’ by his country’s government.

Manny Pacquiao (Phillipines – Boxing)
“The grip he (Manny Pacquiao) holds over the Philippines is similar to Nelson Mandela’s influence in South Africa.” as stated within Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influence People from 2009. This Filipino deity has been rated by Ring Magazine as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He also is the first boxer to win against the best boxer in four different weight classes throughout his career. Manny Pacquiao’s dedication and personality has lead him to participating in politics and acting. This famed boxer has also appeared in EA Sport’s Fight Night video game series as well as being the first Filipino athlete to be featured on a postage stamp.

Eldrick “Tiger” Woods (United States – Golf)
It’s pretty tough to even think of golf without simultaneously connecting the name Tiger Woods to the sport. This skilled golfer will forever go down as a legend for golfers in the United States and the rest of the planet. Tiger Woods has been able to single handily change the sport of golfing with his unmatched skills and popularity. His sponsorships with companies like EA Sports has basically immortalized himself in sporting history with the Tiger Woods video game series. This golfing hero may be the best golfer we will ever see as his continues his dominance at such a young age.

Michael Phelps (United States – Swimming)
Doesn’t the recognition of being known as “The Greatest Olympian of All Time” sound like Michael Phelps should be standing alongside the mythical Zeus and Heracles? I know a few might argue he is only a great swimmer and shouldn’t be given such a title due to the media hype. It’s hard for me to keep him off a list of god-like athletes considering he won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympic.

Jonah Tali Lomu (New Zealand – Rugby Union)
He is regarded as the first true god-like superstar of rugby union. Jonah Lomu’s popularity brought throngs of attendees to every match where he appeared. In June 2007, Jonah Lomu was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, based on achievements and talent within rugby union. He is and will always be remembered as a rugby legend throughout New Zealand.

Now that you’ve listed to some of the more well-known athletes with god-like status, I hand it over to you…the reader. Who are the athletes that are considered heroes in your country and how have they been honored?