List of multi-sport champions

Multi-sport champions From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A multi-sport athlete is an athlete who competes or trains at two or more different sports.[1] A notable two-sport athlete, Deion Sanders achieved the rare feat of playing in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. While he won two Super Bowl titles, a World Series championship eluded him.[2]

The following is a list of professional athletes who have earned recognition as Olympic champions or world champions in other major competitions in at least two distinct sports.

List of athletes

The following is arranged by the earliest to accomplish the feat.

More information #, Year Achieved ...
# Year Achieved Athlete Sports Notes
1 1896 Carl Schuhmann Artistic gymnastics
Greco-Roman wrestling		 At the inaugural modern Olympic Games in 1896, Schuhmann won gold medals in artistic gymnastics in the team parallel bars, team horizontal bar, and vault. He also captured gold in the Games' sole wrestling event, becoming the first athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics.[3][4]
2 1916 Jim Thorpe Track and field
American football		 Thorpe won gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics.[5] In football, he was a three-time champion of the Ohio League, the predecessor to the NFL.[6] He also played professional baseball and basketball.[7][8]
3 1920[a] Morris Kirksey Track and field
Rugby union		 At the 1920 Summer Olympics, Kirksey won gold in the 4 × 100 metres relay, silver in the 100 metres, and also helped the American team capture gold in rugby.[9]
4 Daniel Norling Artistic gymnastics
Equestrian vaulting		 At the 1908 Summer Olympics, Norling represented Sweden, winning gold in the gymnastics team event. He repeated the feat at the 1912 Games in the team Swedish system event, and later added another gold medal in team equestrian jumping at the 1920 Games.[10]
5 1932 Eddie Eagan Boxing
Bobsleigh		 Eagan competed in boxing during his first two Olympic appearances, capturing gold in the light heavyweight division at the 1920 Summer Olympics. He later switched to bobsleigh at the 1932 Winter Olympics, where he helped the four-man team secure another gold medal.[11] He is the only athlete to win a gold medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympics.[12]
6 1940 Babe Didrikson Zaharias Track and field
Golf		 Excelling at sports including basketball and baseball, Zaharias won gold medals in the 80m hurdles and javelin throw, and a silver medal in the high jump at the 1932 Summer Olympics.[13] In golf, she won 10 LPGA major championships.[14]
7 1946 Otto Graham American football
Basketball		 Months before beginning his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns in 1946, Graham joined the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (a precursor to the NBA), helping them sweep the Sheboygan Red Skins for the NBL title. That same year, he also won his first professional football championship, making him a two-sport champion in 1946. He went on to win four AAFC championships and three NFL championships, all with the Browns.[15][16]
8 1948 Jaroslav Drobný Tennis
Ice hockey		 Drobný won one Wimbledon and two French Open titles in singles, and one French Open title apiece in doubles and mixed doubles.[17] In ice hockey, he won a gold medal at the 1947 World Championships and a silver medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics representing Czechoslovakia.[18][19]
9 1959 Gene Conley Baseball
Basketball		 The only athlete to win a World Series and NBA Championship, Conley was a four-time All-Star pitcher and won the 1957 World Series with the Milwaukee Braves. He also spent six seasons in the NBA, winning three straight championships with the Boston Celtics before finishing his basketball career in the Eastern Professional Basketball League.[20][21]
10 1972 Bob Hayes Track and field
American football		 The only athlete in history to win an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl,[22] Hayes won the men's 100 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[23] On January 16, 1972, he won Super Bowl VI as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.[24]
11 1986 Christa Luding-Rothenburger Speed skating
Track cycling		 Luding-Rothenburger captured gold in the 500 metres speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics, adding a silver in 1988 and a bronze in 1992, and also claimed gold in the 1000 metres at the 1984 Games. In track cycling, she won the World Championships in 1986 and earned a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics.[25]
12 1994[b] Walter Ray Williams Jr. Bowling
Horseshoes		 Williams has won a record 47 standard PBA Tour career titles, including the 2001–02, 2002–03, and 2005–06 PBA World Championship.[26] In horseshoes, Williams is a six-time world champion and three-time junior world champion.[27][28][22]
13 2008 Rebecca Romero Rowing
Track cycling		 Romero earned a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and captured gold the following year at the 2005 World Rowing Championships. In track cycling, she won gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics and is a two-time UCI Track Cycling World Champion.[29]
14 2018 Ester Ledecká Snowboarding
Alpine skiing		 At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Ledecká competed in both snowboarding and alpine skiing, claiming gold in the parallel giant slalom and the Super-G. She won gold again in the parallel giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[11]
15 2018 Tove Alexandersson Orienteering
Ski orienteering
Ski mountaineering
Skyrunning
Trail running
SkySnow[c]		 Alexandersson has won dozens of gold medals at world championships across several different sports, including the World Orienteering Championships, World Ski Orienteering Championships, Skyrunning World Championships, World Championships of Ski Mountaineering, IAU Trail World Championships, and SkySnow World Championships.[30][31]
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Notable exceptions

The IOC classifies cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and biathlon as related sports since cross-country skiing is a core element in each, rather than treating them as distinctly different sports (DDS). Likewise, swimming and water polo are both part of aquatics and thus considered related rather than distinct.[32]

More information Year Achieved, Athlete ...
Year Achieved Athlete Sports Notes
1900 John Arthur Jarvis Swimming
Water polo		 At the 1900 Summer Olympics, Jarvis represented Great Britain, winning gold medals in the 1000 metres freestyle and the 4000 metres freestyle, as well as in water polo.[33]
1904 Leo Goodwin Swimming
Water polo		 At the 1904 Summer Olympics, Goodwin represented the United States, winning gold in water polo and in the 4 x 50 yards freestyle relay.[34]
Louis Handley Swimming
Water polo		 At the 1904 Summer Olympics, Handley represented the United States, winning gold in water polo and in the 4 × 50 yards freestyle relay.[35]
Joe Ruddy Swimming
Water polo		 At the 1904 Summer Olympics, Ruddy represented the United States, winning gold in water polo and in the 4 × 50 yards freestyle relay.[36]
1912 Paul Radmilovic Swimming
Water polo		 Representing Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics, Radmilovic won gold in water polo and in swimming's 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay. He later added two more water polo gold medals at the 1912 and 1920 Games.[37]
1924 Thorleif Haug Cross-country skiing
Nordic combined		 At the 1924 Winter Olympics, Haug won gold in the 18 kilometre and 50 kilometre cross-country skiing events. She also won a gold medal at the nordic combined.[38]
1928 Johan Grøttumsbråten Cross-country skiing
Nordic combined		 At the 1928 Winter Olympics, Grøttumsbråten won a gold medal in the 18 kilometre cross-country skiing event and nordic combined. He repeated at the nordic combined in the 1932 Winter Olympics.[39]
1952 Heikki Hasu Cross-country skiing
Nordic combined		 Hasu won gold in nordic combined at the 1948 Winter Olympics and added a silver in the event at the 1952 Games, where he also captured gold in the cross-country relay. At the 1950 World Championships, he claimed gold in nordic combined and silver in the cross-country relay.[40]
1992 Anfisa Reztsova Biathlon
Cross-country skiing		 Reztsova won gold in the biathlon at the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Games. She also won a gold medal in cross-country skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics and three gold medals at the World Championships.[41][42]
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Combat sports

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

ADCC and IBJJF world champions are grouped as BJJ/Submission grappling—distinct in style, but part of the same grappling discipline.

More information #, Year Achieved ...
# Year Achieved Athlete Sports Notes
1 2002[d] Murilo Bustamante BJJ
MMA		 Bustamante captured gold at the 1999 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championships, adding to his two bronze medals in 1998 and a silver in 2000.[43] In MMA, he is a former UFC Middleweight Champion.[44]
2 2002[e] Ricco Rodriguez Submission grappling
MMA		 Rodriguez captured gold at the 1998 ADCC World Championships, adding a bronze in 1999 and a silver in 2000,[45] before going on to claim the UFC Heavyweight Championship in MMA.[46]
3 2003[f] Fedor Emelianenko Sambo
MMA		 Emelianenko is a four-time Combat Sambo World Champion.[47] In MMA, he held several heavyweight titles, including the Pride Heavyweight Championship.[48]
4 2004[g] B.J. Penn BJJ
MMA		 Penn won a gold medal at the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2000. In MMA, he was a two-division UFC champion, at lightweight and welterweight.[49]
5 2009[h] Josh Barnett BJJ/Submission wrestling
MMA		 Barnett is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.[50] He also won gold medals at the 2009 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championships and 2018 Snake Pit World Championships.[51][52]
6 2010[i] Ronaldo Souza BJJ/Submission grappling
MMA		 Souza is a three-time World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion, two-time ADCC World Champion, and two-time CBJJO World Cup Champion.[53] In MMA, he is the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.[54]
7 2010[j] Joe Warren Greco-Roman wrestling
MMA		 Warren captured a gold medal in the 60 kg weight class at the 2006 World Wrestling Championships.[55] In MMA, he is a former Bellator Bantamweight and Featherweight World Champion.[56]
8 2010[k] Zach Makovsky Grappling
MMA		 Makovsky is a two-time FILA World Grappling Champion.[57] In MMA, he is a former Bellator Bantamweight World Champion.[58]
9 2010[l] Ben Askren Grappling
MMA		 In 2009, Askren won the FILA World Grappling Championship.[59] In MMA, he is the former Bellator and ONE Welterweight World Championship.[60]
10 2013[m] Bibiano Fernandes BJJ
MMA		 Fernandes is a three-time World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion as a black belt.[61] In MMA, he is a two-time undisputed ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion.[62]
11 2013[n] Vitaly Minakov Sambo
MMA		 Minakov is a four-time FIAS World Sambo Champion.[63] In MMA, he is a former Bellator Heavyweight World Champion.[64]
12 2014[o] Vadim Nemkov Sambo
MMA		 Nemkov is a four-time FIAS Combat Sambo World Champion.[65] In MMA, he is a former Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion.[66]
13 2015[p] Joanna Jędrzejczyk Muay Thai
MMA		 Jędrzejczyk is a four-time senior IFMA World Muay Thai Champion.[67] She is also the former UFC Strawweight Champion.[68][69]
14 2015[q] Fabrício Werdum BJJ/Submission grappling
MMA		 Werdum is a four-time World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion and two-time ADCC World Champion.[70] In MMA, he is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.[71]
15 2015[r] Holly Holm Boxing
MMA		 Holm held several world titles in boxing, including the WBA and WBC Welterweight Championship. In MMA, she is a former LFA and UFC Bantamweight Champion.[72]
16 2016[s] Roger Gracie BJJ/Submission grappling
MMA		 Gracie is a 10-time World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion and two-time ADCC World Champion.[73] In MMA, he is the former ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion.[74]
17 2018[t] Khabib Nurmagomedov Sambo
MMA		 Nurmagomedov is a two-time WCSF Combat Sambo World Champion, winning consecutive gold medals in 2009 and 2010.[75][76] In MMA, he is a former UFC Lightweight Champion.[77]
18 2018[u] Henry Cejudo Freestyle wrestling
MMA		 Cejudo, a decorated freestyle wrestler, won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before transitioning to MMA, where he became a two-division UFC champion at flyweight and bantamweight.[78]
19 2019[v] Petchdam Petchyindee Academy Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Petchdam is a former WBC Muay Thai Featherweight World Champion.[79] In kickboxing, he is a former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion.[80]
20 2019[w] Rafael Lovato Jr. BJJ
MMA		 Lovato Jr. won gold at the 2007 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship.[81] In MMA, he is a former Bellator Middleweight World Champion.[82]
21 2019[x] Kayla Harrison Judo
MMA		 Harrison won back to back gold medals in judo at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.[83] In MMA, she is a two-time PFL Lightweight Champion and UFC Bantamweight Champion.[84]
22 2020[y] Sam-A Gaiyanghadao Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Sam-A is a former ONE Strawweight and Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion. In kickboxing, he held the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion.[85]
23 2021[z] Yaroslav Amosov Sambo
MMA		 Amosov is a four-time WCSF Combat Sambo World Champion.[86] In MMA, he is a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion.[87]
24 2021[aa] Superbon Singha Mawynn Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Superbon won three straight senior IFMA World Muaythai Championships from 2015 to 2017.[88][89] In kickboxing, he is a two-time undisputed ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion.[90]
25 2021[ab] Capitan Petchyindee Academy Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Capitan is a two-time senior IFMA World Muay Thai Champion.[91][92] In kickboxing, he is a former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion.[93]
26 2021[ac] Héctor Lombard Bare-knuckle boxing
MMA		 Lombard was Bellator's inaugural Middleweight Champion in 2009, and in 2021, he was the BKFC Cruiserweight Champion.[94][95]
27 2022[ad] Regian Eersel Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Eersel is the current ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion.[96] In Kickboxing, he is a former ONE Lightweight World Champion.[97]
28 2022[ae] Islam Makhachev Sambo
MMA		 Makhachev won gold in the 74 kg weight class at the 2016 FIAS World Sambo Championships.[98] In MMA, he is a former UFC Lightweight Champion.[99]
29 2022[af] Alex Pereira Kickboxing
MMA		 Pereira is a former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion and a two-division UFC champion, having held titles at middleweight and light heavyweight in both organizations.[100][101]
30 2022[ag] Petchtanong Petchfergus Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Petchtanong is a two-time WMC and IPCC Muay Thai World Champion, and has also captured the WLF World Cup at 67 kg.[102] In kickboxing, he has held the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.[103]
31 2023[ah] Superlek Kiatmuu9 Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Superlek is a former WBC Muay Thai Super Featherweight World Champion and ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.[104] In kickboxing, he has held the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship.[105]
32 2023[ai] Jonathan Haggerty Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Haggerty is a former ONE Flyweight and Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion. He also won the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.[106]
33 2024[aj] Prajanchai P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym Muay Thai
Kickboxing		 Prajanchai is a former ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion.[107] He has also won the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship.[108]
34 2024[ak] Denis Goltsov Sambo
MMA		 Goltsov won back-to-back FIAS World Sambo Championships in 2016 and 2017 and later captured the PFL Heavyweight title in MMA.[109][110][111]
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Three-sport champions

More information #, Year Achieved ...
# Year Achieved Athlete Sports Notes
1 2018[al] Valentina Shevchenko Muay Thai
Kickboxing
MMA		 Shevchenko is an eight-time IFMA World Muay Thai Champion and WMC super lightweight champion.[112] In kickboxing, she is the former Kunlun Fight Lightweight Champion, WKC K-1 Lightweight World Champion, and 2004 WAKO World Kickboxing Champion.[113][114] In MMA, Shevchenko is a two-time UFC Flyweight Champion.[115]
2 2023[am] Stamp Fairtex Muay Thai
Kickboxing
MMA		 Fairtex is a former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA World Champion.[116]
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Honorable mentions

Although Ogawa, Lesnar, and Rousey won championships in professional wrestling, the sport is presented as scripted entertainment rather than genuine competition. Their inclusion is therefore noted as an honorable mention.

More information Year Achieved, Athlete ...
Year Achieved Athlete Sports Notes
1999[an] Naoya Ogawa Judo
Professional wrestling		 Ogawa was a four-time judo world champion and a silver medalist at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[117] In professional wrestling, he is the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[118]
2008[ao] Brock Lesnar Professional wrestling (WWE)
MMA		 Lesnar has captured multiple WWE titles, including the Undisputed WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship.[119] In MMA, he is the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.[120] Lesnar also briefly pursued a career in football, signing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2004 before being released shortly afterward.[121]
2018[ap] Ronda Rousey Professional wrestling (WWE)
MMA		 Rousey was the UFC's inaugural Women's Bantamweight Champion in 2012.[122] In WWE, she won the Raw Women's Championship in 2018 and later won the SmackDown Women's Championship in 2022.[123][124]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Kirksey won gold in a second sport on September 5, 1920, while Norling won gold in a second sport on September 12, 1920.
  2. [b]
    After winning the PBA Players Championship.
  3. [c]
    Ski orienteering is a discipline of orienteering. Similarly, SkySnow is a discipline of Skyrunning.
  4. [d]
    After winning the UFC Middleweight Championship on January 11, 2002.
  5. [e]
    After winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship on September 27, 2002.
  6. [f]
    After winning the Pride Heavyweight Championship on March 16, 2003.
  7. [g]
    After winning the UFC Welterweight Championship on January 31, 2004.
  8. [h]
    After winning the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship on November 8, 2009.
  9. [i]
    After winning the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship on August 21, 2010.
  10. [j]
    After winning the Bellator Featherweight World Championship on September 2, 2010.
  11. [k]
    After winning the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship on October 14, 2010.
  12. [l]
    After winning the Bellator Welterweight Championship on October 21, 2010.
  13. [m]
    After winning the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Championship on October 15, 2021.
  14. [n]
    After winning the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship on November 15, 2013.
  15. [o]
    After winning the World Sambo Championship on November 21, 2014.
  16. [p]
    After winning the UFC Strawweight Championship on March 14, 2015.
  17. [q]
    After unifying the UFC Heavyweight Championship on June 13, 2015.
  18. [r]
    After winning the UFC Bantamweight Championship on November 15, 2015.
  19. [s]
    After winning the ONE Light Heavyweight Championship on May 6, 2016.
  20. [t]
    After winning the UFC Lightweight Championship on April 7, 2018.
  21. [u]
    After winning the UFC Flyweight Championship on August 4, 2018.
  22. [v]
    After winning the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship on May 10, 2019.
  23. [w]
    After winning the Bellator Middleweight World Championship on June 22, 2019.
  24. [x]
    After winning the PFL Lightweight Championship on December 31, 2019.
  25. [y]
    After winning the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship on February 28, 2020.
  26. [z]
    After winning the Bellator Welterweight World Championship on June 11, 2021.
  27. [aa]
    After winning the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship on October 15, 2021.
  28. [ab]
    After winning the IFMA World Muaythai Championships on December 11, 2021.
  29. [ac]
    After winning the BKFC Cruiserweight Championship on June 26, 2021.
  30. [ad]
    After winning the ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Championship October 21, 2022.
  31. [ae]
    After winning the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship on October 22, 2022.
  32. [af]
    After winning the UFC Middleweight Championship on November 12, 2022.
  33. [ag]
    After winning the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on November 19, 2022.
  34. [ah]
    After winning the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship on January 14, 2023.
  35. [ai]
    After winning the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on November 4, 2023.
  36. [aj]
    After winning the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship on June 28, 2024.
  37. [ak]
    After winning the PFL Heavyweight Championship on November 29, 2024.
  38. [al]
    After winning the UFC Flyweight Championship on December 8, 2018.
  39. [am]
    After winning the ONE Atomweight MMA Championship on September 30, 2023.
  40. [an]
    After winning the NWA Heavyweight Championship on March 14, 1999.
  41. [ao]
    After winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship on November 15, 2008.
  42. [ap]
    After winning the WWE Women's Championship on August 19, 2018.

References

External links

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