{"id":43796,"date":"2026-04-21T11:11:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/?p=43796"},"modified":"2026-04-21T11:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:12:00","slug":"the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Greatest Women in Sports History: Top 10 Trailblazers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Image by Flickr<\/strong> <strong>CC BY-NC-ND 2.0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women\u2019s sport is reaching new heights in terms of popularity and professionalism all the time, though the current generation\u2019s crop of stars have some incredible trailblazing predecessors to thank for opening doors and changing narratives. In this article, we honour some of the greatest female athletes in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These barrier breakers redefined their own sporting disciplines while battling discrimination and vaulting challenges, all the while paving the way for and inspiring the next waves of female sports stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, we take a look at ten of the most influential figures in the history of women\u2019s sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Serena Williams \u2013 Redefining Women\u2019s Tennis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A powerhouse on the court who performed with a blend of strength and grace, Serena Williams is a global tennis icon, who followed in her sister Venus\u2019s footsteps, eventually surpassing her sibling\u2019s own incredible achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serena Williams has won an incredible 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which is the most in the Open Era. She won four Olympic gold medals and held the World No. 1 ranking spot for 319 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During her career at the pinnacle of tennis, she even rebounded to glory after childbirth and life-threatening health issues, showcasing her mental resilience and commitment to sporting excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Williams\u2019s remarkable consistency on the biggest stage made her a staple with bettors in outright markets for Wimbledon and the US Open on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/\">sports betting sites UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Off the court, Serena has built a business empire and is one of the planet\u2019s most instantly recognisable sports personalities. A genuine behemoth, Williams is the benchmark for any young girl picking up a racket today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Mia Hamm \u2013 The Face of Women\u2019s Soccer Stateside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The legendary Mia Hamm was perhaps, the first soccer starlet in the USA to achieve worldwide celebrity status. She represented his country with distinction between 1987 and 2004, scoring a phenomenal 158 goals in 276 appearances for the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hamm led the USA to two World Cup victories and two Olympic golds, and she became the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame (2013), though that award is one of dozens of individual accolades accumulated by the former forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now a keen philanthropist, Hamm turned women\u2019s soccer into a mainstream spectacle, but never lost her humility. Millions of girls across America and beyond grew up wanting to be the \u201cnext Mia Hamm\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Mia Hamm - Goals\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NqitrL-L0Fg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Florence Griffith-Joyner \u2013 The Fastest Woman Who Ever Lived<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFlo-Jo\u201d exploded onto the running scene at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, stunning onlookers while winning three gold medals. Alongside that trio of podium finishes, she also set new world records in the 100m (10.49s) and 200m (21.34s), both of which still stand today, almost 40 years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her flamboyance only added to her appeal, with her long-painted nails, flowing dark hair and famous one-legged bodysuits attracting an army of fans, eager to follow her every stride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Away from the glamour, Griffith-Joyner was an athlete supreme however, and her raw speed on the track during her pomp was something to behold. She also proved that female athletes could be both formidable and unapologetically stylish. Tragically, Griffith-Joyner died at the age of just 38.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Jackie Joyner-Kersee \u2013 The Greatest All-Around Female Athlete<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With six Olympic medals earned in four different games (1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996), including two golds in the heptathlon, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the undisputed queen of multi-event athletics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The iconic publication, Sports Illustrated, even named her as the greatest female athlete of the 20th century (200), and her long-jump world records in the World Championships in Athletics Records (7.36) and Olympic Games Records (7.40) still stand today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joyner-Kersee overcame family hardship and asthma to pen her legacy, showing a mental grit to go along with her physical brilliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Nadia Com\u0103neci \u2013 The First Perfect 10<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1976, 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Com\u0103neci scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history when she dazzled on the uneven bars in Montreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The prodigious talent went on to collect three gold medals overall that year, including the all-around, and picked up nine Olympic medals in total before retiring from elite-level gymnastics six years later at the age of 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her flawless displays captivated the world like no other and her performances raised the bar for artistic gymnastics forever. In later life, Com\u0103neci maintained a connection to her sport through media work, coaching and ambassadorial roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Nadia comaneci-first perfect ten in history (1976 Montreal)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4m2YT-PIkEc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Wilma Rudolph \u2013 From Polio to Olympic Glory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rudolph\u2019s story is unique in that she was born prematurely with polio, starting life under the impression that she might never walk unaided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Rudolph overcame that difficult start and then some. At the 1960 Rome Olympics, she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Games, topping the podium for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, while setting world records along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Away from the track, Rudolph was a key figure in the civil rights movement and even refused to participate in segregated victory parades in her homeland after the Olympics, using her fame to advance the cause any way she could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her story remains one of the most powerful examples of resilience in the history of the greatest female athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Fanny Blankers-Koen \u2013 The Flying Housewife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With a name straight from the imagination of Bob Mortimer, Fanny Blankers-Koen became an almost mythological figure when she starred at the London Olympics in 1948.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back then, the 30-year-old Dutch mother of two won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and 4&#215;100 relay, earning her the nickname, \u201cthe flying housewife\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She either set or equalled 12 world records and was later voted as the greatest female track and field athlete of the 20th century by the IAAF (International Amateur Athletics Federation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her success that year, demolished the myth that age and motherhood ended athletic careers, giving fresh hope to women everywhere that family and elite sport could coexist quite happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Althea Gibson \u2013 Breaking Racial Barriers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1956, Althea Gibson made history when she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title at the French open, cementing her place in the annals of tennis greatness in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She followed that French success with victories at Wimbledon (1957) and the US Open (1958), going on to collect 11 major titles across singles and doubles titles overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Raised in a troubled Harlem during segregation, Gibson faced continuous racism and hostility throughout her career, but always carried herself with a quiet dignity that belied her competitive drive on the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gibson\u2019s breakthrough opened doors for every Black tennis player who followed, including Serena and Venus Williams. She proved that talent and determination could triumph over prejudice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"A history lesson on Althea Gibson, the woman who changed tennis forever \ud83e\udef6 #tennis #altheagibson\" width=\"422\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0mPg9uwakP8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Billie Jean King \u2013 Champion of Equality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Billie Jean King transcended the sport of tennis and became a figurehead for women\u2019s rights, making her one of the most important female sports starts ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>King won an eye-watering 39 Grand Slam titles during her glittering career, including six Women\u2019s Singles championships at Wimbledon, though she will probably be best remembered for her \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.billiejeanking.com\/battle-of-the-sexes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Battle of the Sexes<\/a>\u201d against male opponent Bobby Riggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her grudge match win over Riggs, which was watched by over 90 million people, was a seminal moment in women\u2019s rights and for female sport in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 39, King became Wimbledon\u2019s oldest Grand Slam semi-finalist (1983), showing her incredible longevity. Beyond the court, King founded the Women\u2019s Tennis Association and fought hard for equal prize money for her peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Babe Didrikson Zaharias \u2013 The Ultimate Multi-Sport Pioneer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The term \u201call-rounder\u201d might have been coined to describe Babe Didrikson Zaharias. The Texas-born natural had it all and could do it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, she won gold in the 80m hurdles and javelin, plus silver in the high jump, all while setting world records. But that wasn\u2019t enough achievements for Zaharias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, she went on to dominate in golf, becoming the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event in 1938 and winning the 1947 British Ladies Amateur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also excelled at baseball, representing Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians in the Major Leagues, and played basketball to a high level too, achieving three-time AAU All-American status in the 1930s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was little Babe couldn\u2019t conquer. Indeed, when asked if there was anything she didn\u2019t play, she famously replied, \u201cYeah, dolls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her fearless versatility shattered any notions that women belonged in just one sport. Pigeonholing didn\u2019t apply to the unfazed Zaharias, who showed that athletic greatness knows no limits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Image by Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Women\u2019s sport is reaching new heights in terms of popularity and professionalism all the time, though the current generation\u2019s crop of stars have some incredible trailblazing predecessors to thank for opening doors and changing narratives. In this article, we honour some of the greatest female athletes in history. These [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":43797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[879],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Greatest Women in Sports History: Top 10 Trailblazers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read about the top 10 greatest women in sports history who have inspired generations. 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From Babe Didrikson Zaharias to Serena Williams and beyond.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MansionBet Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-21T10:11:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-21T10:12:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/The-Greatest-Women-in-Sports-History-Top-10-Trailblazers.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Simon Winter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SWinterMedia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Simon Winter\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Simon Winter\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2a38db8a775039f30b88d0d4b1463e6d\"},\"headline\":\"The Greatest Women in Sports History: Top 10 Trailblazers\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-21T10:11:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-21T10:12:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/\"},\"wordCount\":1424,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/The-Greatest-Women-in-Sports-History-Top-10-Trailblazers.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/\",\"name\":\"Greatest Women in Sports History: Top 10 Trailblazers\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/the-greatest-women-in-sports-history-top-10-trailblazers\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/The-Greatest-Women-in-Sports-History-Top-10-Trailblazers.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-21T10:11:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-21T10:12:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"Read about the top 10 greatest women in sports history who have inspired generations. 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