Michael Phelps and Simone Biles have been recognized among ESPN’s top 100 athletes of the 21st century. Since 2024 marks the 25th year of the beginning of the 21st century, ESPN.com has released its list of the top 100 athletes of the 2000s on their website, based on their career highlights and achievements who excelled between 2000 and 2024.
A panel, including experts’ opinions and ESPN’s Stats & Information Group, determined the ranks of the top 100 athletes. Before this, an initial list of 400 athletes was narrowed down to 100 athletes after receiving 75,000 votes from the organization’s reporters, analysts, and editors from all across the globe.Phelps has been ranked No. 1 on the list, while Biles is positioned seventh. Phelps was ranked as the best athlete of the 21st century by ESPN for his unparalleled and record-breaking performance in the history of the Summer Olympics.
With a total of 28 medals, including 23 gold, Phelps stands as the most decorated Olympian in the history of the Games. Additionally, he concluded his career after the 2016 Rio Olympics with an impressive 33 World Championships medals, which comprised 26 golds.On the other hand, Simone Biles has amassed 37 medals, including 30 Artistic Gymnastics gold medals and 7 Olympic medals. Her performance at the prestigious events makes her the most successful gymnast of all time.Biles’ biggest achievement at the Olympics was winning the all-around gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Meanwhile, out of the 30 medals at the World Championships, she has earned 23 gold medals.
Following Phelps, Serena Williams, Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Roger Federer, occupied the next-best spots in the list, ranking from second to sixth. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt, and Kobe Bryant completed the top 10, securing eighth to tenth positions.
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