The Rising

Serena Williams, the girl from Compton, rose to become the greatest player in WTA history. Jackie Robinson changed baseball, and American sport, forever. Althea Gibson, she became the first black golfer on the LPGA Tour.

Basketballer LeBron James has thrilled and entertained millions of fans around the world, but James’s contribution to society goes way beyond his on-court endeavours. Gymnast Dominique Dawes became the first black gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal.

From controversy and scandal to greatness on the world stage, Tiger Woods was the most intimidating figure golf had ever seen and re-shaped the perception of who played the game.

Pelé, an Afro-Brazilian, rose to become the greatest footballer in history. Modern rivals now jostle for his crown, but nobody has yet won more World Cups or scored more goals than Pelé.

Muhammad Ali was one of the most powerful fighters in boxing, and one of the most powerful voices in sport. In 1991, American basketballer Earvin “Magic” Johnson was at the height of his powers when he was diagnosed with HIV.

Hank Aaron’s bid to break Babe Ruth’s iconic home run record laid bare the racial divisions of USA in the 1970s. Aaron was an icon of the civil rights movement, while being a beloved caretaker of the game’s image and its place in sporting culture.

All Black Jonah Lomu turbocharged the professionalization of the sport of rugby. Cyclist Marshall Walter Taylor, better known as Major Taylor, had a career beset by racial prejudice when he became world champion in the one-mile sprint.

Usain Bolt made sprinting look easy, even when it wasn’t. No-one else has won the 100 and 200 metres double at an Olympic Games twice. Usain Bolt won it three times in Beijing, London and Rio.