Top 10 Most Inspiring Female Athletes

This Brazilian judo sensation was born and raised in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the world, Rio’s Cidade de Deus, the “City of God”. Enrolled in a Judo program by her parents when she was just 7 years old so she could learn to protect herself, Silva quickly excelled at the sport. In 2011, she took home silver at the World Judo Championships. Two years later, she upgraded to a gold medal. Her greatest accomplishment was taking home the gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics while on home turf. And as an openly gay woman who also faces racial prejudice, Rafaela Silva is certainly a hugely inspirational figure.

Hats off to a true pioneer. Or should we say “swimming caps off”? Dubbed “Queen of the Waves,” this courageous American proved that women could more than hold their own when it came to athletic feats of strength and stamina. On August 6th, 1926, Ederle successfully swam across the English Channel, becoming the sixth person in the world to do so, and the very first woman. Not only that, but in the spirit of “anything you can do, I can do better,” she also accomplished the feat in the shortest time ever recorded to that point. In fact, Ederle’s 14 hour and 39 minute swim remained un-bested for decades.

Here’s another female athlete who’s had to overcome more than one form of prejudice. The world of professional sports can be an unrewarding and challenging one for any woman, but even more so when you’re of aboriginal heritage. Freeman’s early years of competitive running in her native Australia were characterized by overt racism. In her childhood, she remembers coming in first place in races, only to be excluded from the podium in favor of white competitors. In spite of this adversity, she has claimed numerous world championships, and took home gold in the 400 meters at Sydney’s Summer Olympics in 2000.

Serena and Venus Williams have been ruling the world of women’s tennis for the better part of two decades. Though both are among the most inspiring athletes of our time, Serena edges out older sister Venus ever so slightly due to a stronger overall career. In fact, she’s thought by many to be the greatest female tennis player in history. And Serena’s inspiring legacy is made even greater considering all her philanthropic work: from funding a school in Kenya, to her efforts with at-risk youth and her contributions to the fight against breast cancer, Serena Williams has shown that she has a heart of gold.

Tenacity is certainly a prerequisite for becoming a professional athlete, but it takes a truly remarkable individual to persevere against the sort of challenge this competitor faced. At the young age of 14, Du Toit was already competing in swimming competitions internationally, and was a rising star; but then, at 17, she lost her leg in an accident. Given the nature of her sport, most people would have given up, but not Du Toit: she was reportedly back in the water just three months later. She would not only go on to earn many gold medals at the Paralympics, but Du Toit also became the first Paralympic swimmer to ever qualify and compete in the Olympics.

This Syrian swimmer competed at the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships when she was just 14 years old. When Civil War broke out in Syria, however, Mardini and her family, like so many others, were forced to flee the country. During their escape, Mardini, with the help of a few other swimmers, reportedly pushed the boat to shore after it stalled – requiring a three-hour swim. Though such life changing events could have derailed the dreams of many young athletes, Mardini persevered. During the 2016 Summer Olympics, she competed as part of the Refugee Olympic team, and has since been named a Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Refugee Agency.

Though returning to competitive athletics is always challenging after an accident, this is on another level. In the early 2000s, this very young surfer showed serious professional promise. Then, at age 13, during an early morning surf session, a brutal shark attack took her arm below the shoulder - and nearly claimed her life. For many, this would be reason enough to never set foot in the ocean again, but Hamilton was back on her board just one month later! Though she had to relearn how to surf without her left arm, she has gone on to compete in many professional competitions since, including winning the 2014 Surf-N-Sea Pipeline Women’s Pro.

This iconic tennis player is undeniably one of the greatest athletes and champions ever in the sport. But King had to tackle many issues in professional tennis - particularly when it came to gender. In the early 1970s, King began a serious push for equal prize amounts in both men and women’s competitions. In 1973, she put her reputation on the line, accepting a $100,000 challenge from male tennis player Bobby Riggs, who, despite being 55 years old, claimed he could best the greatest female players in the sport. Well, King beat him in the nationally televised “Battle of the Sexes,” and has continued to be a champion of women’s rights ever since.

Who says you can only excel at one sport? Embodying the classical notion of an “athlete”, Babe Didrikson was a seriously multi-talented individual. Though she was an All-American Basketball player, she was best known in her earlier athletic years for her track and field prowess. After winning 5 Amateur Athletic Union Championship events in 1932, Didrikson went on to earn two gold medals and a silver at the 1932 Olympics. She later focused on golf; and with 10 major LPGA championships to her name, Didrikson is a sports legend - one who changed the expectations applied to women in sports.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions
- Joannie Rochette
Canadian Figure Skater Who Won Olympic Bronze Days After Her Mother’s Death

- Zahra Nemati
Paralympic and Olympic Archer, First Iranian Woman to Win Gold at Paralympic Games

- Jillion Potter
Captain of USA Olympic Women’s Rugby Sevens Team and Cancer Survivor

Don’t ever let somebody tell you what you can or cannot achieve in your lifetime - that’s the lesson that this incredibly determined African American runner taught the world. Born into poverty, and hit with various illnesses at a young age, including polio, Rudolph was reportedly told that she might never walk without a brace, let alone run. But at age 16, she won a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics, and was later crowned the “fastest woman in the world” at Rome’s 1960 Olympic Games. There, this icon won gold in three different sprinting events, becoming the first American woman to win three golds at a single Olympics, and cementing herself as a household name and an inspiration.