Portal:Sports/Selected biography
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List of selected biographies
[edit]Selected biography 1
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/1
Barnes helped create an enduring record when scoring 234 in the second Test against England at Sydney in December 1946; exactly the same score as his captain,Don Bradman,in the process setting a world-record 405 runfifth wicketpartnership.
He made hisfirst-classdébut at the end of the 1936–37 season when selected forNew South Walesand was later included in the team for the1938 Australian tour of England,making his Test début in the final international of the series.
On the resumption of Test cricket after the war, Barnes was picked as the opening partner toArthur Morris.He was a member ofThe Invincibles,the 1948 Australian team that toured England without losing a single match. Retiring from cricket at the end of that tour, Barnes attempted a comeback to Test cricket in the 1951–52 season that was ultimately and controversially unsuccessful.
Barnes was a shrewd businessman who used the opportunities afforded by cricket to supplement his income through trading, journalism andproperty development.Increasingparanoiabrought about bybipolar disordersaw Barnes lose many of the friends he had made through the game, as he sought treatment for his depression. On 16 December 1973, he was found dead at his home in the Sydney suburb ofCollaroy;he had ingestedbarbituratesandbromidein a probable suicide. (Full article...)
Selected biography 2
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/2
During a 20-year playing career, Bradman consistently scored at a level that made him, in the words of former AustraliacaptainBill Woodfull,"worth three batsmen to Australia". A controversial set of tactics, known asBodyline,was specifically devised by theEnglandteam to curb his scoring. As a captain and administrator, Bradman was committed to attacking, entertaining cricket; he drew spectators in record numbers. He hated the constant adulation, however, and it affected how he dealt with others. The focus of attention on his individual performances strained relationships with some team-mates, administrators and journalists, who thought him aloof and wary. Following an enforced hiatus due to the Second World War, he made a dramatic comeback, captaining an Australian team known as "The Invincibles"on a record-breaking unbeaten tour of England.
Bradman retained a pre-eminent position in the game by acting as an administrator, selector and writer for three decades following his retirement. Even after he became reclusive in his declining years his opinion was highly sought. Bradman's image has appeared on postage stamps and coins, anda museumdedicated to his life was opened while he was still living. On 19 November 2009, he was inducted into theICC Cricket Hall of Fame.(Full article...)
Selected biography 3
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/3
As the first black man to play in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was instrumental in bringing an end toracial segregationin professional baseball, which had relegated black players to theNegro leaguesfor six decades. Signs of racial discrimination in professional sports continued to decline over the latter half of the twentieth century. The example of his character and unquestionable talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation, which then marked many other aspects of American life, and contributed significantly to theCivil Rights Movement.
In addition to his cultural impact, Robinson had an exceptional baseball career. Over ten seasons, he played in sixWorld Seriesand contributed to the Dodgers'1955 World Championship.He was selected for six consecutiveAll-Star Gamesfrom 1949 to 1954, was the recipient of the inauguralMLB Rookie of the Year Awardin 1947, and won theNational LeagueMost Valuable Player Awardin 1949—the first black player so honored.
Robinson was inducted into theBaseball Hall of Famein1962.In 1997, Major League Baseball "universally"retiredhis uniform number,42,across all major league teams; the first pro athlete in any sport to be so honored. Since that time, Major League Baseball has adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day," in whichallplayers onallteams wear #42.
Robinson was also known for his pursuits outside the baseball diamond. He was the first black television analyst in Major League Baseball, and the first black vice-president of a major American corporation. In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based inHarlem,New York. In recognition of his achievements on and off the field, Robinson was posthumously awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedomand theCongressional Gold Medal.(Full article...)
Selected biography 4
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/4
Yao, who was born in Shanghai, started playing for theShanghai Sharksas a teenager, and played on their senior team for five years in theChinese Basketball Association(CBA), winning a championship in his final year. After negotiating with the CBA and the Sharks to secure his release, Yao was selected by theHouston Rocketsas the first overall pick in the2002 NBA Draft,becoming the first international player ever to be selected first overall without having previously playedU.S. college basketball.Yao was selected to start for theWestern Conferencein theNBA All-Star Gameeight times, and was named to theAll-NBA Teamfive times. He reached theNBA Playoffsfour times, and the Rockets won a first-round series in the2009 postseason,their first playoff series victory since 1997.
However, in his final six seasons, Yao missed 250 regular-season games due to foot and ankle injuries. He retired in 2011, citing his injuries.Shaquille O'Nealsaid Yao "was very agile. He could play inside, he could play outside, and if he didn't have those injuries he could've been up there in the top five centers to ever play the game."
Yao was nominated by a member of the Chinese media for theNaismith Basketball Hall of Famefor his contributions to the game, but Yao felt it was too soon and requested that the Hall of Fame delay consideration of the nomination. His rookie year in the NBA was the subject of a documentary film,The Year of the Yao,and he co-wrote, along with NBA analystRic Bucher,an autobiography titledYao: A Life in Two Worlds.(Full article...)
Selected biography 5
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/5
After a three-season career at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,which included anational championshipin 1982, Jordan joined the NBA'sChicago Bullsin1984.He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performingslam dunksfrom thefree throw lineinslam dunk contests,earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball.
Jordan led the Bulls to NBA championships in1991,1992,1993,1996,1997,and1998,as well as an NBA-record72 regular-season winsin the 1995–96 NBA season. Jordan retired for a second time in1999.After retiring from the sport, he returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of theWashington Wizards.
Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include fiveMVPawards, numerousAll-NBA TeamandAll-Defensive Teamappearances,All-Star Game MVPandNBA Finals MVP awards,and other accolades. He holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game).
In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century byESPN,and was second toBabe Ruthon theAssociated Press's list of athletes of the century. He was inducted into theBasketball Hall of Famein 2009.
Jordan is also noted for his product endorsements. He fueled the success ofNike'sAir Jordansneakers, and starred in the 1996 feature filmSpace Jamas himself. (Full article...)
Selected biography 6
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/6
Plante retired in 1965 but was persuaded to return to theNational Hockey Leagueto play for the expansionSt. Louis Bluesin 1968. He was later traded to theToronto Maple Leafsin 1970 and to theBoston Bruinsin 1973. He joined theWorld Hockey Associationas coach and general manager for theQuebec Nordiquesin 1973–74. He then played goal for theEdmonton Oilersin 1974–75, ending his professional career with that team. Plante also wrote extensively on hockey. He wrote hockey columns starting early in his career and was published inLa Voix de Shawinigan,Le Samedi,andSport Magazine.He alienated local reporters by writing a column for the local paper during his time as coach of the Quebec Nordiques. His seminal work,Goaltending,was published in 1972 in English, with the French edition (entitledDevant le filet) published in 1973. His reputation as a teacher spread, and he traveled toSwedenin 1972 at the invitation of the Swedish Hockey Federation, teaching the top goaltenders in the country and their coaches and trainers.
Plante was the first NHL goaltender to wear agoaltender maskin regulation play on a regular basis. He developed and tested many versions of the mask (including the forerunner of today's mask/helmet combination) with the assistance of other experts. Plante was the first NHL goaltender to regularly play the puck outside hiscreasein support of his team'sdefencemen,and he often instructed his teammates from behind the play.
Plante was inducted into theHockey Hall of Famein 1978, was chosen as the goaltender of the Canadiens' "dream team" in 1985, and was inducted into the Quebec Sports Pantheon in 1994. The Montreal Canadiens retired Plante's jersey, #1, the following year. (Full article...)
Selected biography 7
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/7
In his 21-year tenure, Sakic won theStanley Cuptwice, won numerous NHL trophies, and was voted into 13NHL All-Star Games.Namedcaptainof the team in1992(after serving as a co-captain in1990–91), Sakic is regarded as one of the most able team leaders in league history, and was able to motivate his team to play at a winning level.
Over the course of his career, Sakic was one of the most productive forwards in the game, having twice scored 50 goals and earning at least 100 points in six different seasons. Hiswrist shot,considered one of the best in the NHL, was the source of much of his production as goalies around the league feared this shot. At the conclusion of the2008–09 NHL season,he was the eighth all-time points leader in the NHL, as well as 14th in all-time goals and 11th in all-time assists.
During the2002 Winter Olympics,Sakic helped leadTeam Canadato its first ice hockey gold medal in 50 years, and was voted as the tournament's most valuable player. He represented the team in six other international competitions, including the1998and2006Winter Olympics. After the2000–01 NHL season,Sakic was named theMVPof the NHL by thehockey writersand hisfellow players.
He retired from the NHL on July 9, 2009, and had his jersey number retired prior to the Avalanche's2009–10 seasonopener on October 1, 2009, at thePepsi Center.He is currently an executive adviser and alternate governor of the Avalanche. On November 12, 2012, Sakic was inducted in theHockey Hall of Famealong withAdam Oates,Pavel BureandMats Sundin.(Full article...)
Selected biography 8
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/8
In the 15-man game, he played forFiji39 times between 1989 and 2003, and scored 376 points. This included representing Fiji in the1991,1999,and2003 Rugby World Cups.He has also played professionally for theMitsubishi,Leicester,Stade Montois,Stade Bordelaisand Staines rugby teams.
His representative sevens career started in 1989 when he played forFijiat theHong Kongtournament. With the exception of 2001, 2003 and 2004 he has played at Hong Kong every year since. Serevi has also played in the1993,1997,2001,and2005Rugby World Cup Sevens,winning the World Cup with Fiji in 1997 and 2005. He won silver at theCommonwealth Gamesin1998and2002,and captured bronze in2006.Serevi has played in theInternational Rugby BoardSevens Seriessince its creation in 1999. In 2005 after winning the2005 Rugby World Cup SevensSerevi was appointed the Fiji Sevens team's coach. He coached Fiji to the2005/2006 IRB Sevens Seriesvictory – the first time the series was not won byNew Zealand.
In 2010 Serevi moved his family to the United States and settled in Seattle, Washington, to run a business with Fijian expatriates. He used his experience in rugby to open a new brand, the Serevi Rugby Nation, to help pool funds for Pacific Islander players and run rugby training workshops for the youth. He also worked with the Old Puget Sound Rugby club, and helped Central Washington University qualify for the Collegiate Rugby Championships. On October 6, 2011, Serevi flew home to Fiji and declared his availability to coach the team in qualifying for the2013 Sevens World Cupand help the team qualify for the2016 Olympic Games.(Full article...)
Selected biography 9
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/9
Hill became a test driver for the Formula One title-winning Williams team in 1992. He was promoted to the Williams race team the following year afterRiccardo Patrese's departure and took the first of his 22 victories at the1993 Hungarian Grand Prix.
During the mid 1990s, Hill wasMichael Schumacher's main rival for the Formula One Drivers' Championship. The two clashed on and off the track. Their collision at the1994 Australian Grand Prixgave Schumacher his first title by a single point. Hill became champion in1996with eight wins, but was dropped by Williams for the following season. He went on to drive for the less competitive Arrows and Jordan teams, and in 1998 gave Jordan its first win. He retired from racing after the 1999 season.
In 2006, Hill became president of theBritish Racing Drivers' Club,succeedingJackie Stewart.Hill stepped down from the position in 2011 and was succeeded byDerek Warwick.Hill has also regularly appeared in the British media, writing articles forF1 Racingmagazine and working as a pundit forSky Sports F1.(Full article...)
Selected biography 10
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/10
Graham grew up inWaukegan, Illinois,the son of music teachers. He enteredNorthwestern Universityin 1940 on a basketball scholarship, but football soon became his main sport. After a brief stint in the military at the end ofWorld War II,Graham played during the 1946 season for theNational Basketball League'sRochester Royals,who won the league championship that year.Paul Brown,Cleveland's coach, signed Graham to play for the Browns, where he thrived. After he left football in 1955, Graham coached college teams in theCollege All-Star Gameand became head football coach at theCoast Guard AcademyinConnecticut.After seven years at the academy, he spent three unsuccessful seasons as head coach of theWashington Redskins.Following his resignation, he returned to the Coast Guard Academy, where he served as athletic director until his retirement in 1984. He was elected to thePro Football Hall of Famein 1965. (Full article...)
Selected biography 11
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/11
Thorpe grew up in theSac and Foxnation inOklahoma.He attendedCarlisle Indian Industrial School,where he attracted the attention ofPop Warner.In 1911 he played asrunning back,defensive back,placekickerandpunter,for Carlisle, scoring 25touchdownsand leading the team to a collegiate championship, and was awardedAll-Americanhonors in both 1911 and 1912. Thorpe with theNew York Giantsbaseballteam in 1913, he would also play for theCincinnati Redsand theBoston Braves(now Atlanta Braves), and in theminor leaguesbefore leaving the sport in 1922. He continued playing football during this time, playing professionally for theCanton Bulldogs,which he led to several titles. He played professional sports until age 41, the end of his sports career coinciding with the start of theGreat Depression.Thorpe struggled to earn a living after that, working several odd jobs. Thorpe suffered fromalcoholism,and lived his last years in failing health and poverty.
In a poll of sports fans conducted byABC Sports,Thorpe was voted the Greatest Athlete of the Twentieth Century. (Full article...)
Selected biography 12
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/12
Fox was a distance runner andbasketballplayer for hisPort Coquitlam,British Columbia,high school andSimon Fraser University.His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed withosteosarcoma,though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also playedwheelchair basketballinVancouver,winning three national championships. In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. Fox hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada's 24 million people. He began with little fanfare fromSt. John's,Newfoundland,in April and ran the equivalent of a fullmarathonevery day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reachedOntario.He was forced to end his run outside ofThunder Baywhen the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.
Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of theOrder of Canada.He won the 1980Lou Marsh Awardas the nation's top sportsman and was namedCanada's Newsmaker of the Yearin both 1980 and 1981. Considered a national hero, he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country. (Full article...)
Selected biography 13
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/13
Her successful amateur career included a win in the St. Rule Trophy played atSt. Andrewsand a runner-up finish in the Swedish national mother/daughter golf tournament. She moved to the United States to attend college at theUniversity of Arizona.She won seven collegiate titles and in 1991, became the first non-American and first freshman to win the individualNCAA Division I Championship.She was 1991 NCAA Co-Player of the Year withKelly Robbins,runner-up in the 1992 NCAA National Championship, 1992Pac-10champion and a 1991-92 NCAA All-American.
The winner of a record eightPlayer of the Yearawards and sixVare Trophies,given to the LPGA player with the lowest seasonal scoring average; she is the only female golfer to have shot a 59 in competition. She holds various all-time scoring records including the lowest season scoring average: 68.6969 in 2004. Representing Europe in theSolheim Cupon eight occasions between 1994–2007, Sörenstam was the event'sall-time leading points earneruntil her record was surpassed by England'sLaura Daviesduring the2011 Solheim Cup.(Full article...)
Selected biography 14
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/14
The 7 foot 1 inch Chamberlain weighed 250 pounds as a rookie before bulking up to 275 and eventually to over 300 pounds with the Lakers. He played thecenterposition and is widely considered one of the greatest and most dominant players in NBA history.
Chamberlain holds numerousNBA all-time recordsin scoring,reboundingand durability categories. He is the only player toscore 100 points in a single NBA gameor average more than 40 and 50pointsin a season. He also won seven scoring, ninefield goal percentage,and eleven rebounding titles, and once even led the league inassists.Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game and 20 rebounds in a season, a feat he accomplished nine times. He is also the only player to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game over the entire course of his NBA career.
Chamberlain had a successful career, winning twoNBA championships,earning four regular-seasonMost Valuable Playerawards, theRookie of the Yearaward, oneNBA Finals MVPaward, and being selected to several all star teams. He was inducted in theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famein 1978, elected into the NBA's 35th Anniversary Team of 1980, and chosen as one of the50 Greatest Players in NBA Historyof 1996.
After his basketball career ended, Chamberlain playedvolleyballin the short-livedInternational Volleyball Association,was president of this organization, and is enshrined in the IVA Hall of Fame for his contributions. Chamberlain also was a successful businessman, authored several books, and appeared in the movieConan the Destroyer.He was a lifelong bachelor, and became notorious for his claim to have had sex with over 20,000 women. (Full article...)
Selected biography 15
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/15
He became interested incyclingin his teenage years and, after winning a number of races, he set his sights upon becoming a professional cyclist in Europe. He was a relative late-comer to competitiverunning:in his late teens, scouts from a localathleticsclub suggested that his cycling stamina might translate to running and invited him to compete. He won the race and was spurred on by the victory to start taking the sport seriously and focus on running.
Zersenay has found most of his success over thehalf marathondistance, with four consecutive victories in theWorld Half Marathon Championshipsfrom 2006 to 2009 & in 2012, and a world record at theLisbon Half Marathonin 2010. He has also excelled incross country running,winning agold,onesilver,and two bronze medals in the long distance race over the last fiveIAAF World Cross Country Championships.
In 2009 Zersenay became only the second man (afterPaul Tergat) to win three World Championship medals over three different surfaces in the same year: winningWorld Cross Countrybronze,10,000 metresWorld Championshipsilver on the track, and gold in road running at theWorld Half Marathon Championships.He is a popular public figure in his home country; 2500 guests attended his wedding to Merhawit Solomon, which was broadcast live on Eritrean television. His brother,Kidane Tadese,is also a professional distance runner. (Full article...)
Selected biography 16
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/16
Copeland was trained by former professional wrestlersSweet Daddy SikiandRon Hutchinson.Throughout the 1990s, he wrestled in North Americanindependent promotionsearly in his career. During his time in these promotions, he competed in singles and tag team competition, the latter withChristian,hisstorylinebrother. In 1997, Copeland signed a developmental deal with the WWF and began competing for the company later that year; he made his televised debut the following June under the ring name Edge. In July 1999, he won theWWF Intercontinental Championshipat a house show inToronto,making it his first title reign with the company.He and Christianwent on to win theWWF Tag Team Championshipon seven different occasions. During this time, they gained notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation inTables, Ladders, and Chairs matches.
Overall, Edge won 31 championships in WWE, including elevenworld championships(theWWE Championshipfour timesand theWorld Heavyweight Championshipa record seven times), five Intercontinental Championships, oneUnited States Championship,14 tag team championships (a record 12World Tag Team Championshipsand twoWWE Tag Team Championships), and is one of only three wrestlers (Kurt AngleandBig Showbeing the others) who has held every currently active male Championship in WWE. In addition to his championship accolades, Copeland won the 2001King of the Ringtournament, the inauguralMoney in the Bank ladder matchin 2005, and theRoyal Rumble matchin2010making him the only wrestler in history to achieve all three of those accomplishments. He was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fameby his long-time friend and tag team partner Christian on March 31, 2012. (Full article...)
Selected biography 17
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/17
After training withMildred Burke,she wrestled inJapanunder the name Monster Ripper. Although she found adjusting to the Japanese culture difficult, Sing heldAll Japan Women's title on two occasions and was the first Calgary born wrestler to gain success in Japan. In 1987, she returned to Canada and began working withStampede Wrestling,where she was rebranded Rhonda Singh. During 1987, she was named their firstWomen's Champion.She held the title until September 22, 1988, when she lost toChigusa Nagayo.Over the next few years, Sing once again traveled throughout the world and wrestled for a number of companies, holding several titles. Between 1987 and 1990, Sing worked inPuerto Ricofor theWorld Wrestling Council(WWC), where she held theWWC Women's Championshipon five separate occasions by defeating Wendi Richter,Candi Devine,and Sasha in matches for the title.
In 1995, Sing was contacted by theWorld Wrestling Federationto help their fledgling women's division. She, however, was repackaged as Bertha Faye, a comedic character who lived in a trailer park and datedHarvey Wippleman.Sing made her WWF debut on the April 3, 1995 episode ofMonday Night Rawparticipating in a sneak attack onAlundra Blayze,making it appear as if Blayze's nose had been broken. AtSummerSlam,Faye defeated Blayze for theWWF Women's Championshipand held the title until the October 23, 1995 airing ofMonday Night Raw,where Blayze regained the title. In late 1999, she worked withWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW) briefly, appearing on several telecasts to help generate interest in a women's division. She was also a contender for both theWCW Cruiserweight ChampionshipandWCW Hardcore Championship.In addition to competing in matches using her Singh and Monster Ripper gimmicks, she also made a couple of appearances with theNitro Girlsdance troupe under the name "Beef", for comic relief. After leaving WCW, Sing quit wrestling. (Full article...)
Selected biography 18
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/18
In the1920 Summer OlympicsNurmi took the silver medal in the 5,000 m and the gold in the 10,000 m and the cross country events. In 1923, Nurmi became the first, and so far only, runner to hold the mile, the 5,000 m and the 10,000 m world records at the same time. He went on to set new world records for the 1,500 m and the 5,000 m with just an hour between the races, and take gold medals in the distances in less than two hours at the1924 Olympics.Nurmi won all his races and returned home with five gold medals, but embittered, as Finnish officials had refused to enter him for the 10,000 m.
At the1928 Summer Olympics,Nurmi recaptured the 10,000 m title but was beaten to the gold in the 5,000 m and the 3,000 m steeplechase. He then turned his attention to longer distances, breaking the world records for events such as the one hour run and the 25-mile marathon. Nurmi intended to end his career on a marathon gold medal.
In a controversial case that strained Finland–Sweden relations and sparked an inter-IAAFbattle, Nurmi was suspended before the 1932 Games by an IAAF council that questioned his amateur status. Although he was never declared a professional, Nurmi's suspension became definite in 1934 and he retired from running.
Nurmi, who rarely ran without a stopwatch in his hand, has been credited for introducing the "even pace" strategy and analytic approach to running, and for making running a major international sport. (Full article...)
Selected biography 19
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/19
The daughter of two former Soviet champion gymnasts, Olympic gold medalistValeri Liukin– the first man to do a triple backflip – and World Championrhythmic gymnastAnna Kotchneva,Nastia Liukin was born inMoscowand moved to the United States as a young child. She began gymnastics after spending time in the gym while her parents coached. Liukin is coached by her father at theWorld Olympic Gymnastics Academy,her family's gymnastics club inFrisco, Texas.
Liukin became a member of the U.S. junior national team when she was 12 years old and won the National all-around title at the age of 13. She was the all-around silver medalist at the 2003 Pan American Games. Since 2005, Liukin has been a key member of the U.S. senior team. She is a four-time all-around U.S. National Champion, winning twice as a junior and twice as a senior. She has been the U.S. senior National Champion on theuneven barssince 2005. Liukin has represented the United States at three World Championships, the 2003 and 2007Pan American Games,and the 2006 and 2008Pacific Rim Championships.In October 2011, Liukin announced that she was returning to the sport of gymnastics with the hopes of making the 2012 Olympic team. She did not make the team, and instead went to London as the athlete representative for the Federation of International Gymnasts (FIG). (Full article...)
Selected biography 20
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/20
Neuner started biathlon when she was nine years old and won five junior world championship titles from 2004 to 2006. She made her World Cup debut in 2006 and won her first World Cup race in January 2007. One month later, she claimed three gold medals in herfirst appearanceat the Biathlon World Championships. In the2007–08 season,Neuner won the Overall World Cup and once more claimed three titles at the2008 World Championships.After a less successful winter in2008–09,she participated in her firstWinter Olympic Gamesin 2010, winning the gold medal in both thepursuitand themass start,and silver in thesprint race.Neuner also claimed the2009–10 Overall World Cuptitle. At the2011 World Championships,she won three more gold medals. In her final winter on the World Cup tour, Neuner won two more titles at the2012 World Championshipsand claimed the Overall World Cup for a third time. Neuner was known as one of the fastestcross-country skiersin biathlon. She had been noted for her volatile shooting performances in the standing position, particularly in the early years of her career, often at the expense of better results.
Since winning three world championship gold medals in 2007, Neuner has become one of her home country's most popular female athletes. She was namedGerman Sportswoman of the Yearin 2007, 2011 and 2012. (Full article...)
Selected biography 21
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Phelps is thelong courseworld recordholder in the100-meter butterfly,200-meter butterflyand400-meter individual medleyas well as the former long course world recordholder in the200-meter freestyleand200-meter individual medley.He has won a total of 71 medals in major international long-course competition, 57 gold, 11 silver, and three bronze spanning the Olympics, theWorld,and thePan PacificChampionships.
Phelps's international titles and record-breaking performances have earned him theWorld Swimmer of the Year Awardseven times andAmerican Swimmer of the Year Awardnine times as well as theFINA Swimmer of the YearAward in 2012. His unprecedented Olympic success in 2008 earned PhelpsSports Illustratedmagazine'sSportsman of the Yearaward. On April 9, 2009, Phelps was invited to appear before theMaryland House of Delegatesand theMaryland Senate,to be honored for his Olympic accomplishments.
After the 2008 Summer Olympics, Phelps started the Michael Phelps Foundation, which focuses on growing the sport of swimming and promoting healthier lifestyles. (Full article...)
Selected biography 22
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Raised by his father, Ohno began training full-time in 1996. He has been the face of short track in the United States since winning his medals at the2002 Winter Olympics.At the age of 14, he became the youngest U.S. national champion in 1997 and was the reigning champion from 2001–2009, winning the title a total of 12 times. In December 1999, he became the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title, and became the first American to win aWorld Cup overalltitle in 2001, which he won again in 2003 and 2005. He won his first overall World Championship title at the2008 championships.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, there were two controversies associated with Ohno. The first was whether or not he intentionally finished third in a qualification race during the U.S. Olympic Trials to allowShani Davisto make the team. The second occurred when he won the gold medal in the 1500 m race after the disqualification of the first skater to cross the finish line, South KoreanKim Dong-sung,for blocking Ohno.
Ohno's accolades and accomplishments include being theUnited States Olympic Committee's Male Athlete of the Month in October 2003 and March 2008, the U.S. Speedskating's Athlete of the Year for 2003, and was a 2002, 2003 and 2006 finalist for theSullivan Award,which recognizes the best amateur athlete in the United States. Since gaining recognition through his sport, Ohno has worked as amotivational speaker,philanthropist,started a nutritional supplement business called 8 Zone, and in 2007, competed on and won the reality TV showDancing with the Stars.(Full article...)
Selected biography 23
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David is the first squash player to have won theWorld Juniortitle twice; in 1999 and 2001 under the tutelage ofRichard Glanfield.She remained the only female squash player to have achieved this, untilRaneem El Weleilyemulated David's feat by winning her second World Junior Championship in 2007. David joinedWISPAand turned professional in 2000 when she won her first WISPA title, after only a month in the tour. The victory came in February, when she defeatedSalma Shabanain the final of theSavcor Finnish Open.On 7 June 2008, David was honoured with the Order of Merit (Darjah Bakti) or D.B. in conjunction with the birthday of theHis MajestyTuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.She was the first recipient of the award which was established on 26 June 1975. David was also invited to carry the Olympic torch for Malaysia during the build up to the Athens Olympics in 2004 and being appointed asUNDPNational Goodwill Ambassador for Malaysia.
Considered by some to be one of the greatest women's squash player of all time, David's other notable achievements include the Asian Squash Championship, which she won a record eight times (in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011). She also held a 13-month, 51-match winning streak, from March 2006 until April 2007, when she finally lost toNatalie Grinhamin the final of the 2007 Seoul Open. David has also obtained theWSA Player of the Yearon seven occasions, from 2005 until 2010 and 2012. (Full article...)
Selected biography 24
Portal:Sports/Selected biography/24 SubedarAbdul Khaliq(Punjabi,Urdu:عبد الخالق;23 March 1933 – 10 March 1988), also known asParinda-e-Asia(Urdufor The Flying Bird of Asia),was a Pakistani sprinter from 8 Medium Regiment Artillery who won 36 international gold medals, 15 international silver medals, and 12 International bronze medals while representing Pakistan. He competed in the100m,200m,and4 x 100 meters relay.He participated in the1956 Melbourne Olympicsand the1960 Rome Olympics.He also participated in the1954 Asian Gamesand the1958 Asian Games.During the 1956 Indo-Pak Meet held inDelhi,Abdul Khaliqwas first referred to as "The Flying Bird of Asia" by thePrime Minister of Indiaof the time wasJawaharlal Nehru,who was reportedly captivated by his performance during the event. (Full article...) (Full article...)