The 11 Greatest Female Olympians of All-Time
The Greatest Female Olympians in History
In 1900, the Olympics woke up to the fact that women also deserved to be celebrated for their sporting prowess.
But who are the greatest female athletes in Olympic history? Read on to find out!
Legendary tennis Olympian Naomi Osaka
Today, 49.5% of Olympic athletes are women, reaching an all-time high of female participation in the Olympic Games.
Ever since women have joined great male Olympians in this monumental series of international tournaments, they’ve broken countless records and achieved athletic glory.
But when it comes to female Olympic athletes, which women stand out as the greatest? Here’s our top 10!
1. Serena and Venus Williams
Serena has won 23 Grand Slams, more than any other player in the world
As a team, Venus and Serena have won 14 doubles titles and three doubles gold medals at the Olympics
Venus was the first African-American woman to win the Women’s World Number 1 in the Open Era
Tying for first place are the Williams sisters. Although these sisters have fully-established independent careers, their cultural influence and recognition are uniquely intertwined both on and off the court.
Venus and Serena have culturally redefined tennis, paving the way for other women of colour.
The sisters have infused the sport at an Olympic and Grand Slam level with a contemporary style that’s inspired countless other female athletes to pursue tennis (see Naomi Osaka further down).
Both of these iconic tennis players have captivated audiences around the world with their strength, determination and mould-breaking athletic careers.
Read more on our tennis blog
2. Simone Biles
She won seven Olympic medals (four gold) and 25 World Championship medals (19 gold - the current all-time record for male and female gymnasts)
The first female US gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games
The first-ever gymnast (male or female) to win three consecutive all-round titles
Simone Biles is an African-American gymnast who rose to fame after winning gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2018, she became the most decorated female gymnast in the world.
Biles made history that same year by announcing that she had been a victim of Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics program and Michigan State University gymnastics doctor who reportedly sexually abused numerous female athletes at the time.
What sets Simone Biles apart from other athletes is her vibrant energy, strong personality and the exceptionally high degree of difficulty she tends to incorporate into her routines.
In fact, she already has three moves named after her.
3. Saina Nehwal
The first Indian female and youngest Asian female to win the BWF Junior World Championships
She holds 24 international titles
The first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal
Breaking the glass ceiling seems to be Indian badminton legend Saina Nehwal’s second favourite hobby (no prizes for guessing the first).
Considered one of the best badminton players of all-time, Nehwal has become an Indian and Asian legend on the court, famed for her headstrong, highly focused nature that enables her to become a fierce competitor.
4. Katie Ledecky
She won 10 Olympic medals in total
Named Female Swimmer of the Year five times (the world record)
Most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history
US swimming sensation Katie Ledecky is the current world record holder for the women’s 1,500m, 800m and 400m freestyle, respectively.
Dubbed Female Swimmer of the Year a record-breaking five times in a row, Ledecky is the swimmer to beat in any pool she enters!
Ledecky first made history when she surprised everyone by winning gold for the women’s 800m freestyle at just 15 years old. She is known for her tenacious personality and highly competitive spirit.
5. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
The only athlete to win four world 100m titles
At five feet tall, her nickname is “the Pocket Rocket”
Fastest woman in the world between 2008 and 2015
Alongside friend and fellow sprinter Usain Bolt, Fraser-Pryce has brought Jamaican athletics to the global stage.
“Small but mighty” is a great way to describe this boundary-pushing Olympic sprinter, who has won eight medals overall.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all-time, she has been the one to beat in almost every world tournament she’s entered since her first 100-metre world title at the 2009 World Sprint Championships.
She has competed in three Olympic Games in total: 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2020 Tokyo. And at the age of 36, her career is still alive and well as she pushes to take her legacy even further.
6. Ding Ning
Three-time table tennis World Cup winner
Known as “The Queen” in China, with over two million followers on Weibo
Holder of the female Table Tennis Grand Slam title
China’s table tennis pride and joy, Ding Ning is an Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion in this unique ball sport.
With 18 pro tours under her belt and an impressive string of world titles, this table tennis athlete rose to fame for her golden performance at the 2012 London Olympics.
7. Dame Laura Kenny DBE
The greatest women’s track cyclist of all-time
She has more Olympic medals than any other female track cyclist
Britain’s most successful female athlete
Dame Laura Kenny is British Olympic royalty. Queen Elizabeth II appointed her as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2022 for her services to cycling and her country.
She has five gold medals and two silvers under her belt, spanning three Olympic Games.
Dame Kenny’s husband, Sir Jason Kenny, was also knighted by the Queen for his contributions to the same sport. Both of them are currently preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
8. Steffi Graf
The first and only tennis player to win an Olympic gold medal and Grand Slam in the same year
The top-ranked tennis player for 377 consecutive weeks
Known as “Fraulein Forehand”
In addition to being Germany’s greatest female tennis player of all-time, Steffi Graf is renowned for her social influence throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Winning a gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a Grand Slam title in the same calendar year, Graf made history in what is known as a “Golden Slam.” No one has achieved this prestigious title since!
9. Naomi Osaka
She beat her tennis idol Serena Williams at age 20
Four-time grand slam singles champion
The first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron at Tokyo 2020
Naomi Osaka was born in the US to a Japanese mother and a Haitian-American father. She currently plays for Japan – and they are lucky to have her.
One of the world’s youngest, most successful and most marketable athletes, Osaka has captured multiple Grand Slam titles and participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021.
Osaka has an aggressive but calm playing style, and she’s been a voice for athletes struggling with mental health due to the pressure to perform.
She has also used her position to advocate for social justice issues, particularly those of Black Lives Matter (BLM).
10. Ireen Wüst
The first Olympian to win five gold medals from five different Olympic Games
The world’s most decorated speed skater (male and female)
She holds the Olympic record for a 1,500m race
Ireen Wüst is a Dutch Olympic athlete who is more decorated than any other speed skater of her time.
Totalling 11 medals overall, Wüst has competed in a range of Winter games, including:
2006 Italy Winter Games
2010 Vancouver Winter Games
2014 Sochi Games
2018 P’yŏngch’ang Games
2022 Beijing Winter Games
She is now retired and happily married.
Do you agree with our list? Who do you think are the greatest female Olympians of all-time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
