SI’s Fittest 50: The Olympians
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We’re rolling out our Fittest 50 list here at Sports Illustrated, highlighting the most in-shape male and female athletes across the sporting world.
To nobody’s surprise, many of those gracing the list are Olympians, and with Rio 2016 on the horizon, we’ll see many of them in action in the coming months.
Topping the women’s list is Jessica Ennis-Hill at No. 1, followed by Allyson Felix at No. 2. Ennis-Hill won gold for England in heptathlon in London in 2012 and at the 2015 world championships. Felix is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, winning three at the London Games. Also in the top five are gymnast Simone Biles, who is very likely to make her debut in Rio, and Katie Ledecky, who swam at the 2012 Olympics at the age of 15.
On the men’s side, American decathlete Ashton Eaton came in first. Eaton is the world record holder in the decathlon and indoor heptathlon events and won gold in decathlon in London. No. 2 is NBA superstar and two-time gold medalist LeBron James, who is expected to go for his third gold medal in Rio. Jamaican track star Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, came in at No. 5.
• Sports Illustrated's Fittest 50
Here are all the current and former Olympians on the list.
Women
- Jessica Ennis-Hill, England, track and field
- Allyson Felix, USA, track and field
- Simone Biles, USA, gymnastics* (USA Gymnastics will likely select Biles for the Olympics)
- Katie Ledecky, USA, swimming
- Gwen Jorgensen, USA, triathlon
- Claressa Shields, USA, boxing
- Maggie Steffens, USA, water polo
- Kerri Walsh Jennings, USA, beach volleyball
- Jenn Suhr, USA, pole vault
- Meghan Duggan, USA, ice hockey
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaica, Track and Field
- Gabby Douglas, USA, gymnastics
- Ali Krieger, USA, soccer
- Maya Moore, USA, basketball
- Ronda Rousey, USA, judo (pre-MMA career)
- Missy Franklin, USA, swimming
- Brianne Thiesen-Eaton, USA, track and field
- Hannah Teter, USA, snowboarding
- Candace Parker, USA, basketball (2008, 2012)
- Kayla Harrison, USA, judo
- Katarina Johnson-Thompson, England, track and field
- Dafne Schippers, Netherlands, track and field
- Kristin Armstrong, USA, cycling
- Lolo Jones, USA, track and field
- Lindsey Vonn, USA, skiing
- Mariana Pajón, Colombia, cycling
- Christie Rampone, USA, soccer
- Genzibe Dibaba, Ethiopia, track and field
- Ireen Wüst, Netherlands, speed skating
Men
- Ashton Eaton, USA, decathlon
- LeBron James, USA, basketball
- Usain Bolt, Jamaica, track and field
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, soccer (2004)
- Russell Westbrook, USA, basketball
- Jordan Burroughs, USA, wrestling
- Novak Djokovic, Serbia, tennis
- Renaud Lavillenie, France, pole vault
- Dwyane Wade, USA, basketball (2004, 2008)
- Marquise Goodwin, USA, track and field
- Donnell Whittenburg, USA, gymnastics
- Trayvon Bromell, USA, track and field (100 meter world championship bronze medalist, Olympic hopeful)
- Serge Ibaka, Spain, basketball
- Michael Tinsley, USA, track and field
- Steve Langton, USA, bobsled
- Christian Taylor, USA, track and field
- Michael Phelps, USA, swimming
- Kendrick Farris, USA, weightlifting
- Galen Rupp, USA, track and field
