Every Sportsperson of the Year

Starting with Roger Bannister in 1954, here is every winner of Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year Award—including Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jordan, Billie Jean King and more.

Sportsperson of the Year Winners

2022

Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated

Stephen Curry

2021

Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

Tom Brady

2020

Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Naomi Osaka

2020

Illustration by Alexis Franklin

LeBron James

2020

Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Patrick Mahomes

2020

Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Breanna Stewart

2020

Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

2019

Jeffery A. Salter/Sports Illustrated

Megan Rapinoe

2018

Illustration by Mark Hammermeister

Golden State Warriors

2017

Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

José Altuve and J.J. Watt

2016

Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

LeBron James

2015

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Serena Williams

2014

Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

Madison Bumgarner

2013

John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Peyton Manning

2012

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

LeBron James

2011

Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

Pat Summitt and Mike Krzyzewski

2010

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Drew Brees

2009

Gregory Heisler/Sports Illustrated

Derek Jeter

2008

Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

Michael Phelps

2007

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Brett Favre

2006

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Dwyane Wade

2005

Lynn Johnson/Sports Illustrated

Tom Brady

2004

Photomosaic by Robert Silvers

Boston Red Sox

2003

Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated

Tim Duncan and David Robinson

2002

Jonas Karlsson/Sports Illustrated

Lance Armstrong

2001

Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson

2000

Gerard Rancinan/Sports Illustrated

Tiger Woods

1999

Mark Abrahams/Sports Illustrated

U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

1998

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa

1997

Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Dean Smith

1996

Illustration by Lauren Uram

Tiger Woods

1995

Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated (left); Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Cal Ripken Jr.

1994

Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated

Bonnie Blair and Johann Olav Koss

1993

Illustration by Mark Summers

Don Shula

1992

Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated

Arthur Ashe

1991

Hologram by Sharon McCormack

Michael Jordan

1990

Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated

Joe Montana

1989

Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Greg LeMond

1988

Illustration by Pier Consagra

Orel Hershiser

1987

Illustration by Richard Hess

Rory Sparrow, Patty Sheehan, Reggie Williams, Chip Rives, Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Dale Murphy and Kip Keino

1986

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Illustrated

Joe Paterno

1985

Illustration by Larry Rivers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1984

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Mary Lou Retton and Edwin Moses

1983

Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Mary Decker

1982

Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Wayne Gretzky

1981

Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated

Sugar Ray Leonard

1980

Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

1979

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw

1978

Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated

Jack Nicklaus

1977

Anthony Edgeworth/Sports Illustrated

Steve Cauthen

1976

Graham Finlayson/Sports Illustrated

Chris Evert

1975

Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated

Pete Rose

1974

Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated

Muhammad Ali

1973

Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated

Jackie Stewart

1972

Stephen Green-Armytage/Sports Illustrated

John Wooden and Billie Jean King

1971

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Lee Trevino

1970

Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated

Bobby Orr

1969

James Drake/Sports Illustrated

Tom Seaver

1968

James Drake/Sports Illustrated

Bill Russell

1967

Fred Kaplan/Sports Illustrated

Carl Yastrzemski

1966

Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated

Jim Ryun

1965

Robert Huntzinger/Sports Illustrated

Sandy Koufax

1964

Jay Maisel/Sports Illustrated (left); Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated (right)

Ken Venturi

1963

Ben Rose/Sports Illustrated

Pete Rozelle

1962

Neal Barr/Sports Illustrated

Terry Baker

1961

Illustration by Robert Weaver

Jerry Lucas

1960

Illustration by Thomas B. Allen

Arnold Palmer

1959

John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated

Ingemar Johansson

1958

John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated

Rafer Johnson

1957

John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated (Musial)

Stan Musial

1956

Phil Bath/Sports Illustrated

Bobby Morrow

1955

Richard Meek/Sports Illustrated

Johnny Podres

1954

Mark Kauffman/Sports Illustrated

Roger Bannister