Notable Athletes
This list is comprised of some of the most recognizable names in sport. See also the list of Olympians for those who have competed in the Olympics and won medals.
| Name | Lifespan | Sport | Other Names | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Vokes | 1989- | soccer |  | |
| Ben Volavola | 1991- | rugby | | |
| Yochanan Vollach | 1945- | soccer | | |
| Sjoerd Vollebregt | 1954- | boating | | |
| Rudi Völler | 1960- | soccer | | |
| Steve von Bergen | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Markéta Vondroušová | 1999- | tennis | | |
| Renata Voráčová | 1983- | tennis | | |
| Michel Vorm | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Vyacheslav Voronin | 1974- | track | | |
| Evgeny Voronov | 1986- | basketball | | |
| Joey Votto | 1983- | baseball | | |
| Ognjen Vranješ | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Stojko Vranković | 1964- | basketball | | |
| Renato Vrbičić | 1970- | water polo | | |
| Zdeslav Vrdoljak | 1971- | water polo | | |
| Martien Vreijsen | 1955- | soccer | | |
| Avdija Vršajević | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Šime Vrsaljko | 1992- | soccer | | |
| Budimir Vujačić | 1964- | soccer | | |
| Miljan Vukadinović | 1992- | soccer | | |
| Vlastimir Vukadinović | 1982- | basketball | | |
| Vukadin Vukadinović | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Bernard Vukas | 1927-1983 | soccer | | |
| Marina Vukčević | 1993- | handball | | |
| Ljubiša Vukelja | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Ognjen Vukojević | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Drago Vuković | 1983- | handball | | |
| Cooper Vuna | 1987- | rugby | | |
| Billy Vunipola | 1992- | rugby | | |
| Elisi Vunipola | 1967- | rugby | | |
| Feʻao Vunipola | 1969- | rugby | | |
| Mako Vunipola | 1991- | rugby | | |
| Manu Vunipola | 1967- | rugby | | |
| Samuela Vunisa | 1988- | rugby | | |
| Loukas Vyntra | 1981- | soccer | | |
| Yevheniya Vysotska | 1975- | cycling | | |
| Ed Wachter | 1883-1966 | basketball | | |
| Rube Waddell | 1876-1914 | baseball | | |
| LaAdrian Waddle | 1991- | football | | |
| Dwyane Wade | 1982- | basketball | | |
| Trevin Wade | 1989- | football | | |
| Ajit Wadekar | 1941-2018 | cricket | | |
| Honus Wagner | 1874-1955 | baseball | | |
| Rini Wagtmans | 1946- | cycling | | |
| Waisea Nayacalevu | 1990- | rugby | (Vuidravuwalu) | |
| Mubarak Wakaso | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Ralf Waldmann | 1966-2018 | driving | | |
| Chet Walker | 1940- | basketball | | |
| Delanie Walker | 1984- | football | | |
| Doak Walker | 1927-1998 | football | | |
| Eli Walker | 1992- | rugby | | |
| Jack Walker | 1888-1950 | ice hockey | | |
| Kurt Walker | 1954-2018 | ice hockey | | |
| Kyle Walker | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Larry Walker | 1966- | baseball | | |
| Tray Walker | 1992- | football | | |
| Tyrunn Walker | 1990- | football | | |
| Vance Walker | 1987- | football | | |
| Bobby Wallace | 1873-1960 | baseball | | |
| Cody Wallace | 1984- | football | | |
| Mike Wallace | 1986- | football | | |
| Darrin Walls | 1988- | football | | |
| Ed Walsh | 1881-1959 | baseball | | |
| Marty Walsh | 1883-1915 | ice hockey | | |
| Fritz Walter | 1920-2002 | soccer | | |
| Bucky Walters | 1909-1991 | baseball | | |
| Jonathan Walters | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Bill Walton | 1952- | basketball | | |
| Chadwick Walton | 1985- | cricket | | |
| Leterrius Walton | 1992- | football | | |
| Lloyd Waner | 1906-1982 | baseball | | |
| Paul Waner | 1903-1965 | baseball | | |
| Wang Qiang | 1992- | tennis | | |
| Bobby Wanzer | 1921-2016 | basketball | | |
| Dominiko Waqaniburotu | 1986- | rugby | | |
| Alexander Ward | 1990- | tennis | | |
| Danny Ward | 1993- | soccer | | |
| Jamie Ward | 1986- | soccer | | |
| John Montgomery Ward | 1860-1925 | baseball | | |
| Stephen Ward | 1985- | soccer | | |
| Terron Ward | 1992- | football | | |
| DeMarcus Ware | 1982- | football | | |
| Spencer Ware | 1991- | football | | |
| Paul Warfield | 1942- | football | | |
| Abdul Majeed Waris | 1991- | soccer | | |
| Chance Warmack | 1991- | football | | |
| Shane Warne | 1969- | cricket | | |
| Kurt Warner | 1971- | football | | |
| Sjoerd Wartena | 1939- | boating | | |
| Conor Washington | 1992- | soccer | | |
| Cornelius Washington | 1989- | football | | |
| Ora Washington | c. 1899-1971 | basketball | | |
| Yoshiichi Watanabe | 1954- | soccer | | |
| Bob Waterfield | 1920-1983 | football | | |
| Seren Waters | 1990- | cricket | | |
| Swayze Waters | 1987- | football | | |
| Jaylen Watkins | 1992- | football | | |
| Anthony Watson | 1994- | rugby | | |
| Dekoda Watson | 1988- | football | | |
| Harry "Moose" Watson | 1898-1957 | ice hockey | | |
| Harry "Whipper" Watson | 1923-2002 | ice hockey | | |
| Heather Watson | 1992- | tennis | | |
| Menelik Watson | 1988- | football | | |
| Tom Watson | 1949- | golf | | |
| Trey Watts | 1991- | football | | |
| Stan Wawrinka | 1985- | tennis | | |
| Jakub Wawrzyniak | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Tress Way | 1990- | football | | |
| Trae Waynes | 1992- | football | | |
| Casey Weathers | 1985- | baseball | | |
| Sean Weatherspoon | 1987- | football | | |
| Teresa Weatherspoon | 1965- | basketball | | |
| J'Marcus Webb | 1988- | football | | |
| Joe Webb | 1986- | football | | |
| Lardarius Webb | 1985- | football | | |
| Rhys Webb | 1988- | rugby | | |
| Rob Webber | 1986- | rugby | | |
| Pierre Webó | 1982- | soccer | (Kouamo) | |
| Kayvon Webster | 1991- | football | | |
| Mike Webster | 1952-2002 | football | | |
| Everton Weekes | 1925- | cricket | | |
| Darrion Weems | 1988- | football | | |
| Roger Wehrli | 1947- | football | | |
| Andrew Weibrecht | 1986- | skiing | | |
| Roman Weidenfeller | 1980- | soccer | | |
| Günther Weidlinger | 1978- | track | | |
| Julian Weigl | 1995- | soccer | | |
| Ralph "Cooney" Weiland | 1904-1985 | ice hockey | | |
| Arnie Weinmeister | 1923-2000 | football | | |
| Duncan Weir | 1991- | rugby | | |
| Vladimír Weiss | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Johnny Weissmuller | 1904-1984 | swimming | | |
| Danny Welbeck | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Mickey Welch | 1859-1941 | baseball | | |
| Chauncy Welliver | 1983- | boxing | | |
| Willie Wells | 1906-1989 | baseball | | |
| Jon Welsh | 1986- | rugby | | |
| Arsène Wenger | 1949- | soccer | | |
| Pontus Wernbloom | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Dante Wesley | 1979- | football | | |
| De'Ondre Wesley | 1992- | football | | |
| Kepler Wessels | 1957- | cricket | | |
| Charcandrick West | 1991- | football | | |
| Jerry West | 1938- | basketball | | |
| Russell Westbrook | 1988- | basketball | | |
| Sander Westerveld | 1974- | soccer | | |
| Paul Westphal | 1950- | basketball | | |
| Harry "Rat" Westwick | 1876-1957 | ice hockey | | |
| Keiren Westwood | 1984- | soccer | | |
| Lindsay Whalen | 1982- | basketball | | |
| Dav Whatmore | 1954- | cricket | | |
| Zack Wheat | 1888-1972 | baseball | | |
| Markus Wheaton | 1991- | football | | |
| Manch Wheeler | 1939-2018 | football | | |
| Zelous Wheeler | 1987- | baseball | | |
| Glenn Whelan | 1984- | soccer | | |
| Frederick Whitcroft | 1882-1931 | ice hockey | | |
| Charlie White | 1987- | skating | | |
| Deacon White | 1847-1939 | baseball | | |
| DeAndrew White | 1991- | football | | |
| Jo Jo White | 1946-2018 | basketball | | |
| Melvin White | 1990- | football | | |
| Myles White | 1990- | football | | |
| Nathan White | 1981- | rugby | | |
| Nera White | 1935- | basketball | | |
| Randy White | 1953- | football | | |
| Reggie White | 1961-2004 | football | | |
| Sam Whitelock | 1988- | rugby | | |
| Taylor Whitley | 1980-2018 | football | | |
| Nikita Whitlock | 1991- | football | | |
| Donte Whitner | 1985- | football | | |
| Fozzy Whittaker | 1989- | football | | |
| Pernilla Wiberg | 1970- | skiing | | |
| Hayley Wickenheiser | 1978- | ice hockey | | |
| Yanina Wickmayer | 1989- | tennis | | |
| Kobus Wiese | 1964- | rugby | | |
| Richard Wigglesworth | 1983- | rugby | | |
| Georginio Wijnaldum | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Ben Wijnstekers | 1955- | soccer | | |
| Dave Wilcox | 1942- | football | | |
| Deontay Wilder | 1985- | boxing | | |
| Piet Wildschut | 1957- | soccer | | |
| Hoyt Wilhelm | 1922-2002 | baseball | | |
| Lenny Wilkens | 1937- | basketball | | |
| Jamaal Wilkes | 1953- | basketball | (Abdul-Lateef) | |
| Dominique Wilkins | 1960- | basketball | | |
| Ray Wilkins | 1956-2018 | soccer | | |
| Alex Wilkinson | 1984- | soccer | | |
| Chris Wilkinson | 1970- | tennis | | |
| Jetro Willems | 1994- | soccer | | |
| Alan Willey | 1956- | soccer | | |
| Carl Willey | 1931-2009 | baseball | | |
| Neil Willey | 1976- | swimming | | |
| Norm Willey | 1927-2011 | football | | |
| Aeneas Williams | 1968- | football | | |
| Andre Williams | 1992- | football | | |
| Ashley Williams | 1984- | soccer | | |
| Billy Williams | 1938- | baseball | | |
| Brandon Williams | 1987- | football | | |
| Chester Williams | 1970- | rugby | | |
| Deron Williams | 1984- | basketball | | |
| George Williams | 1995- | soccer | | |
| Jonny Williams | 1993- | soccer | | |
| Karlos Williams | 1993- | football | | |
| Kasen Williams | 1992- | football | | |
| Kerwynn Williams | 1991- | football | | |
| K'Waun Williams | 1991- | football | | |
| Liam Williams | 1991- | rugby | | |
| Lloyd Williams | 1989- | rugby | | |
| Maxx Williams | 1994- | football | | |
| Rhys Williams | 1988- | soccer | | |
| Scott Williams | 1990- | rugby | | |
| Serena Williams | 1981- | tennis | | |
| Shammond Williams | 1975- | basketball | | |
| Sherman Williams | 1972- | boxing | | |
| Sonny Bill Williams | 1985- | rugby | | |
| Steve Williams | 1991- | football | | |
| Ted Williams | 1918-2002 | baseball | | |
| Terrance Williams | 1989- | football | | |
| Tourek Williams | 1991- | football | | |
| Tramon Williams | 1983- | football | | |
| Venus Williams | 1980- | tennis | | |
| Willie Williams | 1931-2019 | track | | |
| Avery Williamson | 1992- | football | | |
| Carlton Williamson | 1958- | football | | |
| Corliss Williamson | 1973- | basketball | | |
| DaVarryl Williamson | 1968- | boxing | | |
| Eryk Williamson | 1997- | soccer | | |
| Kane Williamson | 1990- | cricket | | |
| Leah Williamson | 1997- | soccer | | |
| Mac Williamson | 1990- | baseball | | |
| Zion Williamson | 2000- | basketball | | |
| Willian | 1988- | soccer | (Borges, da Silva) | |
| Matt Willig | 1969- | football | | |
| Bill Willis | 1921-2007 | football | | |
| Marcus Willis | 1990- | tennis | | |
| Vic Willis | 1876-1947 | baseball | | |
| Helen Wills | 1905-1998 | tennis | | |
| Maury Wills | 1932- | baseball | | |
| Jack Wilshere | 1992- | soccer | | |
| Damien Wilson | 1993- | football | | |
| Darroll Wilson | 1966- | boxing | | |
| David Wilson | 1985- | rugby | | |
| Doug Wilson | 1957- | ice hockey | | |
| Gord "Phat" Wilson | 1895-1970 | ice hockey | | |
| Hack Wilson | 1900-1948 | baseball | | |
| Jud Wilson | 1894-1963 | baseball | | |
| Larry Wilson | 1938- | football | | |
| Marquess Wilson | 1992- | football | | |
| Ramik Wilson | 1992- | football | | |
| Russell Wilson | 1988- | football | | |
| Ryan Wilson | 1989- | rugby | | |
| Tavon Wilson | 1990- | football | | |
| Kevin Wimmer | 1992- | soccer | | |
| Dave Winfield | 1951- | baseball | | |
| Craig Wing | 1979- | rugby | | |
| Sjoerd Winkens | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Kellen Winslow | 1957- | football | | |
| Jameis Winston | 1994- | football | | |
| Aron Winter | 1967- | soccer | | |
| Michael Wiringi | 1985- | rugby | | |
| Stefen Wisniewski | 1989- | football | | |
| Richard Witschge | 1969- | soccer | | |
| Rob Witschge | 1966- | soccer | | |
| Axel Witsel | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Carina Witthöft | 1995- | tennis | | |
| Alex Wojciechowicz | 1915-1992 | football | | |
| Paea Wolfgramm | 1969- | boxing | | |
| Chris Wondolowski | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Cierre Wood | 1991- | football | | |
| Tom Wood | 1986- | rugby | | |
| Willie Wood | 1936-2020 | football | | |
| Lynette Woodard | 1959- | basketball | | |
| Todd Woodbridge | 1971- | tennis | | |
| Tony Woodcock | 1981- | rugby | | |
| John Wooden | 1910-2010 | basketball | | |
| Mark Woodforde | 1965- | tennis | | |
| Gary Woodland | 1984- | golf | | |
| LaMarr Woodley | 1984- | football | | |
| Tiger Woods | 1975- | golf | | |
| Rod Woodson | 1965- | football | | |
| Doug Wooldridge | 1985- | rugby | | |
| Lorne "Gump" Worsley | 1929-2007 | ice hockey | | |
| Roy Worters | 1900-1957 | ice hockey | | |
| Chandler Worthy | 1993- | football | | |
| James Worthy | 1961- | basketball | | |
| Jerel Worthy | 1990- | football | | |
| Jan Wouters | 1960- | soccer | | |
| Caroline Wozniacki | 1990- | tennis | | |
| Blidi Wreh-Wilson | 1989- | football | | |
| Bailey Wright | 1992- | soccer | | |
| George Wright | 1847-1937 | baseball | | |
| Jarius Wright | 1989- | football | | |
| Major Wright | 1988- | football | | |
| Rayfield Wright | 1945- | football | | |
| Shareece Wright | 1987- | football | | |
| Chris Wyles | 1983- | rugby | | |
| Early Wynn | 1920-1999 | baseball | | |
| Jarius Wynn | 1986- | football | | |
| Kerry Wynn | 1991- | football | | |
| Granit Xhaka | 1992- | soccer | | |
| Taulant Xhaka | 1991- | soccer | | |
| Xu Yifan | 1988- | tennis | | |
| Pikky Ya France | 1990- | cricket | | |
| Isabelle Yacoubou | 1986- | basketball | | |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 1994- | cricket | | |
| Umesh Yadav | 1987- | cricket | | |
| Nail Yakupov | 1993- | ice hockey | | |
| Alexander Yakushev | 1947- | ice hockey | | |
| Akihito Yamada | 1985- | rugby | | |
| Takayoshi Yamano | 1955- | soccer | | |
| Hiroshi Yamashita | 1986- | rugby | | |
| Marshal Yanda | 1984- | football | | |
| David Yankey | 1992- | football | | |
| Kisho Yano | 1984- | soccer | | |
| Yao Jinnan | 1995- | gymnastics | | |
| Yao Ming | 1980- | basketball | | |
| Dilshod Yarbekov | 1974- | boxing | | |
| George Yardley | 1928-2004 | basketball | | |
| Andriy Yarmolenko | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Ron Yary | 1946- | football | | |
| Lev Yashin | 1929-1990 | soccer | | |
| Carl Yastrzemski | 1939- | baseball | | |
| Peceli Yato | 1993- | rugby | | |
| Hassan Yebda | 1984- | soccer | | |
| DeAndre Yedlin | 1993- | soccer | | |
| Christian Yelich | 1991- | baseball | | |
| Arman Yeremyan | 1986- | martial arts | | |
| Andrey Yeshchenko | 1984- | soccer | | |
| Samed Yeşil | 1994- | soccer | | |
| Faruk Yiğit | 1968- | soccer | | |
| Mithat Yıldırım | 1966- | skiing | | |
| Rukiye Yıldırım | 1991- | martial arts | | |
| Sercan Yıldırım | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Betül Cemre Yıldız | 1989- | chess | | |
| Yaser Yıldız | 1988- | soccer | | |
| Betül Yılmaz | 1988- | handball | | |
| Burak Yılmaz | 1985- | soccer | | |
| Yip Man | 1893-1972 | martial arts | (Ip) | |
| Joseph Yobo | 1980- | soccer | | |
| Hanae Yokoya | 1978- | skating | | |
| Cy Young | 1867-1955 | baseball | | |
| Darrel Young | 1987- | football | | |
| Delmon Young | 1985- | baseball | | |
| Donald Young | 1989- | tennis | | |
| Steve Young | 1961- | football | | |
| Jack Youngblood | 1950- | football | | |
| Ben Youngs | 1989- | rugby | | |
| Ross Youngs | 1897-1927 | baseball | | |
| Tom Youngs | 1987- | rugby | | |
| Waqar Younis | 1971- | cricket | | |
| Robin Yount | 1955- | baseball | | |
| Mikhail Youzhny | 1982- | tennis | | |
| Nedim Yücel | 1979- | basketball | | |
| Hiroki Yuhara | 1984- | rugby | | |
| Yun Suk-young | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Artur Yusupov | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Steve Yzerman | 1965- | ice hockey | | |
| Pablo Zabaleta | 1985- | soccer | | |
| Mattias Zachrisson | 1990- | handball | | |
| Ruben Zadkovich | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Momi Zafran | 1956- | soccer | | |
| Theodoros Zagorakis | 1971- | soccer | | |
| Denis Zakaria | 1996- | soccer | | |
| Ricardo Zamora | 1901-1978 | soccer | | |
| Maryna Zanevska | 1993- | tennis | | |
| Alessandro Zanni | 1984- | rugby | | |
| Cristián Zapata | 1986- | soccer | (Valencia) | |
| Emil Zátopek | 1922-2000 | track | | |
| Jesús Zavala | 1987- | soccer | (Castañeda) | |
| Simone Zaza | 1991- | soccer | | |
| Wladek Zbyszko | 1891-1968 | wrestling | | |
| Horacio Zeballos | 1985- | tennis | | |
| Maja Zebić | 1982- | handball | | |
| Simon Zebo | 1990- | rugby | | |
| Género Zeefuik | 1990- | soccer | | |
| Oliver Zelenika | 1993- | soccer | | |
| Indrek Zelinski | 1974- | soccer | | |
| Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche | 1985- | soccer | | |
| Boudewijn Zenden | 1976- | soccer | | |
| Erfan Zeneli | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Erkan Zengin | 1985- | soccer | | |
| Toufik Zerara | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Jorge Zerbino | 1991- | rugby | | |
| Halime Zülal Zeren | 1995- | swimming | | |
| Kathrin Zettel | 1986- | skiing | | |
| Zhang Shuai | 1989- | tennis | | |
| Zheng Saisai | 1994- | tennis | | |
| Yuri Zhirkov | 1983- | soccer | | |
| Zico | 1953- | soccer | (Antunes, Coimbra) | |
| Zinedine Zidane | 1972- | soccer | | |
| Reto Ziegler | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Ron-Robert Zieler | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Piotr Zieliński | 1994- | soccer | | |
| Laima Zilporytė | 1967- | cycling | | |
| Lukáš Zima | 1994- | soccer | | |
| Yevgeni Zimin | 1947- | ice hockey | | |
| Gary Zimmerman | 1961- | football | | |
| Krzysztof Zimnoch | 1983- | boxing | | |
| Nenad Zimonjić | 1976- | tennis | | |
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | 1996- | soccer | | |
| Annelore Zinke | 1958- | gymnastics | | |
| Davit Zirakashvili | 1983- | rugby | | |
| Cătălin Zmărăndescu | 1973- | boxing | | |
| Jeroen Zoet | 1991- | soccer | | |
| Dino Zoff | 1942- | soccer | | |
| Roman Zozulya | 1989- | soccer | | |
| Natko Zrnčić-Dim | 1986- | skiing | | |
| Vedran Zrnić | 1979- | handball | | |
| Filip Zubčić | 1993- | skiing | | |
| Sergei Zubov | 1970- | ice hockey | | |
| Fulgencio Zúñiga | 1977- | boxing | | |
| Juan Camilo Zúñiga | 1985- | soccer | (Mosquera) | |
| Graham Zusi | 1986- | soccer | | |
| Jeremy Zuttah | 1986- | football | | |
| Viktar Zuyev | 1983- | boxing | | |
| Kristaps Zvejnieks | 1992- | skiing | | |
| Roberts Zvejnieks | 1997- | skating | | |
| Alexander Zverev Jr. | 1997- | tennis | | |
| Mischa Zverev | 1987- | tennis | | |
| Anes Zverotić | 1985- | soccer | | |
| Stavroula Zygouri | 1968- | wrestling | |