Top 10 Largest Athletes in Sports History
-by Jaya Pathak
Well, determination of the “largest” athletes is quite subjective as it refers to different attributes such as height, weight and size. Here’s the list of athletes who are best known for their game as well as physique in terms of height, weight and size:-
1. Shaquille O’Neal:
Shaquille O’Neal is widely recognized as one of the greatest basketball players and athletes in the history of the sport. Shaq had a highly successful basketball career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for six different teams over his 19-year career, including the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
Standing at 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) and weighing around 325 pounds (147 kilograms) during his playing days, O’Neal played as a centre.
O’Neal achieved significant success during his career, winning four NBA championships—three with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002) and one with the Miami Heat (2006). He was a 15-time NBA All-Star and earned numerous accolades, including three NBA Finals MVP awards.
Known for his scoring ability, O’Neal averaged 23.7 points per game over his career. He was also an effective rebounder and shot-blocker. His physical presence in the paint made him a formidable offensive and defensive player. Shaq’s impact on the game extended to his physicality, charisma, and larger-than-life personality. He was not only a dominant athlete but also a popular figure both on and off the court.
2. Paul Wight:
Paul Donald Wight II, better known by his ring names The Giant, Big Show, and Paul Wight, is an American professional wrestler and actor. Paul Wight has been known for his immense size, athleticism, and versatility in the ring. He is known for his exceptional height, standing around 7 feet tall, and his weight has fluctuated throughout his career but has often been in the range of 350 to 500 pounds.
Paul Wight began his wrestling career in 1995 when he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He debuted as “The Giant” and was initially promoted as the son of the legendary wrestler André the Giant.
In his debut year with WCW, Wight won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Hulk Hogan. However, the title change was nullified due to the circumstances of the match. Wight engaged in feuds with top WCW stars, including Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.
Wight signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) in 1999 during the “Attitude Era”. Renamed “The Big Show,” Wight became a prominent figure in WWE.Teaming up with various partners, including The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, and Kane, The Big Show won multiple tag team championships.
3. Andre The Giant:
André the Giant was a legendary French professional wrestler and actor. Andre wrestled under the ring name “André the Giant.” This name emphasized not only his immense size but also his iconic status in the world of professional wrestling.
His great size was attributed to gigantism, a condition caused by excess growth hormones. This condition led to his remarkable height and weight, making him one of the largest and most recognizable figures in the history of wrestling. At the peak of his wrestling career, André stood around 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighed approximately 520 pounds (236 kg).
Andre was often referred to as “the Eighth Wonder of the World,” a title that highlighted his extraordinary size and presence in the wrestling world.
André the Giant’s career in the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) during the 1980s was marked by various storylines, feuds, and significant moments such as Alliance with Ted DiBiase and Championship Controversy of 1988, The Wrestlemania.
At WrestleMania IV, André the Giant and Hulk Hogan faced off in a WWF title tournament match. One of André’s most iconic moments is from WrestleMania III in 1987 when he faced Hulk Hogan. In that match, Hogan famously body-slammed André, showcasing both Hogan’s strength and André’s colossal size. The rivalry and alliance between André the Giant, Ted DiBiase, and other key characters created some of the most memorable moments in WWF during the late 1980s.
4. Emanuel “Tiny” Yarbrough:
Emmanuel Yarbrough was widely recognized as one of the largest athletes, particularly due to his massive size. He held the Guinness World Record for being the heaviest living athlete.
Emmanuel Yarbrough had a diverse athletic career, participating in amateur sumo, collegiate wrestling, judo, and professional wrestling, as well as briefly entering the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA). Yarbrough achieved considerable success in amateur sumo, becoming the 1995 World Amateur Sumo Champion. He competed in multiple Sumo World Championships in the Open Division, securing high placements in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996.
Yarbrough was an NCAA All-American in collegiate wrestling at Morgan State University in 1983, 1985, and 1986. In judo, he earned second place at the U.S. Nationals in 1989. He was an NCAA Division I-AA All-American offensive tackle at Morgan State University in 1982 and 1983.
Yarbrough participated in the UFC 3 event in 1994, representing sumo. He faced Keith Hackney and experienced a unique moment where he initially pushed Hackney out of the cage but ultimately lost the match by TKO.
From 1996 to 1997, Yarbrough ventured into professional wrestling for the Catch Wrestling Association in Germany. He participated in gimmick matches based on his sumo background, including a sumo tournament against the promotion’s entire staff. Yarbrough won tournaments against notable opponents, showcasing his versatility in adapting his sumo skills to the world of professional wrestling.
5. Jorge Gonzalez:
Giant Gonzalez was an Argentine professional wrestler, actor, and basketball player, best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as El Gigante and in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Giant González.
Giant Gonzalez remains the tallest Argentinian to have ever lived and holds the title of the third tallest man from South America. He is also recognized as the tallest wrestler in the history of professional wrestling to compete for both WWE and WCW.
In 1989, Ted Turner, owner of WCW, offered González a job as a professional wrestler. After a year of training, he made his debut as El Gigante in May 1990 at the pay-per-view event Capital Combat.
El Gigante feuded with Ric Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and participated in various matches, including a Chamber of Horrors match in 1991.
Giant González signed with the WWF in 1993 and made his debut at the Royal Rumble in January. He eliminated The Undertaker from the match, leading to a feud between the two.Giant González is remembered for his imposing height and unique appearance in professional wrestling. His matches, especially those against The Undertaker, are part of wrestling history.
6. Yao Ming:
Yao Ming, born on September 12, 1980, is a Chinese basketball executive and former professional player. He is widely recognized as one of the tallest basketball players in the history of the sport. Standing at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 meters), Yao Ming is often considered one of the tallest athletes to have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Yao Ming played for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA).He was named to start the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. He first represented China in the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he, along with teammates Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer, was dubbed “the Walking Great Wall.”
Yao led the Chinese national team to three consecutive FIBA Asia Cup gold medals in 2001, 2003, and 2005 and was named the MVP of all three tournaments. In the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he carried the Olympic flame into Tiananmen Square and led China’s delegation during the opening ceremony.
7. Manute Bol:
Manute Bol was indeed a unique figure in the history of the NBA due to his extraordinary height, long limbs, and shot-blocking prowess. Bol was listed at either 7 ft 6 in or 7 ft 7 in, making him one of the tallest players in NBA history.
He was officially measured by the Guinness Book of World Records at 7 ft 6 3⁄4 in. His wingspan was recorded as 8 feet 6 inches, which is the longest in NBA history.
Bol was known for his exceptional shot-blocking ability, setting the rookie shot-blocking record in 1985–86. He tied the NBA record for most blocked shots in one half (11) and in one quarter (eight, twice). He blocked one shotevery 5.6 minutes of playing time on an average. His defensive presence in the paint was formidable.
Bol’s offensive capabilities were limited due to his slender physique and a claw hand on his right hand, which affected his shooting and ball-handling. His defensive skills overshadowed his offensive contributions.
Bol’s height and shot-blocking abilities made him a unique and impactful player, especially on the defensive end of the basketball court. His shot-blocking records and defensive skills contributed to his legacy as a remarkable figure in the sport. He influenced the way teams approached defense and shot-blocking, showcasing how a player with extraordinary height could dominate in certain aspects of the sport.
8. Peter Crouch:
Peter James Crouch is a retired English professional footballer known for his career as a striker. Crouch is recognized for his exceptional height, standing at around 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters). His height was particularly advantageous in football, especially as a striker, where he became known for his heading ability.
Crouch played a significant role in the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany. He partnered with Michael Owen in attack for England’s opening match against Paraguay, which England won 1–0. Crouch was included in Fabio Capello’s final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He wore the number 9 shirt. Crouch came on as a substitute in the opening match against the United States and also appeared as a substitute in the following match against Algeria.
Peter Crouch’s football career is notable for his contributions to the England national team, his goal-scoring record, and his unique style of play, particularly as a tall striker with an ability to score headed goals. After retiring from professional football, Crouch has become known for his humor and media appearances, including a successful podcast called “That Peter Crouch Podcast.”
9. Nikolai Valuev:
Nikolai SergeyevichValuev is a Russian politician and former professional boxer. Valuev is best known for being the tallest and heaviest world champion in the sports industry. Standing at 7 feet (2.13 meters) and weighing at his peak around 328 pounds (149 kilograms), he possessed a unique combination of height and weight for a professional boxer.
In 2005, Valuev faced WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz and won a twelve-round majority decision. This victory made him the tallest and heaviest champion in boxing history at that time. However, in 2007, Valuev lost the title to Ruslan Chagaev by a majority decision.
In 2008, Valuevdefeated former titleholder Siarhei Liakhovich in a title eliminator. He was then scheduled to face Chagaev for the WBA title again but fought John Ruiz for the vacant title in August 2008 instead. Valuev won the fight by unanimous decision, regaining the WBA heavyweight championship.
10. Margo Dydek:
Margo Dydek was a prominent Polish professional basketball player, best known for being the tallest professional female basketball player in the world. Margo Dydek stood at a height of 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters) that makes her the tallest professional female basketball player ever.
Dydek played as a center and had a successful career in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She holds several WNBA records, including being the all-time leader in blocks with 877 in 323 games. She led in season total blocks nine times (1998–2003, 2005–07) and in season blocks per game eight times (1998–2003, 2006, 2007). In 2001, she also set a record for the most defensive rebounds in a season with 214.
Dydek was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2019, recognizing her significant contributions to the sport. Margo Dydek’s impact on women’s basketball, both in the WNBA and internationally, is marked by her towering presence on the court and her achievements as a skilled and dominant player in the post position.