50 Sporty Facts About World’s Top Athletes

After Usain Bolt broke the 100 m world record at the 2009 Berlin World Championships, the mayor of Berlin awarded him a 12 foot long, 6000-pound piece of the Berlin Wall. Bolt accepted and it is now housed at the Jamaica Military Museum.

The most recent of Wayne Gretzky’s 60 NHL records was set sometime after his 1999 retirement. His points-per-game average of 1.921 was second only to Mario Lemieux (2.005), who later came out of retirement and lowered his own average, moving Gretzky to the number 1 spot.

Michael Jordan once tipped a waitress a $5 chip for bringing him a drink. Wayne Gretzky stopped the waitress, removed the $5 chip, grabbed one of the many $100 chips on Jordan’s side of the table, and gave it to her. Then he said, “That’s how we tip in Las Vegas, Michael.”

American professional golfer Phil Mickelson is actually right-handed in everything he does. He only golfs as a lefty because he would mirror his dad’s swing as a child.

As a child, Muhammad Ali was refused an autograph from his boxing idol Sugar Ray Robinson. When Ali became a prized fighter he vowed to never deny an autograph request, which he honored throughout his entire career. He even had a special P.O. box for anyone who wanted his autograph.

If Wayne Gretzky had never taken a single shot in his career, he would still be the all-time points leader. In other words, he had more assists than anybody has ever had goals and assists.

Manny Pacquiao became World Boxing Champion in 1998. Over 20 years later he is still World Boxing Champion with his latest victory being over an undefeated Keith Thurman who was 10 years younger (as of December 2019).

Pelé was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian President after the 1962 World cup, to prevent him from transferring to foreign clubs.

When Lewis Hamilton was nine years old, the UK bookmaker Ladbrokes took a bet that he would win the World Drivers’ Championship before turning 25. Ladbrokes calculated the odds at 150/1. After Hamilton did so, the bettor received £150,000.

Michael Jordan practiced with strobe lights on so he wouldn't be distracted by camera flashes during the game.