While there are many inspirational athletes, some go above and beyond the sporting arena. These athletes make use of their platform to promote social change. We'll be looking at some of them in this article: Serena Williams and Michael Phelps, Brittany Griner and Mary Keitany. These athletes inspire us as we take action to become better people.
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps has been called one of the greatest ever athletes. He turned pro as a teenager, and has won 28 Olympic medals over four Olympic Games, as well as 39 world records. Phelps has also battled depression, and has since become an advocate for mental health and wellness. "The Weight of Gold," his HBO Sports documentary, was recently produced by Phelps. Interviews are also included with Olympians Greg Louganis, widely considered the greatest diver ever.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams has had a tremendous impact on the tennis world and has inspired many other athletes. She has a powerful voice and has helped those in greatest need. She has worked to build schools for the underprivileged and championed health care for women, newborns and children. She is also an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and is vocally against gender violence.
Brittany Griner
Brittany Griner's life story is an inspiration for many athletes. Griner was bullied at school and once was called "a man". Griner thought about slitting the wrists to get rid of her feeling of being an outsider. Griner persevered, despite being criticized. She was an Olympic gold medalist.
Mary Keitany
In 2018, Keitany won the TCS New York Marathon. After winning the race, she knew she would win the New York City Marathon in 2019. Her motivation was simple: win for her children, and to show how proud mom she is of them. Keitany was capable of accomplishing this, despite the difficulties that she faced when giving birth to her son.
Michael Oher
Michael Oher was born a nomad. The end of the first grades saw child services remove Michael Oher and his siblings from the home of their mother. They were moved around from foster homes to friend's couches.
Althea G. Gibson
Althea Gibson is an inspirational figure for young and old athletes alike. She was born in Silver, South Carolina on 19th July 1927. She fought against injustice in her community and in sport. In the end, she was the best female player in the entire world and became the first black woman to win Wimbledon.