The Largest Athletes In Sports History

Maria Sharapova – 6’2″

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova is one of the tallest women to ever play professional tennis. She moved to the United States from her home country of Russia in the early 1990’s to pursue her dream of being a champion. In the past three decades she has worked hard and become a regular on the WTA, even holding the number one place in singles on five separate occasions.

Sharapova is a prime example of determination and has bounced back from numerous injures over her career. She is still at the top of the tennis game today and has recently released a book titled “Unstoppable”.

Hafthor Julius “Thor” Bjornsson – 6’9″, 400 lb

You probably recognize this larger than life athlete - Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, born in Reykjavik, Iceland. In the past few years he has been busy starring in HBO’s hit show “Game of Thrones” as Gregor Clegane, or "The Mountain". Before he became a big-time actor, Bjornsson was a main contender in the World Strongest Man competition.

With a height of 6ft 9 in and weighing in at 400lbs, it’s no wonder that he was in the top three for six years running. He is also the first man in the world to win the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe's Strongest Man and World's Strongest Man in the same year.

Peter Crouch – 6’7″

Soccer players are not usually known for their height, but for their ability to run fast, react quickly and exert perfect control over their feet. It is almost unheard of for a professional soccer player to be over 6 feet. That makes our next athlete even more extraordinary.

Soccer players are not usually known for their height, but for their ability to run fast, react quickly and exert perfect control over their feet. It is almost unheard of for a professional soccer player to be over 6 feet. That makes our next athlete even more extraordinary.

Konishiki Yasokichi – 633 lb

Soccer players are not usually known for their height, but for their ability to run fast, react quickly and exert perfect control over their feet. It is almost unheard of for a professional soccer player to be over 6 feet. That makes our next athlete even more extraordinary.

Yasokichi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and he was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to win three division championships and reach the second highest rank in sumo, Ozeki. Sadly, Konishiki “Meat Bomb” Yasokichi got close but never earned the highest rank in Sumo, the Yokozuna, meaning grand champion. These days he has a music career and raps in English and Japanese.

Chuck Nevitt – 7’5″

In a sport dominated by tall people, Chuck Nevitt it still one of the tallest players in the history of the NBA with a height of 7ft 5in! While he never reached superstar status or became a household name, Nevitt had an unusually long and stable career and played in the league for 12 seasons. During this time, he played for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.

In a sport dominated by tall people, Chuck Nevitt it still one of the tallest players in the history of the NBA with a height of 7ft 5in! While he never reached superstar status or became a household name, Nevitt had an unusually long and stable career and played in the league for 12 seasons. During this time, he played for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.

John Krahn – 7ft, 400 lb

At just 19 years old, John Krahn has been dubbed the biggest man in football. The 7ft and 400lbs heavyweight was discovered while playing football for his high school team in California.

Now, after a semester at Georgia Prep Sports Academy, he has found a home at Lincoln University in Missouri. But the coaches in Missouri see more than just John’s size as Coach Steven Smith remarked: “A lot of times people look at size; we looked at his ability,” and actually want him to slim down and drop to 360lbs.

Margo Dydek – 7’2″

Polish born Margo “Large Marge” Dydek was the tallest woman in the history of the WNBA. She started her career in Europe and played for Polish, French and Spanish teams before being recruited by the Utah Starzz. In the US she also played for the Connecticut Sun and the Los Angeles Sparks.

Dydek was known not just for her height but also for her work ethic, spending endless hours on the court improving her skills. After her retirement she moved to Australia where she coached the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League. Sadly, she passed away in 2011 from complications following a heart attack. She was pregnant with her third child at the time of her death.

Stefan Struve – 7ft

UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve is known as the “Skyscraper” for his impressive 7ft frame. Born in The Netherlands, Struve played soccer as a kid but fell in love with mixed martial arts after his brother took him to a local gym. From then on, he committed to intense training and after a few years his hard work paid off and he become the tallest fighter in the UFC.

His first fight in UFC 95 was far from a success, losing to Junior de Santos in the first round, but Struve rallied and went on to win over 70% of his matches in the years since, many by KO. Recently, the “Skyscraper” lost a match to Polish wrestler Marcin Tybura, but he will certainly be back soon to dominate!

Gheorghe Muresan – 7’7″

Romanian born Gheorghe Muresan, may not have been the best basketball player in the NBA, but he was definitely one of the tallest. At the height of 7ft 7in, Muresan is a quarter of an inch taller than Sudanese player Manute Bol, which makes him the tallest player in the history of the league.

He was also the tallest person in the entire European Union. But Muresan used his height for more than just basketball, he starred in the movie “My Giant” with Billy Crystal and in Eminem’s rap video for “My Name is” and co-authored a book titles “The Boy’s Fitness Guide”.

Big Show – 7ft, 383 lb

Paul Donald Wight II, known by his stage name Big Show, is a living wrestling legend reminiscent of Andre the Giant. This massive, larger than life figure, used to weigh an incredible 500lbs, but he has slimmed down and is in prime fighting condition at 383lbs.

Big Show is a part of wrestling history, having taken on some of the most iconic WWE superstars such Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker and is a seven-time world champion. Today, at almost 50 years of age, he is still going strong in the ring.

Sharran Alexander – 448 lb

A late bloomer, Sharran Alexander only discovered her love of sumo wrestling at the age of 41. London born Alexander, was working as a proper English nanny before she went out and made a tremendous impact on the sumo world. She was named the heaviest sportswoman in in the 2013 Guinness World Record.

Alexander is one of only a few women recognized as a professional sumo wrestler by the British Sumo Federation and has an amazing international career, winning four gold medals in tournaments around the globe. Recently, she went on television to find love on a British dating show and said that some men were intimidated by her weight.

John Daly – 216 lb

Golfers are not usually thought of as the most physically fit of athletes and many people consider the “sport of gold” as more of a hobby or a way to get out of the house on Sunday. This however is a misconception and most golfers are in fact quite fit. John Daly, weighing in at 216bs is the exception to the rule.

Daly is well known in professional golf for his driving distance off the tee and has even earned the nickname “Long John” for his consistent 300-yard drives. He is also known for his free-wheeling attitude, inability to fit in with the country club set and his charitable work.

Andy Fordham – 6’2″, 445 lb

Throwing darts is not the most physical sport in the world. Therefore, old school professional darts players would usually spend more time at the bar drinking and practicing their throws than at the gym training. Andy Fordham, one of the world’s best darts players, is such an example.

He is known for his speed and accuracy but does not look like a typical athlete. Fordham, known as “The Viking”, for his size and beard, used to weigh 445lbs but decided to make a change and has lost over 200 lbs. He says he wants to be around for a long time for his grandchildren.

Eric “Butterbean” Esch – 425 lb

This super heavyweight fighter was a UFC star even before it took the world by storm. Eric Esch, known as “Butterbean”, was a household name with boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts skills. He had great moves and a very long reach but was often hindered by his size. His greatest strength was not only knowing how to dish out punishment (if he was fast enough) but also how to take it.

His larger than life personality helped him to branch out from fighting and landed him acting roles, including a stint in “Jackass: The Movie” with Johnny Knoxville.

The Tree Man – 6’7″

The next athlete on our list in not a famous sportsman by regular standards. Southern California based personal trainer Danny Jones is 6ft 7in tall and achieved inadvertent fame after a Twitter user saw a photo of him and decided he looked more like a tree than a man.

“This [is] not a man, this [is] a tree.” reads the now infamous tweet from the man who dubbed Jones Tree Man. Jones who woke up to thousands of new followers didn’t understand the tree reference at first, but he it took it with a smile and seems happy with his new-found social media fame.

Amazon Eve – 6’8″

Erika Ervin nicknamed “Amazon Eve”, is the tallest model in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. She is 6 foot 8 inches tall without heels and was discovered while in Australia by the editor of Zoo Weekly and was featured on its cover.

Her unusual height and boundless confidence have also paved the way for her as a personal trainer and actress. She recently starred in the popular FX TV show American Horror Story and has two new movies coming out soon.

Holley Mangold – 415 lbs

I guess athleticism runs in the family, Holley Mangold, sister of former Jets center, Nick Mangold, is one of the biggest female Olympic weightlifters in the world. Mangold played football in high school and started lifting weights in 2008. Four years later, she qualified for the London Olympics but tore a wrist tendon before the competition and ended up placing tenth out of fourteen competitors.

She used to weigh 500 pounds but has lost a lot of weight and even participated in reality weight loss competition “The Biggest Loser”. These days, Mangold coaches the Dayton Barbell Club in Ohio.

Mamadou N’Diaye – 7’6″

Senegalese born Mamsdou N’Diaye went to UC Irvine at 18 years old where he become the tallest basketball player in the NCAA Division. In 2016, he was drafted and spent some time with the Golden State Warriors and currently plays for Fuerza Regia de Monterrey in the Mexican league.

At 7ft 6in, N’Diaye is known for his enormous wingspan and is often compared to Yao Ming and Rudy Gobert. Instead of trying to emulate others, he is trying to develop his own identity and legacy as a player.

Randy Johnson – 6’8″

“The Big Unit” seems like a nickname that is hard to live up to, but Randy Johnson at 6ft 8in is more than equal to the task. Johnson played major league baseball for an astounding 22 seasons, on six different teams but mostly for the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.

He is famous for being the fifth most successful left-handed baseball player of all time and for having the second-most career strikeouts (4,875) in MLB history. “The Big Unit” definitely made a big impact on professional baseball.

Usain Bolt – 6’5″

Usain Bolt, known as the fastest man in the world, has dominated the field of running for the last three Olympic Games. At 6 foot 5 inches, he towers over the competition while he outruns them. Bolt used dedication, good genes and his signature stride to break every speed record known to man and is an 11-time World Championship winner.

His three consecutive Olympic victories in Beijing, London and Rio have inspired his home country of Jamaica and the entire world. These days, Bolt is trying his luck in a new sport, soccer.

Lisa Leslie – 6’5″

At an impressive 6 foot 5 inches, Lisa Deshaun Leslie made the world sit up and take notice as the first woman in history to dunk in a WNBA game. Though she is not the tallest woman in sports, there is no doubt about her prowess on the court.

She played in multiple World Championships and in medal winning Olympic teams and was voted Sportswoman of the Year in 2001, when her team the Los Angeles Sparks won the WNBA Championship. In the past few years, Leslie has focused on modeling and acting.

Yvetta Hlavacova – 6’4.5″

In 2006, long-distance Croatian swimmer Yvetta Hlavacova swam across the English Channel with an incredible time of 7 hours and 25 minutes. This was a new world record and an incredible feat for the towering 6 foot 4.5 inches tall athlete. Her long legs and big hands were definitely an advantage in her ability to cross the channel so quickly.

It is hard to believe but before the record, Hlavacova was having trouble finding a swim club that would take her on. Afterwards, she was immediately recognized as a rising talent.

Suleiman Ali Nashnush – 8ft

Suleiman Ali Nashnush towers above the competition and is clearly the tallest athlete ever to play a sport. Although his height peaked at 8ft, he was “only” 7ft 10in during his basketball career. After he retired, he continued to grow and became one of only 17 people in recorded history to reach 8 feet.

Nashnush was also an actor, he had a small part in the Fellini film Satyricon. Nashnush’s great height was part of an abnormal growth disorder and was corrected by a successful operation.

Blanka Vlasic – 6’4″

At 6ft 4in, Blanka Vlasic has used her height to become a highly successful high jump champion. But she doesn’t just count on lucky genes, Vlasic is also known for her dedication, strong work ethic and excellent coach, a former athlete who just happens to be her father.

Over the course of her career, Vlasic has made her home country of Croatia proud with 16 prestigious medals, including twelve gold, three silver and one bronze. Vlasic had a career setback in 2005 and couldn’t compete in the Athens Olympics due to a thyroid condition but came back strong and these days she is preparing for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Jorge Gonzalez – 8ft

Basketball player and wrestler Jorge Gonzalez also stood at an incredible height of 8 feet. Argentinian born Gonzales was a wrestler in the WWE and fought under the nickname “El Gigante”. In 1993, Gonzalez got his big break in WWF’s Royal Rumble when under his new nickname “Giant Gonzalez” he battled wrestling superstar The Undertaker.

After a fierce battle, Gonzalez managed to defeat The Undertaker but unfortunately for the giant, The Undertaker took his revenge at WrestleMania IX. Sadly, Jorge Gonzalez had to quit sports due to poor health and died in 2010 from heart issues.

Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings – 6’3″

Kerri Walsh Jennings and her longtime team partner Misty May Treanor were one of the best beach volleyball teams in the history of the sport. This dynamic duo took home the gold in the Athens, Beijing and London Summer Olympics. Standing at an impressive height of 6ft 3in, Jennings is not only one the tallest volleyball players in the world but also one of the best.

She has worked incredibly hard for decades and her main goal is to bring more recognition to beach volleyball. These days, Jennings is training for the 2020 Olympics where she is sure she will bring home the gold.

Richard Metcalfe – 7ft

At an imposing 7 feet, rugby player Richard Metcalfe is an average of six inches taller than his competition and was the tallest player in international rugby. His enormous height and intimidating style of play were kept the other players on the pitch on their toes.

The Scottish native achieved superstar status and won 13 Scotland caps and played for prestigious clubs including the Newcastle Falcons and the Northampton Saints. Unfortunately, Metcalfe’s burgeoning career was cut short due to a knee injury.

Aaron Sandilands – 6’11”

Australian football player Aaron Sandilands is a mountain of man at almost 7 feet. At one time, he was the AFL’s (Australian Football League) tallest and heaviest player and it’s not hard to imagine what kind of damage a tackle from this guy could inflict.

But Sandilands has more than just his size going for him with an illustrious athletic career of over 250 games. He has won four All-Austrian awards, two Best Clubmen awards and two Doig Medals as the Fremantle Football Club’s best and fairest player. He is still going strong and is the club’s first player over the age of 35.

Aleksey Kazakov – 7’2″

Being tall is an advantage in many sports, but in Volleyball it can be a real game changer. At 7ft 2 in, Russian volleyball player Aleksey Kazakov used his immense frame and natural talent to become a star. At the height of his professional career, Kazakov towered above the rest and spiked his way into the Olympic team.

He won the bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics and moved up to Silver in 2004. He also shined at the 2001 European Championships in Ostrava, where he received the bronze medal, making Russia proud.

Mohammad Irfan – 7’1″

Mohammad Irfan is the only cricket player featured on our list. At 7ft 1in, he is the tallest cricket player in the world. He has been a star on the Pakistani National Team since he joined almost a decade ago. Before he became a cricket player, Irfan worked in a pipe factory earning roughly $3 a week. After he was discovered, Irfan quickly rose in the ranks and became known as a well-paced left-arm fast bowler and in 2013 he helped the Pakistani team claim victory over South Africa.

In 2017 Irfan was suspended from the sport for six months due to a corruption scandal, but Ifran’s cricket career is still on track. In 2018 he played both in the Caribbean Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League.

Nikolai Valuev – 7ft

Even by heavyweight boxing standards, Nikolai Valuev is a giant. During the height of his career, the former professional boxer was almost impossible to beat. Valuev’s professional career lasted from 1993 to 2009, during which the “Russian Giant” won 50 of his 53 fights and became the biggest and heaviest boxing world champion.

He held on to the championship title for four years and retired due to medical reasons. But Valuev isn’t resting on his laurels, he has written a book, starred in movies and has a second career as a politician. He also founded the Valuev Boxing School.

Brittney Griner – 6’9″

American basketball superstar Brittney Griner is known for her impressive height and enormous wingspan. Griner plays center for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and holds some impressive records. She is the only NCAA player to score 2,000 shots and block over 500. In 2012, she received the Best Female Athlete Espy award.

With so much under her belt, it is no wonder Griner was chosen for the USA Olympic Women’s team which she helped lead to victory. Griner is an amazing athlete in the prime of her career and even signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2013.

Lacina Traore – 6’3″

Ivorian soccer player Lacina Traore earned the nickname “The Big Tree” for his towering height of 6ft 3in. Traora plays as a striker for the Ivory Coast and is often compared to players such as Didier Drogba, Wilfried Bony, and Salomon Kalou. In his soccer career, Traore has played for teams like Monaco, Everton, and Anzhi Makhachkala.

Even though the Ivory Coast didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup, there will be many more chances for Traore and his team to prove their worth in the world of soccer.

Dane De La Rosa – 6’7″

Dana De La Rosa is one of the tallest pitchers in the game. With a height of 6 feet 7 inches, De La Rosa can sure tower above the pitcher’s mound. California born De La Rosa has played for several major league teams including the New York Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

He is currently a free agent not signed to a specific team but is looking to find the right fit and get back into the ballgame.

Laura Dijkema – 6ft

Dutch volleyball player Laura Dijkema is one of the tallest female professional athletes in the world at a whopping six feet. She has been playing volleyball since the age of 7 and has spent most of her professional career at German team Dresdner SC. She has also played for the Dutch National team, racking up three medals in just two years, in the 2015 Montreux Masters, the 2015 CEV European Championship, and the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix.

Dijkema also won the illustrious title of “Best Setter” in the 2017 European Championship. Recently she has started playing for Italian team Il Bisonte Firenze.

Zdeno Chara – 6’9″

Zdeno Chara is the tallest player in the history of the NHL. With a height of 6ft 9in opposing teams try and steer clear of this immense defensive player. In his native Slovakia, Chara was encouraged to play basketball due to his height but was luckily drafted by the NHL. Chara is captain of the Boston Bruins and leads his team with a mix of hard work, dedication and in your face attitude on the ice.

He played in the Olympics and world Championships multiple times and made several appearances on the NHL all-star team. Chara is only the second team captain born and raised in Europe to win the prestigious Stanley Cup.

Darya Klishina – 5’11”

Darya Igorevna Klishina is one of the top long jumpers in the world. She has an Olympic silver medal and the record for second longest jump in the world in 2010. Klishina is well known for her incredible work ethic on the track and in the gym.

Unfortunately, Kilshina suffered by association with the Russian national federation scandal. The Russian team was banned from competition and twenty athletes, including Klishina, decided to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio as neutrals. This was not viewed favorably by the Russian government and public and many consider these athletes to be traitors.

Ivo Karlovic – 6’11”

Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlovic is 6 feet 11 inches tall. He soars above his competitors and is by far the tallest professional tennis player around. Karlovic uses his incredibly long arms and legs as leverage for powerful serves which overwhelm his opponents.

With a record-breaking serve reaching 156 miles per hour and the most career aces, 12,255 as of 2017, he is more than just a tall guy. Karlovic also won eight ATP singles titles between 2007 and 2016.

Hong-Man Choi – 7’2″

Korean kickboxer, wrestler and mixed martial artist Hong-Man Choi is known by many names, including “the Korean Colossus,” “Korean Monster,” and “Techno Goliath.” At 7ft 2in Choi knows how to use his superior size to overpower his opponents.

Sadly, Choi is on the road to retirement due to health reasons, but he is still a big star in South Korea. These days he is pursuing an acting career and has appeared on Korean TV shows “2 Days & 1 Night”, “Running Man”, and “Hey Ghost, Let’s Fight” and is also working on singing and rap skills.

Rik Smits – 7’4″

Rik Smits may not be one of the tallest players in NBA history, but at 7 feet 4 inches, it’s easy to see why Smits, known as “The Dunking Dutchman” dominated the game in his prime. Smits, who was born in The Netherlands, was known for more than just his height, he had good technical skills and was considered a smart player.

In 1998, he was even named as an NBA all-star. Smits played for his entire career with only one team, the Indian Pacers. I bet the good folks of Indiana appreciated the decision.

Jan Koller – 6’7.5″

Jan Koller was one of the tallest and heaviest soccer players in the history of the sport and has an impressive scoring record. Born in the Czech Republic, Koller began his training as a goalkeeper but was soon moved to striker due to his talent for putting the ball in the net. He played for teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, and Anderlecht.

He was also instrumental in leading the Czech Republic’s team to the Euro Cup semi-finals in 2004 where he played side by side with stars like Milan Baros, Pavel Nedved, and Tomas Rosicky. Later in his career Koller played for French and Russian clubs and in 2011 announced his retirement due to multiple injuries.

Yao Ming – 7’6″

Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, at 7ft 6in, was for one season the tallest active player in the NBA. Over his long and successful career, Ming was an eight-time NBA all-star, made it to four NBA playoffs and led the Houston Rockets to a first round win in 2009. Unfortunately, two years after this big win, Ming was forced to retire due to recurring foot and ankle injuries which often kept him on the sidelines.

Fans were very upset by this news and soon after the announcement he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and his jersey was retired.

Michael Phelps – 6’4″

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time and America’s golden boy, dedicated his whole life to becoming the best. With an astounding 28 Olympic medals under his belt, Phelps is known not only for his record-breaking success but also for his massive size.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Phelps has a body which seems tailor made for swimming. He has long legs, enormous hands and an incredible wingspan, all of which help him push himself through the water, from one victory to the next. Recently Phelps announced his retirement from swimming for the second time, but hopefully he will be back soon to break even more records.