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.
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.
Lacina Traore – 6’3″
Ivorian soccer player Lacina Traore earned the nickname “The Big Tree” for his towering height of 6ft 3in. Traore 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 surely 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.