Jean-Claude Killy’s family was forced to relocate to the Alps during the Second World War. They kept a simple life up in the ranges, where his father opened a ski shop. Jean-Claude dropped out of school to help his father and started to learn how to ski rather easily and quickly, with all the time in the world as a teen.
He became a dominant alpine ski racer, winning three golds at the 1968 Winter Olympics. He followed that up with two world championships, making him a force in the sport in the 1960s. Retired, he is famous for his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sergey Bubka
Sergey Bubka was in a league of his own when he represented the Soviet Union as a pole vaulter, up until its dissolution in 1991. He was named Athlete of the Year twice, winning a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and he was the IAAF World Champion for six years in a row.
Sergey Bubka was so dominant as a pole vaulter that he mainly trained to practically beat himself each time, crashing his own world records; and he would break pole vault records 35 times. He retired in 2001 and is actively involved in IOC as an honorary member.
Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton had become such a popular gymnast that her image was used in a 1988 Paraguay stamp. Her prominence was mainly due to her performance during the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, where she became the first American woman ever to win a gold in the individual all-around.
Having achieved such a historical feat, Mary Lou Retton remains one of the most beloved Olympians. Added to her medal tally are two silvers and two bronzes. She was married to the University of Texas quarterback Shannon Kelly, but the couple divorced in Feb. 2018.
Rulon Gardner
Rulon Gardner is an American retired Greco-Roman wrestler who has won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. He competed again in 2004 and won the bronze medal, but outside competition, he has had to endure more difficult trials, including falling into a freezing river with his snowmobile. This was in 2002, and he lost the middle toe in his right foot due to severe frostbite, but he bounced back as an athlete.
He suffered from a learning disability as a kid, and he shares his stories with people as a motivational speaker. He survived a plane crash in 2007 unharmed. He joined the reality TV show Biggest Loser in 2011, after which he lost over 170 lbs, but quit the contest for personal reasons.
Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm is regarded by many as perhaps one of — or the most important — athlete in the last 15 years for her achievements in soccer. Ironically, she was born with a club foot and had to wear corrective shoes as a toddler. Her father was her first soccer coach, and she would excel on the boys’ soccer team in school.
She grew up to become a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a ground-breaking athlete. She became an icon of the sport and the face of WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association). She is an author, a co-owner of Los Angeles FC, and a world ambassador for FC Barcelona.