Nowadays, being an athlete and being a celebrity are synonymous. Sporting superstars are just as much in the media as people we traditionally thought of as celebrities – namely actors and other such performers. With their sky-high salaries and regular scandals, sportspeople are increasingly in the public eye – for better or worse.
Let’s take a look at who has taken the limelight the most during 2017.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer
In a recent article it was revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo had posted on his Instagram nine out of the ten most liked sports-related photos of 2017. Of course, Ronaldo’s Instagram following is not the only thing that is impressive but it certainly speaks volumes as to his international fame. Known as being one of the best footballers of all time, Ronaldo is the number one celebrity in the sporting world.
LeBron James, Basketball
Somewhat a freak of nature, LeBron James is a household name, even among those who have never watched a basketball game in their life. The star player of the Cleveland Cavaliers, this basketball titan dominates the court. But, James has another string to his bow. In 2015 he featured in Amy Schumer’s film Trainwreck. Admittedly, the basketball superstar played himself in the film but that shouldn’t undermine his amusing performance.
Serena Williams, Tennis
Serena Williams is an absolute powerhouse of a woman. She has been ranked as the number one female tennis player in the world eight times. She has been in the spotlight a lot recently thanks to her opulent wedding, where she tied the knot with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The star-studded event, which included Kim Kardashian and Beyonce on the guest list was the talk of the town for weeks. If that wasn’t enough, in addition to her superstar career and adorable family she is also a philanthropist and started up the Serena Williams Fund to help create equity through education and put an end to senseless acts of violence.
Phil Mickelson, Golf
Phil is second only to Tiger Woods in terms of universal recognition. Mickelson has recently achieved a rather impressive milestone that has earned him a place on our list. This year the Official World Golf Ranking put Mickelson at number 35 on their list. What’s so impressive about this? Well, this year marks the 24th consecutive year that the golfer has featured in this ranking’s top 50. He is the first player ever to have done this. This is a testament to both his talent and his consistency.
Usain Bolt, Track and Field
Everyone’s favourite runner, Usain Bolt is a true phenomenon. He is the first person to hold the world record for both the 100m and 200m sprints. He is generally considered the best runner to have ever lived. While he is retired from racing, he has been in the news recently because of his friendship with newly engaged Prince Harry. Bolt has announced publicly that he wants to take charge of his friend’s stag do. He wants to make sure he leaves the single life in style. Potential stag do locations include London, Kingston and Las Vegas.
