LeBron James, Serena Williams have been named Athletes for the Decade by the Associated Press. They defeated Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (Olympic gymnast) and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (both finalists). Lindsey Vonn (third place) and Katie Ledeck (fourth place respectively). Men's athletes include Lionel Messi and Michael Phelps.
LeBron James
LeBron James may be the greatest basketball player ever. However, he's also an entrepreneur. He is a minority shareholder in Liverpool football and has founded a production firm. Uninterrupted Digital Media Company is another company he owns. His numerous projects have helped him gain more visibility. His goal is to help the Los Angeles Lakers get back to the glory days they once had.
James was named the AP Athlete of the Decade Monday. He beat out athletes like Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi. The award was big for James as he had been a controversial figure since 2010. After spurning the Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat, he was viewed as a villain in the league, but he soon earned acclaim. He won the MVP award. In 10 years, he also won three NBA championships.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams has dominated the tennis court over the past decade, earning her the title of Female Athlete of the Decade. AP's sports editors and beat writers picked her in a vote based on her achievements on and off the court. She won 12 Grand Slam singles championships, became a mother, fought against racism, and became a role-model for young women.
She has won multiple singles titles since 2007, including 12 Grand Slam titles. This feat is unmatched by any other woman. She is also the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles trophy, and tied Steffi Graf's record for most consecutive weeks at the top. Serena has also made the finals of 19 majors, claiming 37 singles titles.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player ever, is undoubtedly the best. He is not only the greatest goal scorer in soccer history, but he is also one of the most skilled dribblers, passers, and free-kick takers. Messi is the best player to complete dribbles, play through balls, and find more passes into penalty area than anyone else. His dominance over other players has earned him the nickname Ruthian. Although the word doesn't exist in every dictionary, it is used on the sports pages as an indicator for Messi.
In addition to being a top-flight soccer player, Messi's career has been filled with countless other awards and honors. He was twice named one of Time's 100 most important people in the world. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2011, and he was crowned Laureus World Sportsman of the Decade in 2020. His career earnings total $1 billion. At 13 years old, Messi started at a Barcelona youth academy. He went on to win six La Liga titles and two Champions League titles.
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is considered the most decorated Olympic athlete in the last decade. He has 22 Olympic medals and eight golds from the 2008 Beijing Games. This makes him one of history's most decorated athletes. He's also won more World Championships and national titles than any other swimmer.
His Olympic accomplishments have helped make his name synonymous with swimming. Michael Phelps didn't quit competition despite his lengthy absence. He established a foundation to teach children how to swim and promote the sport. His foundation, which provides funding for swim training programs and teaching the basics to children, has been more time-intensive. He still receives text messages from old friends who ask him when he'll come back to competing.