The Associated Press has named LeBron James and Serena Williams as Athletes of the Decade. They beat out Olympic gymnast Simone Biles as well as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Lindsey Vonn, Katie Ledeck, and Tom Brady were also on the list, finishing third and fourth respectively. Men's athletes include Michael Phelps and Lionel Messi.
LeBron James
Not only is LeBron James arguably the greatest basketball player in the history of the sport, but he's also an entrepreneur with off-court successes. He also owns a small stake in Liverpool football team. He also launched a production company. Uninterrupted Digital Media Company is another company he owns. His many projects have led to an increase in his visibility. His goal is to see the Los Angeles Lakers return to glory.
James was named the AP Athlete of the Decade Monday. He beat out athletes like Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi. This was an important honor for James, who started 2010 as a controversial figure in the NBA. While he was initially considered a villain after spurning the Cavaliers' decision to join the Miami Heat in 2010, he quickly won acclaim. He won the MVP award and won three NBA championships in 10 years.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams has dominated the tennis court over the past decade, earning her the title of Female Athlete of the Decade. The vote was based on Serena Williams' achievements on and off court. She won 12 Grand Slam singles crowns, became pregnant for the first, fought against racism within the athletic community, was an inspiration for young women, and was awarded the Grand Slam Singles titles.
She has won multiple singles title slams since 2007 and has claimed 12 Grand Slam titles. A feat that no other woman has achieved. 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 won 37 singles titles in 19 majors.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player ever, is undoubtedly the best. Not only is he the best goal scorer in the history of the sport, but he's also one of the best dribblers, passers and free-kick takers. Messi, among other things, completes more dribbles than any other player, plays more through ball and makes more passes to the penalty area. His dominance over other players has earned him the nickname Ruthian. While this word doesn't appear in every dictionary, it's used on the sports pages as a descriptor for Messi.
In addition to being a top-flight soccer player, Messi's career has been filled with countless other awards and honors. He has twice been listed as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide by Time magazine. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential persons in the world in 2011. He was also named Laureus World Sportsman of the Decade for 2020. His career earnings have exceeded $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. His 22 Olympic medals, including eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Games, make him one of the most decorated athletes of all time. He has won more national titles and World Championships than any other swimmer.
His Olympic success has made his name synonymous to swimming. Despite his long absence from competition, Michael Phelps hasn't slowed down. He founded a foundation that teaches kids how to swim, and promotes the sport. He also devotes more time and effort to his foundation. It funds swim training programs, and teaches the basics. His old friends send him texts asking when he'll be back to compete.