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TIME magazine recently published its lists of the 100 most influential people of 2020.
The list, which is divided into five categories, namely pioneers, artists, leaders, titans and icons, ranges from politicians, philanthropists and world leaders to activists, musicians and athletes.
Take a look at the sports personalities that have impacted 2020:
PIONEERS
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who recently won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, was recognized for leading a boycott and refusing to play in light of the Jacob Blake police shooting.
The move sparked several boycotts and protests in the NBA to boost the players’ #BlackLivesMatter campaign.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA champion and league MVP, wrote that Giannis possesses these qualities that every generation finds in an athlete: dedication, focus, exceptional athleticism, and grace under pressure.
“I have no doubt that Giannis will extend the NBA records that he holds; he already has the highest player efficiency rating in a season, combining all of a player’s stats, in NBA history, possibly beyond out of the reach of future generations, “the Lakers said the legend.
But a sports hero is more than records. Giannis sets the example by standing up for what he believes in. “
Maya moore
In addition to winning WNBA and NCAA titles and Olympic gold medals, Maya Moore is also a champion of justice.
TIME highlighted the moment when Moore left professional basketball to advocate for reform of the United States criminal justice system.
Over the summer, Moore, who carries several titles, helped secure the release of Jonathan Irons, a black man who spent more than 20 years in prison after being wrongly convicted.
On September 16, Moore announced her marriage to Irons.
“With so much anguish, pain, sadness and dismay in our nation, many wonder what we should demand of our celebrated athletes, artists and influencers,” wrote Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy.
“On the day of Irons’s release, Moore, who was there to receive him, evoked a powerful line from Scripture: do justice, love mercy, walk in humility.”
Titans
Lewis hamilton
F1 driver Lewis Hamilton is known for his activism on and off the track.
Hamilton used his voice as an athlete to draw public attention in light of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, both in the virtual and real world.
NASCAR none other than Bubba Wallace wrote Hamilton’s article for TIME.
“I’m the only black driver in the top tier of NASCAR. So the example of Lewis, as Black’s only F1 driver, is particularly meaningful to me, ”said Wallace.
“He shows that we are out there doing it. Seeing him conquer the track almost every weekend motivates me to try to do the same ”.
The NASCAR driver added that Hamilton is more than a role model for race car drivers and other athletes.
“It is an inspiration for everyone.”
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, led his team to a return to the Super Bowl last February.
After half a decade, the Chiefs won their second NFL title after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
The first and last time they won was in 1969, the last season before the AFL-NFL merger. It was also the last time Kansas City made the Super Bowl.
“When Patrick Mahomes enters the soccer field, all eyes are on him. It’s not just that his combination of athleticism, creativity and vision is fun to watch, ”wrote the great Derek Jeter of the Yankees, who is also CEO and co-owner of the Miami Marlins in MLB.
“What his game really shows is his love for the game and the commitment he has made to his teammates and coaches, and it is clear that this is the true foundation of his success.”
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade has etched his name as one of the best shooting guards in the NBA, not to mention his three titles with the Miami Heat.
Wade spent 16 years playing with his heart for basketball. But like other athletes, the great Heat used his voice to spread kindness and conscience in today’s society.
Wade, 38, and his wife Gabrielle Union, who is also on TIME’s list, are proud allies of the LGBTQ + community.
The couple have set a good example as responsible parents by supporting their daughter Zaya, a transgender.
“Every child is going to be different in one way or another. Each child is going to have their own individuality and their own interests and their own identity. He and Gabrielle don’t love Zaya despite who she is, ”wrote Grammy-winning activist and musician John Legend.
“They love Zaya, celebrate who she is and hug her. He is modeling how parents can advocate for their children, fight for them, and help them become the best adults they can be. I think that’s really beautiful. “
ICONS
Allyson felix
Allyson Felix, a three-time world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist on track and field, spoke about the injustice she faced during 2018.
At the time, Felix called his sponsor Nike for threatening to pay him less after giving birth to their daughter.
And that got the attention and support of Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts, an organization that advocates for the improvement of maternal health and childbirth safety.
Nike then updated its maternity policies to ensure that athletes are paid for 18 months.
The following year, Felix did not disappoint and took his 13th world championship gold.
“Pregnancy discrimination puts women and their families at risk. Any brand that benefits from the attributes and accolades of women should increase their support during this period, not cut back, ”Burns wrote.
“Doing less is unfair. Women have shown time and again that they can be more resilient after childbirth, and female athletes are no exception. “
Naomi osaka
Japan’s Naomi Osaka has made a name for herself in tennis history rather than beating a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, being the reigning queen of the US Open and the first Asian player to be ranked No. 1.
The average Japanese-Haitian tennis prodigy, at 22 years old, has become the voice of the oppressed and the lives of black and brown.
At the US Open, in seven matches, he wore seven different masks, each bearing the name of a black person who was a victim of racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.
Here are the names:
Round 1: Breonna TaylorThe 26-year-old was shot and killed by police in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment on March 13.
Round 2: Choose McClainThe 23-year-old died in August last year after police in Aurora, Colorado, used a carotid grasp, a technique used to render a person unconscious by restricting blood to the brain.
Round 3: Ahmaud ArbertThe 25-year-old was shot by armed white men as he was jogging through a suburban neighborhood in Georgia last February.
Round 4: The death of a 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 he became one of the spark plugs of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Quarter finals: George FloydThe 46-year-old died in the hospital on May 25 after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt over him for nearly nine minutes during the arrest.
Semifinals: Philando CastillaThe 32-year-old was shot by Minnesota police during a traffic stop in a suburb of St. Paul in 2016.
Finals: Tamir riceThe 12-year-old was shot by police officer Timothy Loehmann in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014. Rice was playing on a playground with a toy gun.
“She reminded us that we can all resist excuses that protect us from giving love. Whatever power we have, the most enduring and life-giving way we can manage that power is by using it to lift others up. Especially those who are not exactly like us, ”wrote the great WNBA Moore.
“Because we need each other. We need the fullness of humanity. Sports can uniquely appeal to this truth.
“If someone like Naomi can have the courage to use what she has to call people higher, we can too. You can too. “
Megan rapinoe
“Megan Rapinoe fearlessly uses her voice to make the world a more equal place. No matter your politics, ethnicity or gender, that’s something we should all celebrate, ”said New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
In fact, Rapinoe made a huge impact on and off the soccer field.
Rapinoe, who led the United States to a World Cup title in 2019, is a proud feminist and advocate for gays.
She is also known for exchanging words with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, for the latter’s sexist and racist comments.
But the pink-haired Rapinoe didn’t budge as she continues to fight for gender pay equality, racial justice and LGBTQ + rights.
“Megan Rapinoe fearlessly uses her voice to make the world a more equal place. No matter your politics, ethnicity or gender, that is something we should all celebrate, ”added Gillibrand.
For the full list, click here.
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