"Power and influence over others" is how the dictionary defines dominance. In sport, its a little more tricky. After all, how can someone like me rank Lewis Hamilton's 7 World Titles against Floyd Mayweather's undefeated boxing record? Easy. Objectivity. It's no secret that some of the names on this list have been handed their high pedestal but what no one can question, is the sheer superiority that these athletes have shown over all others.
1. Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather is a controversial character and is certainly one that I myself have never followed but no one can question his dominance across multiple divisions of world boxing. Throughout his multiple retirements, Mayweather retained a professional record of 50-0, losing his last fight as an amateur in 1996. In his time at the top, he held 5 weight division titles and looked simply untouchable, only being knocked to the canvas briefly in a bout against Carlos Hernandez in 2011. Today, he may been the main reason for boxing's steady decline into madness, but with an undefeated record spanning across two decades, no one can question his position among the worlds most dominant and finest fighters.
2. Usain Bolt
In over 200,000 years of human evolution, Usain Bolt is the fastest human ever. Just that fact alone is crazy to think about, but combined with the reality that he performed to gold medal standard in 3 consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, 2016) is something that may never be replicated. Over the 100m and 200m distances, Bolt holds both Olympic and World Records and won every 8 of his gold medals by a landslide distance and a mocking smile on his face.
3. Michael Phelps
As the most decorated Olympian in it's 125 year history, Michael Phelps is more fish than flesh and flood mortal and deserves to be no lower than 3rd on this list. His legend spanned over 5 Olympic Games from Sydney 2000 to Rio 2016 and at the end of it all, he had collected 23 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 2 bronze medals, and 7 world records across 6 swimming categories. If that isn't domiance, I don't know what else is?
4. Tom Brady
In world sport, there is not one man that is more universally loved than Tom Brady. And rightly so. Not only is his journey to the NFL a story that Hollywood would be proud of, he is perhaps also the most unquestionable GOAT selections that any sport has to offer. Drafted in the 2000 NFL draft with pick 199, no one expected this lanky and unathletic rookie to become anything more than a name on the back of a roster sheet. However, 7 Superbowl wins and 4 MVP awards later, Tom Brady has become the most influential and dominant force on an NFL field. He holds an additional 18 NFL quarterback records and with his most recent showing at Superbowl 55, Tom Brady is looking to leave the world in no doubt over his status as the GOAT of the NFL and on the greater stage of world sport.
5. Serena Williams
More appropriately known as the 'Queen of Grand Slams', Serena Williams has had little to no competition since her induction into winning tennis at the 1999 US Open. Since then she has won an additional 22 Grand Slams and 14 Doubles/Mixed events, which puts her at the very top of the list against rivals such as Venus Williams or Maria Sharapova. In one truly herculean effort, she won the 2017 Australian Open whilst 8 weeks pregnant, and it wasn't even close, winning in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). She personifies the definition of dominance in women's sport and in my opinion, would heavily challenge Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the title of the worlds best tennis player.
6. Lewis Hamilton
When I ever talk about superstar athletes that have been spoonfed world titles, I will forever include Lewis Hamilton on that list. However, although he does have the best car on the grid, it still takes a great driver to get it across the line. Fortunatly for Hamilton, Mercedes chose him to be that driver and in return he has delivered 6 world titles for the Silver Arrows with his closest competitor being his team mate in the garage next door. In my opinion, his only legitimate championship came in 2008 for McLaren where he showed his true talent racing in an ever changing duel with Felipe Massa. Despite all this, a world championship is a world championship and by definition, Hamilton has been dominant within his time in Formula One.
7. Roger Federer
Frankly, there is only one reason that Roger Federer is not higher on this list and that reason comes in the form of Novak Djokovic. The two have been inseparable rivals throughout their careers, with Federer winning 20 Grand Slam titles to Djokovic's 17. So why is Djokovic not on the list? Well, as I have said in the past, a key factor to greatness is longevity, and Federer is one of the worlds best advocates for this factor. In 2004, age 23, Federer was ranked world number one after consecutive wins at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Fastfoward to 2018, age 37, he was ranked world number one again. Over this 14 year period, Federer appeared in 29 Grand Slam Finals and won on 19 occasions, beating the likes of Rafal Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray; establishing himself in a position of superiority over all others.
8. Tiger Woods
Granted, Tiger Woods suffered a period of poor play that certainly put strain on his once untouchable legacy, but from 1997-2008, golf had never seen anything like Tiger. A player with seemingly no weaknesses, Tiger won 14 Golf Majors and a record tying 82 PGA tour events in this period and in many minds became the greatest golfer of all time, surpassing the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros. A string of injuries and scandals off the golf course stopped Tiger performing at his best for over a decade, but did set up one of the greatest come back stories of the modern era. On the very site where he had won his first Masters Championship in 1997, the Augusta National Golf Club became home to Tigers 5th Masters victory in 2019 and cemented his name among the greats.
9. LeBron James
Drafted in 2003, LeBron James was expected to become the next King of the NBA. Although his crown may have wobbled on occasion, LeBron James has remained the NBA's best player for over a decade. 4 NBA Championships with 3 different teams in 2 separate conferences has people convinced that LeBron may be the most dominant force in NBA history, but I am not totally convinced. In my mind, dominance in the NBA is something that is very hard to come by and has only been achieved by 2 players: Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. Both these players won on such a consistent and consecutive basis that no other team had a chance, but in LeBron's case, he has certainly had his place on the mountain top be compromised and overtaken at particular points in his career. However, with longevity in mind, the NBA has not seen a player such as LeBron dominate over a 18 year period, winning 4 MVP awards and averaging over 27 points per game over his career.
10. Lionel Messi
The story of Lionel Messi is similar to the story of LeBron James. There is no question that he is the best player of the 21st century, narrowly beating out rival Cristiano Ronaldo, with over 1021 goal contributions, 6 Ballon d'Or's, 4 Champions League titles, and 10 Spanish League titles. However, like LeBron, some of his lacklustre performances in big matches for both club and country force him lower down the scale of pure unadulterated dominance. Nevertheless, Messi will go down as the greatest football player that the world has ever seen, and it will forever be known that he was at his very best during this past 20 year period.
Magic Cambridge !!!
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