Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias remains the only athlete—male or female—to win Olympic gold medals and major golf championships. She earned two golds at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics (80m hurdles and javelin) with a world-record 11.7 seconds in the hurdles, then won 10 LPGA major titles, including three U.S. Women's Opens. Her 1950 Associated Press honor as greatest female athlete of the 20th century holds up: she outperforms #10 Cathy Freeman in versatility, being the sole woman to dominate two distinct sports at elite levels. Also a professional basketball player, Zaharias captured 33 total LPGA wins—more than three times the majors of most modern rivals. Her athletic range remains unmatched in the 21st century.