Every Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

Starting with Roger Bannister in 1954, here is every winner of Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year Award—including Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jordan, Billie Jean King and more.
Every Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
Every Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year /

Sportsperson of the Year Winners

2023

Deion Sanders on the SI cover for Sportsperson of the Year.
Jeffery A. Salter/Sports Illustrated; Makeup by Beth Walker for BW Makeup; Hair for Deion Sanders by Dermonico Townsend; Styling by Casey Trudeau. On Deion Sanders: Top, pants and hat by Nike x CU; Sunglasses by Blenders x Coach Prime; Watch by Cartier. On Constance Schwartz-Morini: Sweater by A+O x Basquiat; Skirt by Alice and Olivia; Shoes by Chanel; Bracelet by Cartier; On Sam MoriniI: Sweatshirt and pants by Cherry LA

Deion Sanders

2022

si121322_cover
Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated

Stephen Curry

2021

Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

Tom Brady

2020

COV121520osaka
Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Naomi Osaka

2020

COV121520
Illustration by Alexis Franklin

LeBron James

2020

COV121520Mahomes
Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Patrick Mahomes

2020

COV121520Stewart
Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Breanna Stewart

2020

COV121520LDT
Illustration by Alexis Franklin

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

2019

SPI191216_COV
Jeffery A. Salter/Sports Illustrated

Megan Rapinoe

2018

2018-warriors-sportsperson.jpg
Illustration by Mark Hammermeister

Golden State Warriors

2017

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Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

José Altuve and J.J. Watt

2016

2016-1219-Sportsperson-of-the-Year-LeBron-James-SI648_TK1_00002.jpg
Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

LeBron James

2015

2015-Sportsperson-Serena-Williams.jpg
Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Serena Williams

2014

2014-Sportsman-Madison-Bumgarner.jpg
Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated

Madison Bumgarner

2013

2013-Sportsman-Peyton-Manning-op5z-34731.jpg
John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Peyton Manning

2012

2012-Sportsman-LeBron-James-op44-56723final.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

LeBron James

2011

2011-Sportspersons-Pat-Summitt-Mike-Krzyzewski-079005561.jpg
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

Pat Summitt and Mike Krzyzewski

2010

2010-Sportsman-Drew-Brees-077641262.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Drew Brees

2009

2009
Gregory Heisler/Sports Illustrated

Derek Jeter

2008

2008
Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

Michael Phelps

2007

2007
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Brett Favre

2006

2006
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Dwyane Wade

2005

2005
Lynn Johnson/Sports Illustrated

Tom Brady

2004

2004
Photomosaic by Robert Silvers

Boston Red Sox

2003

2003
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated

Tim Duncan and David Robinson

2002

2002
Jonas Karlsson/Sports Illustrated

Lance Armstrong

2001

2001-Randy-Johnson-Curt-Schilling-001243658final_0.jpg
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson

2000

2000
Gerard Rancinan/Sports Illustrated

Tiger Woods

1999

1999
Mark Abrahams/Sports Illustrated

U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

1998

1998
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa

1997

1997
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Dean Smith

1996

1996-1223-Tiger-Woods-006274197_0.jpg
Illustration by Lauren Uram

Tiger Woods

1995

1995-1115-Cal-Ripken-Jr-006274145_1.jpg
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated (left); Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Cal Ripken Jr.

1994

1994
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated

Bonnie Blair and Johann Olav Koss

1993

1993
Illustration by Mark Summers

Don Shula

1992

1992
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated

Arthur Ashe

1991

1991
Hologram by Sharon McCormack

Michael Jordan

1990

1990
Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated

Joe Montana

1989

1989
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Greg LeMond

1988

1988
Illustration by Pier Consagra

Orel Hershiser

1987

1987-1221-Athletes-Who-Care-001253779_0.jpg
Illustration by Richard Hess

Rory Sparrow, Patty Sheehan, Reggie Williams, Chip Rives, Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Dale Murphy and Kip Keino

1986

1986
Ronald C. Modra/Sports Illustrated

Joe Paterno

1985

1985
Illustration by Larry Rivers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1984

1984
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Mary Lou Retton and Edwin Moses

1983

1983
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Mary Decker

1982

1982
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated

Wayne Gretzky

1981

1981
Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated

Sugar Ray Leonard

1980

1980
Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

1979

1979
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw

1978

1978
Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated

Jack Nicklaus

1977

1977
Anthony Edgeworth/Sports Illustrated

Steve Cauthen

1976

1976
Graham Finlayson/Sports Illustrated

Chris Evert

1975

1975-1222-29-Pete-Rose-SI-cover-001253767_0.jpg
Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated

Pete Rose

1974

1974
Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated

Muhammad Ali

1973

1973
Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated

Jackie Stewart

1972

1972
Stephen Green-Armytage/Sports Illustrated

John Wooden and Billie Jean King

1971

1971
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Lee Trevino

1970

1970
Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated

Bobby Orr

1969

1969
James Drake/Sports Illustrated

Tom Seaver

1968

1968
James Drake/Sports Illustrated

Bill Russell

1967

1967-Carl-Yastrzemski-006272686_0.jpg
Fred Kaplan/Sports Illustrated

Carl Yastrzemski

1966

1966
Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated

Jim Ryun

1965

1965
Robert Huntzinger/Sports Illustrated

Sandy Koufax

1964

1964
Jay Maisel/Sports Illustrated (left); Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated (right)

Ken Venturi

1963

1963
Ben Rose/Sports Illustrated

Pete Rozelle

1962

1962
Neal Barr/Sports Illustrated

Terry Baker

1961

1961
Illustration by Robert Weaver

Jerry Lucas

1960

1960
Illustration by Thomas B. Allen

Arnold Palmer

1959

1959
John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated

Ingemar Johansson

1958

1958
John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated

Rafer Johnson

1957

1957
John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated (Musial)

Stan Musial

1956

1956
Phil Bath/Sports Illustrated

Bobby Morrow

1955

1955
Richard Meek/Sports Illustrated

Johnny Podres

1954

1954
Mark Kauffman/Sports Illustrated

Roger Bannister


Published