I was early this morning surfing the net…. read an article on the Sports Training Blog.  The article, “The World’s 25 Most Motiviational Athletes” listed some of my favorites athletes and missed some, as well. However,article gave recognition to athletes charitable efforts that continues to impact millions. 

Please visit the blog and read the entire article, truly an awesome read.  I pulled the top four athletes listed along with their charitable credits, read for your self! 

1. Lance Armstrong (USA) -  No.1 position is that he has put his immense power as an athlete of the world to great use through his establishment of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and commitment to the cause to end cancer.
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.

2. Muhammad Ali (USA) -  According to Ali’s website “Ali has devoted himself to humanitarian endeavors around the globe. He is a devout Muslim, and travels the world over, lending his name and presence to hunger and poverty relief, supporting education efforts of all kinds, promoting adoption and encouraging people to respect and better understand one another. It is estimated that he has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry.”
It’s not bragging if you can back it up.

3. Michael Jordan (USA) – Definitely the greatest basketball player of all time, Jordan . His charity work in his own name and through his Jordan Brand is ongoing and so far includes $5 million to Chicago’s Hales Franciscan High School, and donations to Habitat for Humanity and a Louisiana branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.

4. Michael Phelps (USA) – 14 Gold Medals in two Olympics at just 23 years old. Credit to Phelps for donating a $1 million bonus from the Beijing Olympics to start his own charity.
You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.

Source: Sports Training Blog