The 17 Greatest Athletes From Houston

Gymnasts, pitchers, boxers and a seven-foot mortician: one city produced a strange amount of greatness.

1. 1
   Simone Biles

   Raised in Spring, just outside Houston, and the most decorated gymnast in history.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Carl Lewis

   Trained at the University of Houston and won nine Olympic golds.
   849pts
3. 3
   Elvin Hayes

   The Big E, whose 1968 duel with UCLA is still called the Game of the Century.
   849pts
4. 4
   Jeff Bagwell

   The other half of the Killer B's and the Astros' 1994 MVP.
   734pts
5. 5
   Mary Lou Retton

   Trained in Houston under Bela Karolyi before the 1984 all-around gold.
   734pts
6. 6
   Craig Biggio

   Twenty seasons with one club and 3,060 hits.
   636pts
7. 7
   Warren Moon

   Threw for more than 70,000 yards across two leagues, half of them in Houston.
   636pts
8. 8
   George Foreman

   Grew up in Houston's Fifth Ward, won Olympic gold in 1968 and the world title again at 45.
   636pts
9. 9
   Jose Altuve

   Five foot six, an MVP award and a World Series ring with the Astros.
   636pts
10. 10
    Earl Campbell

    The Tyler Rose who ran through the NFL for the Houston Oilers.
    520pts
11. 11
    Sheryl Swoopes

    Three Olympic golds and four WNBA titles with the Houston Comets.
    520pts
12. 12
    The Undertaker

    Born Mark Calaway in Houston in 1965 and played one character for thirty years.
    520pts
13. 13
    Clyde Drexler

    Phi Slama Jama at Houston, then a championship alongside Olajuwon in 1995.
    520pts
14. 14
    Nolan Ryan

    Seven no-hitters and nine seasons with the Houston Astros.
    520pts
15. 15
    J.J. Watt

    Three Defensive Player of the Year awards in Houston and a city-wide reputation off the field.
    520pts
16. 16
    Hakeem Olajuwon

    Came to the University of Houston from Lagos and won two NBA titles for the Rockets.
    382pts
17. 17
    Andre Johnson

    The Texans receiver who spent twelve years catching passes in bad offences.
    382pts