# The 17 Greatest Athletes From Houston

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

*By YPB Team · Published August 26, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-17-greatest-athletes-from-houston*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Simone Biles** — score 1000/1000
   Raised in Spring, just outside Houston, and the most decorated gymnast in history.
2. **Carl Lewis** — score 849/1000
   Trained at the University of Houston and won nine Olympic golds.
3. **Elvin Hayes** — score 849/1000
   The Big E, whose 1968 duel with UCLA is still called the Game of the Century.
4. **Jeff Bagwell** — score 734/1000
   The other half of the Killer B's and the Astros' 1994 MVP.
5. **Mary Lou Retton** — score 734/1000
   Trained in Houston under Bela Karolyi before the 1984 all-around gold.
6. **Craig Biggio** — score 636/1000
   Twenty seasons with one club and 3,060 hits.
7. **Warren Moon** — score 636/1000
   Threw for more than 70,000 yards across two leagues, half of them in Houston.
8. **George Foreman** — score 636/1000
   Grew up in Houston's Fifth Ward, won Olympic gold in 1968 and the world title again at 45.
9. **Jose Altuve** — score 636/1000
   Five foot six, an MVP award and a World Series ring with the Astros.
10. **Earl Campbell** — score 520/1000
   The Tyler Rose who ran through the NFL for the Houston Oilers.
11. **Sheryl Swoopes** — score 520/1000
   Three Olympic golds and four WNBA titles with the Houston Comets.
12. **The Undertaker** — score 520/1000
   Born Mark Calaway in Houston in 1965 and played one character for thirty years.
13. **Clyde Drexler** — score 520/1000
   Phi Slama Jama at Houston, then a championship alongside Olajuwon in 1995.
14. **Nolan Ryan** — score 520/1000
   Seven no-hitters and nine seasons with the Houston Astros.
15. **J.J. Watt** — score 520/1000
   Three Defensive Player of the Year awards in Houston and a city-wide reputation off the field.
16. **Hakeem Olajuwon** — score 382/1000
   Came to the University of Houston from Lagos and won two NBA titles for the Rockets.
17. **Andre Johnson** — score 382/1000
   The Texans receiver who spent twelve years catching passes in bad offences.

Tags: usa, sports, athletes, texas