# Top 14 Athletes from Virginia

> One state, and a roster that runs from Wimbledon to the Hall of Fame by way of a racetrack. The hard part is comparing them at all.

*By YPB Team · Published August 20, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/top-14-athletes-from-virginia*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Arthur Ashe** — score 1000/1000
   Born in Richmond; the only Black man to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.
2. **Moses Malone** — score 873/1000
   Born in Petersburg; jumped straight from high school to the pros and won three MVP awards.
3. **Alonzo Mourning** — score 668/1000
   Born in Chesapeake; twice defensive player of the year and an NBA champion in 2006.
4. **Ralph Sampson** — score 565/1000
   Born in Harrisonburg; three-time college player of the year before a decade in the NBA.
5. **Michael Vick** — score 565/1000
   Born in Newport News; the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
6. **Ronde Barber** — score 565/1000
   Born in Roanoke; the only NFL player with more than 45 interceptions and more than 25 sacks.
7. **Pernell Whitaker** — score 565/1000
   Born in Norfolk; Olympic gold medallist and world champion across four weight divisions.
8. **Dell Curry** — score 565/1000
   Born in Harrisonburg; a sixteen-season NBA shooter and the league's sixth man of the year in 1994.
9. **Gabby Douglas** — score 439/1000
   Born in Virginia Beach; the first American to win team and individual all-around gold at one Olympics.
10. **Lawrence Taylor** — score 439/1000
   Born in Williamsburg; the linebacker who forced NFL offences to redesign their protection schemes.
11. **Justin Verlander** — score 439/1000
   Born in Manakin-Sabot; an MVP, three Cy Young awards and three no-hitters.
12. **Allen Iverson** — score 282/1000
   Born in Hampton; an NBA MVP and four-time scoring champion at barely six feet tall.
13. **Secretariat** — score 282/1000
   Foaled at Meadow Stable in Doswell in 1970 and still the record holder in all three Triple Crown races.
14. **Bruce Smith** — score 282/1000
   Born in Norfolk; retired with 200 sacks, still the most in NFL history.

Tags: usa, sports, athletes, virginia