# Who is the greatest Italian athlete of all time?

> Across tennis, motorsport, cycling, skiing, swimming and the track, Italy has produced champions who became national icons. Which azzurro stands tallest of all? Cast your vote!

*By YPB Team · Published July 27, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-greatest-italian-athlete-of-all-time*

---

## Current results (3 votes)

1. **Valentino Rossi** — 66.67% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Nine-time Grand Prix motorcycling world champion and one of MotoGP's most iconic figures.
2. **Marcell Jacobs** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 718/1000)
   Olympic 100m champion who stunned the world with sprint gold at Tokyo 2020.
3. **Federica Pellegrini** — 0% (0 votes · score 621/1000)
   Olympic champion swimmer and long-time world-record holder in the 200m freestyle.
4. **Jannik Sinner** — 0% (0 votes · score 440/1000)
   Tennis world No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam champion, the standout Italian sportsman of his generation.
5. **Marco Pantani** — 0% (0 votes · score 440/1000)
   Charismatic climber who won the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same 1998 season.
6. **Pietro Mennea** — 0% (0 votes · score 440/1000)
   Olympic 200m champion whose sprint world record stood for almost 17 years.
7. **Francesco Totti** — 0% (0 votes · score 440/1000)
   One-club football icon of AS Roma and a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006.
8. **Gino Bartali** — 0% (0 votes · score 440/1000)
   Cycling great and multiple Grand Tour winner, later honoured for wartime heroism.
9. **Alberto Tomba** — 0% (0 votes · score 440/1000)
   Alpine skiing legend with three Olympic golds who dominated slalom in the late 1980s and 1990s.
10. **Sara Simeoni** — 0% (0 votes · score 179/1000)
   Olympic high-jump champion and former world-record holder of the 1970s and 80s.

Tags: sports, italy, olympics, athletes