Famous Athletes Named Michael

Michael, Mike, and their various ethnic versions are among the most common names in the world. Just to mention a few famous Michaels, there is Michael Jackson, Michael B. Jordan, or the unforgettable Magic Mike. Though, we will narrow them down to famous athletes named Michael! Let’s follow some of the most accomplished athletes’ journeys to success! 

Michael Oher

Let’s kick off our list with the famous NFL player: Michael Oher. Even if you are not an American football fan, Michael Oher’s name might sound familiar. Though Oher himself doesn’t like the movie and its effects, it became a fan-favorite film that brought the creators and actors many awards. The inspiring story shows a part of Oher’s late teenage years with flashbacks to his difficult childhood. He grew up in a dangerous part of Memphis, where he was in and out of the child protection system due to his drug addict mother.  Despite his upbringing somehow, let’s call it fate, the wealthy Touhy family took him under their wings and welcomed him to their family. With their moral, emotional, and financial support, he started to do better at school and managed to land a football scholarship to The University of Mississippi, aka Ole Miss. They awarded him the All-American honors after graduating with a degree in criminal justice in 2009. Michael started his professional football career with the Baltimore Ravens, who picked him in the first round.  It turned out to be a good choice since they won the Super Bowl in 2013, but then he signed to the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers. His story sparked the interest of the NCAA and investigated his background and past. They wanted to prevent people from adopting only for the children’s sports performance. Thankfully, they passed the test, and Oher could build a successful career. It is a fun fact that the movie was a book adaptation, and the author is also named Michael! Check out our article about the top 10 richest athletes in the world!

Famous athletes named Michael - Mike Tyson

Without exaggeration, everyone knows the name: Mike Tyson! He is a retired professional boxer now. He was active between 1985 and 2005, although he returned to the ring in 2020 for a charity box match. Mike earned the nicknames Iron Mike and Kid Dynamite early in his career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOHvMqAgcmc Tyson is considered one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. From 1987 to 1990, he was the undisputed Heavyweight World Champion, and he also holds the youngest World Heavyweight Boxing Champion title. He spent his childhood in Brooklyn, and his childhood was not without trouble. They arrested him 38 times until his 12th birthday. He went to juvie, where he met former world champion: Muhammad Ali. Again, fate? After Ali visited these facilities to promote boxing and help those guys focus their energies on something productive. After his mom died, the 16-year-old Tyson went to live with his coach and manager. Cus D’Amato became his legal guardian and provided him with a safe and loving environment. His life changed drastically, and he began his boxing career as an amateur bower. Mike won the gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympics. He made his professional debut in 1985, at the age of 18. He fought 15 matches in his first professional year, which shows how sought-after he was. Out of his 28 fights, he won 26 with KO or TKO. Tyson’s past did not disappear entirely. They arrested him in 1991 for raping an 18-year-old girl in his hotel room. His driver confirmed the girl’s charges, and the medical examination also proved him guilty. Tyson spent four years in prison. He returned in 1995, but after Tyson bit out a piece of his opponent’s ear at a match, they banned him from boxing for over a year. He had 50 wins, six losses, and 44 KOs altogether. Similar stories emerged throughout his career, so many consider him dangerous outside of the ring, as well. There are many more things to know about him that you can check out at online sportsbook sites in the US!

Michael Jordan

Again, Michael Jordan’s name is a given. According to 22BET Sportsbook, he is the greatest NBA player of all time. The legendary Chicago Bulls player with the 23 number achieved six championship titles.

They voted him for the most valuable NBA player five times, and he was a member of the All-Star team 14 times. He was the ultimate star of the 80s and 90s, but decades after finishing his pro career, Jordan is still one of the most famous athletes named Michael! Jordan still earns millions of dollars every year with his brand contracts. He is a talented businessman who managed to take advantage of his fame. It’s a very intriguing fact, but Jordan is a well-known gambler. It didn’t matter what it was, he turned it into a bet. According to sources, he played rock, paper, scissors for $ 100.000. When his teammates didn't want to risk such large sums, he coaxed them into a water drinking game for $ 1000. Jordan’s golf bets are legendary. Someone even wrote a book about them, it’s a wonder why Jordan didn’t think about it first! The book's author was one of the participants of such a wager. Jordan owed him a million dollars, but there was Charles Barkley, who said that one time Jordan bet him $ 300.000 for hitting a golf hole. He shocked the world with the unexpected news of his retirement in 1993, after winning the championship title three times in a row. Though there is no evidence, many think that the NBA’s commissioner pressured him to retire. Rumor has it, he heard about his gambling addiction and ordered a discreet investigation. Since his suspension would have taken a long time anyway and the negative media attention would have cost both the team, brands who cooperated with it, and Jordan. The circumstances don’t really matter since the outcome is the same. However, retirement did mean nothing less than more free time and a very steady income.

Famous athletes named Michael - Michael Phelps

Phelps is the living-breathing legend of the swimming pools. He has worked hard since he was a child to become one of the most famous athletes named Michael. He trained several hours a day to be better than his opponents, which paid off since he became the most successful Olympic athlete of all time. However, he struggled with mental problems that are very common among professional athletes. He battled with depression his whole life, which grew so severe that he even had suicidal thoughts. Thankfully he went to therapy, and swimming had also done him good. It helped him with his excess energy due to his ADHD, aka attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

At the age of ten, three years after he started swimming, he had already defeated all of his peers. He also held a national record for the 100-meter butterfly stroke in his age group. He drew the North Baltimore Aquatic Club’s attention, and Bob Bowman started training him. With professional help, his skills developed rapidly, and at 14, he got into the national team. Michael became the youngest pro athlete from the US, and after the 2000 Olympics, people started to pay attention to him from around the world.  In his 2nd Olympics, he won six gold medals, but four years later, he outdid himself. The whole world watched him with bated breath. He won eight gold medals which is incredible. Some say he has webbed toes. After winning four gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, he announced his retirement at 27. However, after two years, he reentered the pro-athlete circle and had one of the most effective returns in sports history. All in all, Phelps won 28 Olympic medals, 23 gold, three silver, and two bronze.

Famous athletes named Michael - Michael Schumacher

Schumacher will always be among the most famous athletes named Michael. Even though we don’t know much about his condition after his head injury in 2013, he is still in our thoughts. Michael received his first go-kart for his fourth birthday and became the champion of the Kerpen go-kart club in 1975. He won the German junior championship in 1984 and 1985, and in the same year, he also became the junior world champion. In 1987 Michael kicked it up a notch and won the adult German Kart Championship and the European Kart Championship. He raced in the F3 series before he became the new Mercedes pilot in F1 in 1991. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQs9ZtdZjY0&t=4s The retired German car racer was seven-time Formula 1 World Champion and one of the most successful drivers in the sport. His legacy is well known, and now his son carries on the family tradition. You can track his F1 performance at online sportsbook sites in the US or 22BET Sportsbook! Let’s go back to his father since his name is not Michael. Michael Schumacher was the first German F1 pilot who won the World Championship title, and in 2006 the fans voted him the most popular driver. In his private life, he was a UNESCO ambassador and member of many humanitarian organizations. He has been married since 1995 and has two children. His brother, Ralf Schumacher, was also a Formula One driver, and, as we have mentioned before, his son became part of this world in 2021, as well. Despite his extended inactivity, he is still among the most famous and wealthy athletes with around $ 600 million, making him one of the wealthiest citizens in Switzerland. Let’s hope his health will return to one of the most successful and famous athletes named Michael. 

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