From JJ Watt to Gwen Jorgensen, Wisconsin features some of the greatest athletes to ever play their respective sports.
Here are the top 25 living athletes from the state of Wisconsin.
25. Phil Kessel, NHL
24. Jim Gantner
23. Chellsie Memmel
22. Devin Harris
21. Don Kojis
20. Gary Suter
19. Fred Brown
18. Dan Jansen
17. Caron Butler
16. Melvin Gordon
15. Joe Pavelski
14. Terry Porter
13. Steve Stricker
12. Dave Krieg
11. Beezie Madden
Number 10: Colin Kaepernick, Milwaukee
Kaepernick was the ultimate dual-threat QB. During his Sophomore season at Nevada, he was the only quarterback to pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards, and was named first team All-WAC. He topped that his junior year, passing both of those marks again and becoming the first QB to ever have back-to-back seasons of 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, and was a part of a record-breaking Wolfpack backfield that had 3 players eclipse 1,000 rushing yards. He ended his career as the only D1 quarterback with 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards
He ended his career as the only D1 quarterback with 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards. After being drafted in the second round by the 49ers, he backed up Alex Smith for a season, but was too exciting and dynamic to stay on the bench. He took over for the conservative Smith and led the 49ers to back-to-back NFC championships and one Super Bowl berth. After 6 seasons, Kapernick opted out of his contract with San Francisco in March of 2017 and became a free agent at the age of 29. During his 49ers career, he was 28-30 with 12,000 passing yards, 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed 375 times for 2300 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Off the field, Kaepernick has been one of the most discussed figures of the past two years. As a plea to end racial injustice, Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem, which quickly became a viral movement throughout the NFL and nation. However, the incident caused a racial divide in the U.S., bringing devise opinions from many inside and outside NFL circles. In 2017, Kapernick was named GQ magazine's "Citizen of the Year" for his efforts in creating a national dialogue.
Number 9: John Anderson, Waukesha
A Green Bay Packer legend, the 6-foot-7 linebacker was one of the best players of the 1980's. He started his collegiate career under the legendary Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan, and was a two-time All-American on two defenses that, over his Junior and Senior seasons, only gave up 219 total points (9 points/game).
He was selected by the Packers with the 26th pick of the 1978 draft, and was named to the NFL all-rookie team with 102 tackles and 5 interceptions. Throughout his 12-year career, he played 146 games, retired as the Packers' all-time leader in tackles with 1,020, and is tied with Ray Nitschke for most interceptions by a linebacker with 25.
Number 8: Travis Frederick, Sharon
Coming out of Big Foot High School--the perfect name for one of the NFL's top centers--Frederick was only rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, but he immediately made his presence felt when he arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He became the first true freshman in Badgers history to start a season opening game on the offensive line. In 2012, he was named a first-team All-American, declared for the NFL draft, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round despite posting a below average combine.
Similar to his career with the Badgers, Frederick made an immediate impact and impression on the coaching staff. He was named the starting center on the first day of team activities and ended the season on the All-Rookie team. Since then, he's acrued five Pro Bowl nominations, two second team All-Pro honors, and one first team All-Pro honor.
Number 7: Tony Romo, Burlington
Romo was a military child, born in San Diego because his father Ramiro was serving in the Navy, but soon after he was born, his family returned back home to Burlington. An unheralded QB coming out of Burlington High School, Romo committed to Eastern Illinois University and became a star.
Over three seasons, he completed 62 percent of his passes, and threw for 7800 yards, 82 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. Despite being one of the most efficient passers in D1-AA, he went undrafted in 2003, but was picked up by the Cowboys.
Through his first two seasons, he was an afterthought. They barely trusted him to hold the ball for placekicks, much less actually throw it, but he finally got his chance in 2006 and never looked back. Over the next decade, he would accrue a 78-49 record while completing 65 percent of his passes for 34,000 yards, 248 touchdowns and 177 interceptions. The four-time Pro-Bowler's one criticism is his lack of playoff success, citing his lack of performance in the clutch. However, Romo retired as the NFL's all-time leader in 4th quarter QBR and the highest ever QBR in the month of December, and has the most fourth quarter comebacks in Dallas Cowboys history.
Off the field, Romo went into the NFL broadcasting booth after his retirement and immediately became a fan favorite.
Number 6: Jim Otto, Wausau
At 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, Otto didn't get any attention for NFL teams in the 1960 NFL draft. Instead, the AFL came calling. Initially, Otto was supposed to suit up for a proposed Minneapolis franchise, but when they folded was picked up by the Oakland Raiders. For the next 15 years, he would anchor the Raiders center position, playing 308 consecutive games. He was 10 time First-team All-AFL,a 9 time AFL All-Star, 3 time Pro-Bowl, 2 time First-team All-Pro, and won one AFL Championship in 1967. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980 and was ranked as the 78th best player of all-time on Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Number 6: Paul Hamm, Waukesha
Unlike most the athletes in the top 10, Hamm isn't a towering, six-foot-five behemoth, but the muscle-bound five-foot-six gymanst has no trouble hanging with the big boys. Hamm was the only American male to ever win all-around gold in the Olympic Games when he nailed his high bar routine in Athens in 2004. Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1982, Hamm and his twin brother Morgan were dreaming of draping a gold medal around their neck since they began swinging from the rafters of their families barn.
After 22 years, the pair was finally given that chance at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. For Paul, the games started out as a dream come true. During the all-around competition, he remained in first place through the first three rotations--floor, pommmel horse and rings--but things began to derail when he got to the vault. He didn't just miss his mark, it was far worse. He nearly crashed into the judges table and was left sitting in twelvth place. Gold was a distant memory and bronze would take a miracle. He got that miracle.
His parallel bars scored jumped him into fourth place, and a solid score on the high bars could get him back on the podium. When he dismounted from the high bars, the scoreboard flashed 9.837. He'd won gold. But his glory would only last a few days. South Korea protested the results, saying Yang Tae Young had been misscored and was the rightful winner of the all-around gold. Some argued Hamm should return the medal, Hamm argued that, as the rule book stated, the competition was over and the medal was his. He refused to give it back, and for the rest of the Olympics, he was booed.
Hamm attempted to return to the Olympics twice to defend his spot on the podium, but injuries derailed his path both times.
Number 4: Gwen Jorgensen, Waukesha
Jorgensen's prolific Olympic career almost never happened. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she swam and ran, but never considered being a Triathlete--a sport that would soon define her life. She graduated with a master's degree in accounting, passed the CPA, and worked for Ernst & Young in Milwaukee. However, when the USA Triathlon team--a unit that struggled to compete on the world stage--approached her, she couldn't turn the offer down.
Jorgensen was an immediate star. In 2010, she was USA triathlon's rookie of the year, and in 2011 placed second at the World Championships in London.In her first Olympics--London 2012--she unfortunately suffered a flat tire and finished near the back of the pack.But, in Rio in 2016, came back with a vengeance and became the first ever American to win triathlon gold with a time of 1 hour, 56 minutes and 16 seconds.
She still wasn't done. Later that year, she placed 14th in the New York Marathon, had a baby in 2017, and declared that in 2020 she was retiring from triathlon to pursue gold in the marathon in Tokyo. Jorgensen could continue to climb this list.
Number 3: Joe Thomas, Brookfield
As the punter, tackle, defensive end, tight end, kicker, and fullback for Brookfield Central High School, it was clear that Thomas was a star in the making. He was listed as a top 20 Offensive tackle in the nation, a member of the Detroit Free Press' All-Midwest team, and was a first team all-state offensive and defensive lineman.Off the football field, he set the school record for shotput and discus with throws of 64 feet, 10 inches and 185 feet, 7 inches.
As a freshman at Wisconsin, he only saw action as a blocking tight end, but became an anchor for the line from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Cleveland Browns, and didn't miss a snap from that day until October 22nd, 2017, when a torn triceps forced an end to his NFL record 10,363 snap streak. Aside from his grit and consistency, Thomas has also had his fair share of success. The 33-year-old has 10 pro bowl nominations, and has been a first team All-Pro 7 times.
Number 2: JJ Watt, Waukesha
Despite High School success at Pewaukee High School, the 6-foot, 5-inch, 220 pound Watt was an unheralded recruit headed into college. His best offer was a full ride at Central Michigan to be their tight end, but quickly found out the Chippewas were not for him. Instead, he decided to bet on himself and walk on at the University of Wisconsin, and that bet paid off.
Three years later, Watt was a first team All-American, All-Big Ten, winner of the Lott trophy and 11th overall pick by the Houston, Texans. Watt didn't just continue that success in the NFL, he became the most feared defensive presence in the sport. From his rookie season in 2011 to 2015, Watt amassed 74.5 sacks and 3 defensive player of the year awards.
Number 1: Eric Heiden, Madison
There is no doubt that Heiden is the most successful and impressive athlete in Wisconsin History. In fact, he might be one of the greatest athletes of all-time.He is the only person in the history of the Winter Olympics to bring home 5 gold medals, and one of only 10 people to ever win five or more gold medals in a single Olympic games. Only Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps (twice), Vitaly Scherbo and Kristin Otto have won six or more. Aside from Olympic hardware, he also collected 7 golds and one silver at World Championships from 1977 to 1980, and 15 speed skating world records in the 1000 meter, 10,000 meter and everything in between.
Most athletes would be done at this point in their career, but Heiden was just getting started. Following his skating career, he made it his goal to become a world class cyclist. He won a few American races, and competed in the 1986 tour de France. After that, he stepped into medicine. He completed residency at the University of California, Davis and became the team physician for the Sacramento Kings, Sacramento Monarchs and US Olympic speed skating team.
