- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2004–2017
- Country
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica
- Peak
- 100.0
- Dominance
- 98.0
- Statistics
- 95.0
- Honours
- 98.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
GOAT Rank · 229
Greatest retired Athletes
This ranking is led by Usain Bolt, Sergey Bubka and Carl Lewis. GOAT Rank currently ranks 229 eligible athletes using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Usain Bolt ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 93.2.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#AthleteGOAT Score
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1983–2001
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 96.0
- Statistics
- 93.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1979–1997
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 93.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1980–2001
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1920–1934
- Country
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 93.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1992–2015
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 93.0
- Honours
- 91.0
- Longevity
- 94.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1974–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1988–2008
- Country
- 🇲🇿 Mozambique
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 94.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1976–1988
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1960–1980
- Country
- 🇵🇱 Poland
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1984–1996
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1984–2006
- Country
- 🇨🇿 Czechia
- Peak
- 93.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1935–1955
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1996–2017
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 94.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1997–2016
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2023
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 93.0
- Dominance
- 89.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2003–2022
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1984–2001
- Country
- 🇨🇺 Cuba
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1982–1999
- Country
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1983–1993
- Country
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1954–1980
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1988–2004
- Country
- 🇵🇱 Poland
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1976–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1944–1958
- Country
- 🇨🇿 Czechia
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1993–2012
- Country
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1992–2006
- Country
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1900–1908
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1990–2007
- Country
- 🇨🇺 Cuba
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1966–1976
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Soviet Union
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2012–2021
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 98.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1974–1987
- Country
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1988–2001
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 93.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1988–2006
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2004–2021
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1992–2009
- Country
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1975–1992
- Country
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2022
- Country
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2016
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1989–2013
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1971–1990
- Country
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1976–1992
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2016
- Country
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1977–1996
- Country
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1978–1996
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1978–2012
- Country
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 96.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2002–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1997–2013
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1986–2003
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1975–1990
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Usain Bolt | Athletics | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 2004–2017 | 93.2 |
| 2 | Sergey Bubka | Athletics | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1983–2001 | 93.2 |
| 3 | Carl Lewis | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1979–1997 | 93.1 |
| 4 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1980–2001 | 92.1 |
| 5 | Paavo Nurmi | Athletics | 🇫🇮 Finland | 1920–1934 | 92.1 |
| 7 | Haile Gebrselassie | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 1992–2015 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Yuriy Sedykh | Athletics | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1974–1992 | 91.5 |
| 9 | Maria Mutola | Athletics | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 1988–2008 | 91.4 |
| 10 | Edwin Moses | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1976–1988 | 91.3 |
| 12 | Irena Szewińska | Athletics | 🇵🇱 Poland | 1960–1980 | 91.1 |
| 14 | Mike Conley Sr. | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–1996 | 90.9 |
| 17 | Jan Železný | Athletics | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 1984–2006 | 90.5 |
| 18 | Fanny Blankers-Koen | Athletics | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1935–1955 | 90.5 |
| 19 | Ruth Beitia | Athletics | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1996–2017 | 90.4 |
| 20 | Yelena Isinbayeva | Athletics | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1997–2016 | 90.3 |
| 21 | Kenenisa Bekele | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 2001–2023 | 90.3 |
| 22 | Allyson Felix | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2003–2022 | 90.0 |
| 23 | Javier Sotomayor | Athletics | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 1984–2001 | 89.9 |
| 25 | Stefka Kostadinova | Athletics | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 1982–1999 | 89.9 |
| 26 | Saïd Aouita | Athletics | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 1983–1993 | 89.9 |
| 27 | Al Oerter | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1954–1980 | 89.7 |
| 28 | Robert Korzeniowski | Athletics | 🇵🇱 Poland | 1988–2004 | 89.7 |
| 29 | Evelyn Ashford | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1976–1992 | 89.5 |
| 31 | Emil Zátopek | Athletics | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 1944–1958 | 89.4 |
| 32 | Virgilijus Alekna | Athletics | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 1993–2012 | 89.1 |
| 33 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Athletics | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 1992–2006 | 89.1 |
| 34 | Nourredine Morceli | Athletics | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 1990–2000 | 89.1 |
| 35 | Ray Ewry | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1900–1908 | 88.9 |
| 36 | Iván Pedroso | Athletics | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 1990–2007 | 88.8 |
| 38 | Nadezhda Chizhova | Athletics | 🇷🇺 Soviet Union | 1966–1976 | 88.7 |
| 39 | Almaz Ayana | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 2012–2021 | 88.7 |
| 40 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Athletics | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 1974–1987 | 88.7 |
| 41 | Michael Johnson | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1988–2001 | 88.5 |
| 42 | Lars Riedel | Athletics | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1988–2006 | 88.4 |
| 43 | Tianna Bartoletta | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2004–2021 | 88.4 |
| 44 | Paul Tergat | Athletics | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 1992–2009 | 88.4 |
| 45 | Rosa Mota | Athletics | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 1975–1992 | 88.4 |
| 46 | Valerie Adams | Athletics | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 2001–2022 | 88.3 |
| 47 | Meseret Defar | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 2001–2016 | 88.3 |
| 48 | Derartu Tulu | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 1989–2013 | 88.3 |
| 49 | Grete Waitz | Athletics | 🇳🇴 Norway | 1971–1990 | 88.3 |
| 50 | Daley Thompson | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1976–1992 | 88.0 |
| 51 | Andreas Thorkildsen | Athletics | 🇳🇴 Norway | 2001–2016 | 88.0 |
| 53 | Ingrid Kristiansen | Athletics | 🇳🇴 Norway | 1977–1996 | 87.8 |
| 54 | Willie Banks | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1978–1996 | 87.7 |
| 55 | Merlene Ottey | Athletics | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 1978–2012 | 87.6 |
| 56 | Sanya Richards-Ross | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2002–2016 | 87.5 |
| 58 | Tatyana Lebedeva | Athletics | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1997–2013 | 87.5 |
| 59 | Colin Jackson | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1986–2003 | 87.5 |
| 60 | Sebastian Coe | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1975–1990 | 87.5 |
Compare the leaders
Usain Bolt vs Sergey BubkaRead the full methodology
Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.
Read the full methodologyFrequently asked questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Who is included?
According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.
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