InspirationMen of modest height
46 Famous Short Male Athletes Who Reached the Top
There’s no doubt that height can be an advantage in sports, but that doesn’t mean shorter men can’t compete (and win) at the highest levels.
AI01
Whether they’re stealing bases during America’s favorite pastime, ducking around defenders on the basketball court, or dodging punches in the boxing ring, short men often boast a distinct competitive advantage.
Short on time (heh)? Feel free to jump to one of our Top Three Favorite short athletes:
- Spud Webb (basketball)
- Darren Sproles (football)
- Lionel Messi (soccer)
Want to see the whole list? You’re in luck! You can use the sortable table below or keep scrolling for a more details about each athlete (including some fantastic photos).
| Name | Height | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tim “Rock” Raines | 5’8″ | Baseball |
| Yogi Berra | 5’7″ | Baseball |
| Jimmy “J-Roll” Rollins | 5’7″ | Baseball |
| Rafael Furcal | 5’8″ | Baseball |
| Joe Morgan | 5’7″ | Baseball |
| Kirby Puckett | 5’8″ | Baseball |
| Phil Rizzuto | 5’6″ | Baseball |
| Muggsy Bogues | 5’3″ | Basketball |
| Spud Webb | 5’7″ | Basketball |
| Mel Hirsch | 5’6″ | Basketball |
| Earl Boykins | 5’5″ | Basketball |
| Greg Grant | 5’7″ | Basketball |
| Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker | 5’6″ | Boxing |
| Manny Pacquiao | 5’5 1/2″ | Boxing |
| Floyd Mayweather Jr. | 5’8″ | Boxing |
| Chris Spealler | 5’5″ | Crossfit |
| Josh Bridges | 5’5″ | Crossfit |
| Austin Malleolo | 5’5″ | Crossfit |
| Roberto Heras | 5’8″ | Cycling |
| Paolo Bettini | 5’7″ | Cycling |
| David Etxebarria | 5’5″ | Cycling |
| Darren Sproles | 5’6″ | Football |
| Jack “Soapy” Shapiro | 5’0 1/2″ | Football |
| Jim Leonhard | 5’8″ | Football |
| Trindon Holliday | 5’5″ | Football |
| Ray Rice | 5’8 | Football |
| Bob Sanders | 5’8″ | Football |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | 5’7″ | Football |
| Brian Gionta | 5’7″ | Hockey |
| Bruce Lee | 5’8″ | Martial Arts |
| John Dodson | 5’3″ | MMA |
| John Lineker | 5’3″ | MMA |
| Marcus Brimage | 5’4″ | MMA |
| Michel Prazeres | 5’6″ | MMA |
| John Howard | 5’7″ | MMA |
| Bruno Santos | 5’8″ | MMA |
| Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson | 5’3″ | MMA |
| Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk | 5’6″ | MMA |
| Mark Martin | 5’6″ | Racing |
| Jeff Gordon | 5’8″ | Racing |
| Rico Abreu | 4’4″ | Racing |
| Eddy Hellebuyck | 5’4″ | Running |
| Lionel Messi | 5’7″ | Soccer |
| Diego Maradona | 5’5″ | Soccer |
| Edson Arantes do Nascimento (a.k.a. Pelé) | 5’8″ | Soccer |
| Apolo Ohno | 5’8″ | Skating |
From baseball and basketball to cycling and MMA, here are 46 famous athletes who reached the very top of their game.
