10 sportspersons and their idols

They are some of the biggest names in their respective sports. They have been idolised for decades now and millions look up to these sporting sensations.”I want to grow and be like Federer”, a little kid pursuing tennis would say. ”I want to run like Bolt”, a teenage boy with a dream of winning an Olympic gold in 200m would wish. We all have our idols. There are people we draw inspiration from. Just the mere sight of these stars makes us fall in awe at their greatness.But who made them ‘want to be’ what they have become today? Who inspired them to reach the pinnacle that they have reached today? Who was the inspiration behind their success?Here, we look at 10 of the most celebrated sports stars and their idols:

#1 Roger Federer

Federer still idolises Boris Becker

He has 17 Grand Slam singles titles to his name, and is arguably the greatest male player of all time. But Roger Federer has an idol who was as big a star as him in the 80s. It was Germany’s Boris Becker who inspired the Swiss Master to take up tennis seriously.

Federer was just four when Becker won his first Wimbledon final in 1985. From then onwards, Federer would watch tennis matches day and night on the television.

#2 Muhammad Ali

Ali Idolised Sugar Ray Robinson

He is known as one of the greatest boxers to have lived on this planet. In 1999, he was also named “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated magazine.

Ali idolized the American heavyweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson. In fact, there is an interesting bit of trivia about his idol: Robinson once refused to give Ali an autograph, saying that he did not have time.

Ali was really hurt by that incident and since then, he has never turned down anybody’s autograph request.

#3 Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan looks up to baseball star Derek Jeter

Known as the undisputed king of the basketball arena, this 6’6” shooter for the Chicago Bulls dminated the sport for much of the 80s and 90s. He considers the baseball star Derek Jeter to be his idol.

This is what he had to say on Jeter’s retirement ceremony:

“The thing I like about Derek, you see all the competitors and all his teammates [he’s played with], and I don’t think anybody can say one thing bad about Derek. He’s an idol to me, how he’s well respected in the game. He carries himself like every baseball player or professional athlete should. A very classy guy, very straight-forward, very friendly.”

#4 Michael Phelps

Phelps looks upto his namesake in Michael Jordan

This is another Michael who we all admire. Michael Phelps has so far won 22 Olympic medals, which makes him the most celebrated Olympian of all time. What is extremely intresting in this case is that he idolizes and admires his namesake and one of the greatest basketball players, Michael Jordan.

In fact, Phelps ‘ran out of words’ when he met his idol at the Ryder Cup edition of Feherty Live, the Golf Channel's version of a late-night talk show.

#5 Maria Sharapova

Sharapova has always been a Monica Seles fan

“Growing up, I preferred watching the men's game for some reason - but Monica Seles was an idol of mine. Of course, she was a great player but it was her pure determination on the court that I really drew inspiration from.”

These are the words of the current World number 2 and the winner of 5 Grand Slam titles, Maria Sharapova. The Russian beauty has always made a mark both on and off the court and the nine-time Slam champion Monica Seles has always been her inspiration.

#6 Usain Bolt

The fastest man in the world looked upto Donald Quarrie

An estimated 106 billion people have walked the earth throughout history, but Usain Bolt has emerged as the ‘fastest man’ ever.

This Olympic champion and record-breaking Jamaican idolizes compatriot Donald Quarrie. For those of us who do not know Donald, he was the fastest sprinter in the world in the 1970s and was also a 200m gold medal winner in the 1976 Summer Olympic Games.

#7 Sachin Tendulkar

McEnroe has been Tendulkar’s inspiration over the years

All of the cricketing world bid adieu to this legend with a very heavy heart. For many, cricket ended the day Sachin announced his retirement.

But who was the inspiration behind the Master Blaster’s success? It was his elder brother Ajit Tendulkar who was his immediate source of motivation. However, during his younger days Sachin looked up to John McEnroe as his idol.

You would be surprised to know that tennis, and not cricket, was Tendulkar’s first choice of sport. But destiny had other ideas and the rest, of course, is history.

#8 Michael Schumacher

Schumacher called Senna one of the fastest drivers in f1 history

The seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has won the hearts of many fans through his record-breaking career. Regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, Schumacher idolised the three-time F1 World champion Ayrton Senna.

Senna was killed in an accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He is still remembered as one the fastest drivers of the modern era.

#9 Lionel Messi

Messi has idolised Pablo Aimar since his childhood

Known as one of the most gifted players ever, Lionel Messi is a name that needs no introcduction. He is not a just a football star, he is a phenomenon.

In 2002, Messi said that the former Argentine star footballer Pablo Aimar is his childhood idol, who at that time played for Valencia. Aimar is best known for his playmaking skills and the way he created opportunities for his fellow team-mates by his dribbling and passing.

#10 Eugenie Bouchard

Bouchard is a self-confessed Federer fan

The new star of the tennis world and current world number 7, Eugenie Bouchard made headlines when she reached the finals of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships. And she looks up to none other than the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer.

‘Genie’ first met her idol Federer at the 2012 Wimbledon Ball, and she recalls that day as the highlight of her tennis career.