Most Inspiring Sportspeople From Colorado, USA
The great US state of Colorado is perhaps best known for its stunning scenery and mountainous terrain which for centuries has epitomized the natural beauty that really makes North America worth visiting.
The folks who make their livelihoods in the state are hardy, having to wrestle with extreme weather conditions and unforgiving terrain their entire lives. Of course, Denver is the epicenter of the human endeavor that comes out of Colorado, but this article highlights some of the most inspirational athletes that have hailed from the state as a whole. Which of these famous names did you not realize came from what is known as The Centennial State?
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Jack Dempsey
The mark of a true sporting great is when any time there are discussions about who the greatest of all time is within a certain field, their name is quoted. Such is the case with Dempsey who, were he still operating today, would probably operate as a cruiserweight or light-heavyweight rather than a heavyweight, but would no doubt still begin each bout as a heavy betting favorite.
From 1919 until 1926 Dempsey was the most dominant heavyweight fighter on the planet and was arguably the first prize fighting box office draw, with his knockout approach to fights earning him in excess of $1m for some of his outings.
Today’s knockout artists, such as Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, owe a debt of gratitude to Dempsey for setting the bar in boxing’s marquee weight division, one which still holds huge sway within sports betting in Colorado and beyond. One thing is for sure, Dempsey never let any sports bettors of his era down, delivering an incredible 51 Knockouts from just 66 fights.
Mikaela Shiffrin
Another sure bet every time she takes to the slopes is the diminutive Mikaela Shiffrin, who grew up amongst the mountains of Colorado before going on to become the most decorated American downhill skier ever, even surpassing her idol, Lindsey Vonn.
After injury stalled her progress in 2020 and early 2021, there are now signs that she is nearing her best form again having won recent races in Killington, USA, and Courchevel, France. At the age of just 26, there is no ceiling to the potential of this incredible athlete, who still has the drive to become the undisputed GOAT of women’s skiing.
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Mallory Pugh
When most people think of Denver football it is the Broncos that come to mind, but actually, Mallory Pugh is the area’s most accomplished footballer, having notched an impressive 18 goals for Team USA at the international level. Those goals led to her being named young player of the year for 2015. Injuries have plagued her career since, but she is still viewed as one of the best strikers in the women’s game and should not be discounted from making a resurgence in the near future.
Chauncey Billups
Billups had to be on this list because not only was he one of the best NBA players of his generation, but he has since gone on to become an elite level head coach now leading the charge at the Portland Trailblazers. His seamless transition into coaching will have come as no surprise to those players he shared a dressing room with him back in the day, because he was always known as being a leader both on and off the court.
Among his achievements was an NBA Championship ring earned in 2004, when he also happened to be named the NBA Finals MVP. He was also a five-time NBA All-Star as well as having the honor of the Detroit Pistons retiring his No. 1 jersey. Not bad for a relatively undersized guy out of Denver, Colorado!
