Sportsperson of the Year Winners
2023
Jeffery A. Salter/Sports Illustrated
Deion Sanders
2022
Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated
Stephen Curry
2021
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated
Tom Brady
2020
Illustration by Alexis Franklin
Naomi Osaka
2020
Illustration by Alexis Franklin
LeBron James
2020
Illustration by Alexis Franklin
Patrick Mahomes
2020
Illustration by Alexis Franklin
Breanna Stewart
2020
Illustration by Alexis Franklin
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
2019
Jeffery A. Salter/Sports Illustrated
Megan Rapinoe
2018
Illustration by Mark Hammermeister
Golden State Warriors
2017
Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated
José Altuve and J.J. Watt
2016
Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated
LeBron James
2015
Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated
Serena Williams
2014
Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated
Madison Bumgarner
2013
John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated
Peyton Manning
2012
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
LeBron James
2011
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated
Pat Summitt and Mike Krzyzewski
2010
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Drew Brees
2009
Gregory Heisler/Sports Illustrated
Derek Jeter
2008
Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated
Michael Phelps
2007
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Brett Favre
2006
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Dwyane Wade
2005
Lynn Johnson/Sports Illustrated
Tom Brady
2004
Photomosaic by Robert Silvers
Boston Red Sox
2003
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated
Tim Duncan and David Robinson
2002
Jonas Karlsson/Sports Illustrated
Lance Armstrong
2001
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated
Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson
2000
Gerard Rancinan/Sports Illustrated
Tiger Woods
1999
Mark Abrahams/Sports Illustrated
U.S. Women’s Soccer Team
1998
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa
1997
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated
Dean Smith
1996
Illustration by Lauren Uram
Tiger Woods
1995
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated (left); Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Cal Ripken Jr.
1994
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated
Bonnie Blair and Johann Olav Koss
1993
Illustration by Mark Summers
Don Shula
1992
Michael O'Neill/Sports Illustrated
Arthur Ashe
1991
Hologram by Sharon McCormack
Michael Jordan
1990
Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated
Joe Montana
1989
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated
Greg LeMond
1988
Illustration by Pier Consagra
Orel Hershiser
1987
Illustration by Richard Hess
Rory Sparrow, Patty Sheehan, Reggie Williams, Chip Rives, Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Dale Murphy and Kip Keino
1986
Ronald C. Modra/Sports Illustrated
Joe Paterno
1985
Illustration by Larry Rivers
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1984
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Mary Lou Retton and Edwin Moses
1983
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated
Mary Decker
1982
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated
Wayne Gretzky
1981
Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated
Sugar Ray Leonard
1980
Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated
U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
1979
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw
1978
Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated
Jack Nicklaus
1977
Anthony Edgeworth/Sports Illustrated
Steve Cauthen
1976
Graham Finlayson/Sports Illustrated
Chris Evert
1975
Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated
Pete Rose
1974
Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated
Muhammad Ali
1973
Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated
Jackie Stewart
1972
Stephen Green-Armytage/Sports Illustrated
John Wooden and Billie Jean King
1971
Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated
Lee Trevino
1970
Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated
Bobby Orr
1969
James Drake/Sports Illustrated
Tom Seaver
1968
James Drake/Sports Illustrated
Bill Russell
1967
Fred Kaplan/Sports Illustrated
Carl Yastrzemski
1966
Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated
Jim Ryun
1965
Robert Huntzinger/Sports Illustrated
Sandy Koufax
1964
Jay Maisel/Sports Illustrated (left); Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated (right)
Ken Venturi
1963
Ben Rose/Sports Illustrated
Pete Rozelle
1962
Neal Barr/Sports Illustrated
Terry Baker
1961
Illustration by Robert Weaver
Jerry Lucas
1960
Illustration by Thomas B. Allen
Arnold Palmer
1959
John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated
Ingemar Johansson
1958
John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated
Rafer Johnson
1957
John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated (Musial)
Stan Musial
1956
Phil Bath/Sports Illustrated
Bobby Morrow
1955
Richard Meek/Sports Illustrated
Johnny Podres
1954
Mark Kauffman/Sports Illustrated
Roger Bannister
