Tim Duncan, originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, took the NBA by storm as the top draft pick in 1997. He joined the Spurs and helped them to win two NBA championships in his first six seasons. As well as being a powerhouse basketball player, Duncan is also very active with charities and the community. He and his wife formed the Tim Duncan Foundation, which focuses on causes that benefit breast and prostate cancer research, as well as community needs.

When Kobe Bryant went straight from high school to join the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1996, he was the youngest player in the league. That same year, Kobe became the youngest player to ever start in an All-Star Game, and he was just getting started. With five NBA championships and the league Most Valuable Player award for the 2007–2008 season, Kobe dominated the competition. Learn more about one of the NBA’s all-time greats.

Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon tennis championship when she was just 17 years old. When she won the French Open eight years later, Maria became the tenth woman in history to complete a career Grand Slam by winning all four major tennis tournaments. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Maria's movie-star looks have helped make her one of the most popular sports figures in the world. But she's proven time after time that she's more than just a pretty face. Learn more about this stylish star at the top of her game.

When Eli Manning joined the NFL after being chosen with the first pick in the 2004 draft, many people compared him to his older brother Peyton. After Eli led his New York Giants to victory in the 2007-2008 Super Bowl, people stopped wondering if he was as good as his brother. When Eli was named Super Bowl MVP and the Giants won the big game again in 2011-2012, people began comparing him to football's all-time great quarterbacks.

Soccer superstar David Beckham is one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Born in Great Britain, David was playing for England's top soccer team by the age of twenty. David moved to the United States in 2007 and joined the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2011, David led the Galaxy to victory in the Major League Soccer (MLS) championship. Learn more about the life of one of sports' biggest stars.

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki didn't grow up with a basketball in his hands. Dirk was born in Wurzburg, Germany, where soccer is the most popular sport. But as a teenager, Dirk discovered that he was a natural basketball player. After being selected in the 1998 NBA draft, the powerful 7'0" forward quickly proved that he is more than just a tall player. In 2011 Dirk was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBA Finals as Dallas beat the Miami Heat to become world champions. Learn more about Dirk's unusual journey to the top of the basketball world.

On snowboarder Shaun White's first run on the halfpipe at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, he set the high score and secured the gold medal. On his second run, which people called a "victory lap," Shaun set an even higher score to destroy the competition. But Shaun is more than a two-time Olympic snowboarding champion. He's also a world-class skateboarder. As the first person to compete in both the Summer and Winter X Games, Shaun is the biggest star in two sports. Learn more about his high-flying skills and unique personality.