1

Babe Ruth

Image: Thomas Park

What is considered America's pastime by everyone else was the great passion of Babe Ruth's life.

Born George Herman Ruth Jr. on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland, Babe was a child known for his difficult behavior. When he turned seven, his parents made the difficult decision to send him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys. The school was a strict and rule-filled environment, but it was there that Babe Ruth's passion for baseball developed.

By his early twenties, he was already known as a talented pitcher. Throughout his career, he won seven World Series Championships, three with the Boston Red Sox and four with the New York Yankees. In 1936, he became one of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2

Serena Williams

Image: Ariv Gupta

While many of us can't even remember what we were doing at the age of three, the incredible Serena Williams was already practicing tennis with her sister Venus and her father.

Known globally as one of the greatest tennis players in history, Serena has filled her resume with titles, trophies, victories, and records.

Four Gold Olympic Medals and an impressive 23 Grand Slam singles titles definitely made her a tennis legend. And as if her athletic achievements were not enough, Serena Williams is also a standout businesswoman today.

3

Muhammad Ali

Image: Nelson Ndongala

Louisville, Kentucky, was the birthplace of the man who would become one of the world's greatest sports stars. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, the man we all remember today as Muhammad Ali began his sporting life at the age of 12 when he started training as an amateur boxer.

The rest is history. With an Olympic Gold Medal, three world heavyweight championships, 56 wins (37 by knockout), and an incredible legacy, Ali is widely and rightly recognized as one of the most important sports figures of the 20th century.

4

Tiger Woods

Image: Robert Ruggiero

If we had to list all of Tiger Woods ' sporting achievements, we'd be here all day, right?

The GOAT of Golf was born Eldrick Tont Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, and from a very young age, he showed his great talent for this sport.

After winning several titles in college and as an amateur player, Tiger became a professional player in 1996, and since then, he hasn't stopped winning and winning.

Tiger has gone on to win 15 major championships, including three U.S. Opens, four Masters titles, three Open Championships, and five PGA Championships, and held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 683 weeks!

5

Michael Jordan

Image: Robin Gislain Gessy

Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and developed a passion for basketball at a young age, largely thanks to his brother, Larry.

In high school, he developed his competitive spirit and sportsmanship, qualities that, combined with his talent, led him to become the star he is today.

While it is hard to list all of his feats, we believe it is necessary to mention some of Jordan's highlights: two Olympic Gold Medals, six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (earning NBA Finals MVP honors each time), and five NBA MVP awards. These achievements, among many others, make up the long list of victories of this NBA legend.

6

Michael Phelps

Image: Braden Egli

Michael Phelps , born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland, was a very energetic child. Fortunately, at the age of seven, he discovered a perfect outlet for all that enthusiasm: swimming.

His talent and dedication combined to create a world-class athlete, and by the age of 15, he was participating in his first Olympics!

In 2004, he stood out at the Athens Olympics, winning six gold medals. In 2008, he made history by winning a record-breaking eight gold medals in a single Olympics.

"The Baltimore Bullet" has won a total of 23 gold medals in his career, more than any other Olympic athlete in history!

7

Simone Biles

Image: Brian Wangenheim

One of the youngest on this list, Simone Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio.

Considered by many as the world's greatest gymnast ever , Simone was raised by her grandparents. Her sporting career began as a child when an attentive instructor recognized her talent and suggested she take gymnastics classes.

At the age of 14, she was already competing at high levels and never went unnoticed. In 2013, she won her first of many World Championship titles, demonstrating her incredible talent and ability to perform moves that other gymnasts could not.

8

Tom Brady

Image: Thomas Park

Of course, we can't overlook this legendary figure of American football . We're talking about none other than the great Tom Brady .

Considered by many the greatest quarterback of all time , Brady was born into a sports-loving family, which allowed him to showcase his skills when he was still a young boy.

Brady was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft. The Patriots' choice was incredibly wise, as he played for the team for 20 seasons, during which he and coach Bill Belichick formed what became known as the "Patriots dynasty." He also led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories!

During his last three seasons as a professional, he played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not without winning another Super Bowl with them.

9

LeBron James

Image: Markus Spiske

The great "King James" was born LeBron Raymone James on December 30, 1984 , in Akron, Ohio. Since he was very young, he showed basketball skills, which were highlighted during his time at high school.

LeBron was the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his career. He later played with the Miami Heat, and finally, he became a legend with the Lakers.

LeBron has a long list of accomplishments in his sports career, making him one of the few who can be compared to Jordan. With four NBA Championships, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, two Olympic Gold Medals, and many other awards and distinctions, LeBron is indisputably one of the best at what he does.

10

Billie Jean King

Image: Valentin Balan

BJK was born Billie Jean Moffitt on November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California. Her love for tennis began at a very young age when a friend lent her a racket. Her natural talent soon showed: she won her first major junior championship at the age of 14, and from then on, she didn't stop.

With 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 singles titles, 16 women's doubles titles, 11 mixed doubles titles, and holding the title of world No. 1 for many years, BJK rightfully holds the label of "Queen."

In 1973, Billie won the legendary "Battle of the Sexes," a tennis match against Bobby Riggs , who had challenged her. With this and many other victories, King paved the way for many women in the world of tennis and sports in general, which is why she is considered a pioneer in her field.

1

Original Coke

Image: Deepal Tamang

How it all started. On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton served the world's first Coca-Cola at Jacobs Drug Store in Atlanta, Georgia, and American life would never be the same again. Based on coca leaf and cola nut, the recipe for the original Coke is one of the best-kept secrets in history. Since its invention almost 140 years ago, this mysterious, dark, sweet, bubbly, and stimulating liquid has become one of the world's most widely known and consumed soft drinks.

2

Vanilla Coke

Image: kkk

Vanilla Coke was first introduced in the United States in 2002. The new drink consisted of original Coca-Cola flavor with natural vanilla extract added to the formula. Shortly after its launch, the vanilla soft drink became a success, selling millions of units. However, by 2006, sales had dropped considerably, and the product was eventually withdrawn from the market.

Yet, Vanilla Coke would not give up so easily. Its fans began to campaign online to make the company reintroduce it. Luckily for them, the drink eventually returned to the shelves in 2007.

3

Coca-Cola with Lime

Image: stevepb

​​Many people add a few drops of lime to their glass of Coke, so why wouldn't the company launch a ready-to-drink product? Coca-Cola with Lime was first introduced in the United States in 2005 during a broadcast of American Idol. As the name suggests, it has the taste of Coca-Cola with the addition of lime flavor. Did you like it, or were you one of the many naysayers?

4

Starlight

Image: Joey Csunyo

A Coke inspired by space? Believe it or not, in 2022, Coca-Cola launched —no pun intended— a variant of the drink to bring the taste of space down to Earth. You're probably wondering what it tastes like, and so are we! According to the company, Coca-Cola Starlight’s taste "includes additional notes reminiscent of stargazing around a campfire, as well as a cooling sensation that evokes the feeling of a cold journey to space." Would you dare to try it?

5

Dreamworld

Image: Marjan Blan

Like Starlight, Dreamworld was a 2022 limited edition. In this case, Coca-Cola wanted people to be able to taste dreams. We have no idea what that means exactly, but it sure has sparked our curiosity. Not convinced yet? According to the company, Coke Dreamworld "bottles up the technicolor tastes and surrealism of the subconscious." If only we could travel back in time to put it to the test!

6

Cherry Coke

Image: Frank Tunder

Based on a mix of cherry syrup and Coca-Cola, Cherry Coke was first introduced in 1982 at the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. It wasn’t until three years later that the new soft drink officially hit supermarket shelves worldwide. Cherry Coke was the first flavored Coca-Cola, and its success was so great that in the following years not only did Light and Zero versions emerge, but it also has a large and strong cult fan base.

7

Coca-Cola Blāk

Image: himanshu Chaudhary

As if the caffeine already in Coca-Cola wasn't enough to wake up any sleepyhead, in 2006 the company launched Coca-Cola BlāK. This soft drink that blends the taste of Coke with coffee was introduced in response to the overwhelming success of the early 2000s energy drinks and coffee chains. Despite its novel and sophisticated packaging design, consumers didn't quite like the sweetener’s artificial aftertaste, and it was finally discontinued just 2 years after its launch.

8

Coke Plus Coffee

Image: Nikolai Chernichenko

Coca-Cola Wouldn’t give up and, despite Coca-Cola BlāK's fiasco, in 2021 introduced a new product that paired the legendary soft drink with coffee. The difference with its predecessor was that Coke Plus Coffee contained more real coffee, specifically 100% Brazilian coffee. If you think the company got the experiment right this time, you're wrong. Coke Plus Coffee barely lasted a year on American shelves.

9

Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar OREO

Image: Shubham Kumar

Soda that tastes like cookies and cookies that taste like soda? Coca-Cola and Oreo thought this was a good idea and in 2024 launched a limited edition collaboration that included an Oreo-flavored Coca-Cola and a Coca-Cola-flavored cookie. According to the companies, the products are "a delicious duo that celebrates friendship with every sip". Those who have tried them claim that indeed the drink tastes like Oreo and the cookies like Coke —whatever that means. The Oreos even contain popping candy for a real fizzy vibe! Would you be willing to try them?

10

Coke Cinnamon

Image: Alex Bayev

If they tried cherry, lime, and vanilla, cinnamon was the obvious next step. Coca-Cola Cinnamon was introduced in September 2019, just in time for the holiday season. It was supposed to be a limited edition, but it was such a success that it was re-released the following winter. The taste? As expected!

11

Diet Coke Plus

Image: Brett Jordan

With the turn of the century, sugary drinks got a backlash from groups advocating healthier eating. In an attempt to improve its image, in 2007, Coca-Cola launched Diet Coke Plus, a drink that, they claimed, was enriched with vitamins and minerals. The attempt ended up backfiring: the United States Food and Drug Administration wrote a warning letter to the company for violating its guidelines. Coca-Cola stated that Diet Coke Plus didn’t involve any health or safety issues, but the product was eventually discontinued.

12

California Raspberry and Georgia Peach

Image: One Day

Locally inspired by these states' signature fruits, California Raspberry and Georgia Peach were the first new Coca-Cola flavors since 2002. Launched in 2018 to compete with craft sodas, these new drinks promised to " add a pop of local flavor to the timeless taste you love." Although many people actually loved the new beverages, the company pulled them from the market in 2020. Ever got the chance to try them?

1

Punxsutawney Phil

Image: Steve Wrzeszczynski

Every February 2nd, the eyes of the nation turn to a small town in western Pennsylvania. That’s where Punxsutawney Phil, a weather-predicting groundhog , is roused from his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob to look for his shadow.

According to tradition, if he sees it, we get six more weeks of winter; if not, spring is just around the corner. The quirky ritual began in 1887 and has since grown into a full-blown celebration.

2

Balto

Image: Meg von Haartman

In the winter of 1925, a deadly diphtheria outbreak threatened the remote town of Nome, Alaska. It was the sturdy Siberian Husky Balto who helped deliver the lifesaving antitoxin across snow and blizzard conditions to Nome.

Although dozens of dogs and mushers contributed to what became known as the Great Race of Mercy , Balto was hailed as a national hero. He even received his own statue in New York’s Central Park just a year later—a monument that still stands today, inscribed with the words: "Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence."

3

Seaman (a.k.a. "Scannon")

Image: The New York Public Library

In 1803, explorer Meriwether Lewis purchased a Newfoundland dog for $20 and named him Seaman. The dog became a four-legged member of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition .

He accompanied the Corps of Discovery as they crossed the North American continent, helping with hunting, standing guard, and even surviving a wound from a beaver attack.

The funny bit is that for a long time it was believed that William Clark’s journals referred to the dog as "Scannon," but it might have been a dizzy transcription of his handwriting.

4

Smoky the War Dog

Image: Simona Jašauskytė

Found in a foxhole in New Guinea during World War II, Smoky was a Yorkshire Terrier weighing just four pounds—but her size turned out to be her superpower .

She was trained by her rescuer, Corporal William Wynne, and famously ran communication wires through a narrow pipe beneath an airstrip in Luzon, Philippines.

After the war, Smoky became one of the first recorded therapy dogs, visiting wounded soldiers and performing tricks to lift their spirits. Today, she is honored with memorials in both the U.S. and Australia.

5

Sergeant Reckless

Image: Irina Nakonechnaya

During the Korean War, a small Mongolian mare purchased by U.S. Marines for $250 and nicknamed Reckless made multiple trips through enemy fire to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers, sometimes entirely on her own.

For her bravery, she was promoted to Staff Sergeant , awarded two Purple Hearts, and allowed to eat scrambled eggs, Coca-Cola, and beer with the troops. Today, statues in Virginia and California honor her legacy.

6

Cher Ami

Image: William Chen

In the chaos of World War I, a pigeon named Cher Ami saved nearly 200 men from the "Lost Battalion" by flying a crucial message across enemy lines —despite being shot, blinded in one eye, and wounded in her leg during the flight.

Her message arrived, artillery fire was redirected, and the soldiers were rescued. For her bravery, Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and was later taxidermied after her death. You can still visit her at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

7

Old Bob

Image: Philippe Oursel

Abraham Lincoln’s beloved driving horse , Old Bob, was a familiar sight in Springfield, Illinois, often seen trotting through town pulling the future president’s buggy.

But his most memorable appearance came in 1865, when he walked riderless and draped in a mourning blanket during Lincoln’s funeral procession. The image of the grieving horse moved the nation and was widely reproduced in illustrations and prints.

8

Pauline Wayne

Image: Susan van Bragt

Pauline Wayne, a Holstein cow, was the last cow to reside at the White House. Gifted to President William Howard Taft by a Wisconsin senator, Pauline grazed on the White House lawn and provided fresh milk for the First Family.

She even survived a brief brush with danger when she was mistakenly sent to a slaughterhouse during a train trip—but was rescued just in time.

9

Macaroni

Image: Sergej Karpow

When Lyndon B. Johnson gifted a pony to young Caroline Kennedy in the early 1960s, he probably didn’t expect Macaroni to become a national sensation—but that’s exactly what happened.

The little white Shetland pony often grazed on the White House lawn, delighting photographers and stealing the spotlight during Camelot-era press coverage. Macaroni received fan mail, appeared in Life magazine, and even inspired a song by folk legend Pete Seeger.

10

Old Abe

Image: Arnaud Padallé

Old Abe was a bald eagle who became the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Perched on a shield-topped staff, he accompanied troops into battle, reportedly screaming whenever gunfire broke out.

He survived multiple campaigns and quickly gained legendary status, later appearing on military insignia and even on U.S. war bond posters in both World Wars.

11

Fala

Image: D_Theodora

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier, Fala, traveled with him on countless trips, had a press secretary, and even appeared in cartoons and newsreels.

One of the most famous White House pets in history , Fala was awarded a unique honor: he is the only presidential pet with a statue near his owner’s memorial in Washington, D.C.

12

Checkers

Image: SlimMars 13

In 1952, then–vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon gave a nationally broadcast speech defending himself against accusations of financial impropriety. His emotional turning point was declaring that he would keep one gift no matter what: a black-and-white cocker spaniel named Checkers, beloved by his daughters.

Some believe the heartfelt mention of the pet was inspired by the earlier success of Fala. The speech struck such a chord that it is still known today as "the Checkers speech."