10 Hispanic American Athletes Who Broke Records and Made History

Ted Williams holds one of baseball’s most iconic milestones as the last player with a .400 or higher batting average, which he accomplished in 1941.

However, Williams was keeping a secret at a time when racial discrimination remained prevalent in baseball: He had Mexican-American heritage, a fact he hid throughout his playing career. Both of his maternal grandparents were from Mexico, and his mother May Venzor was “part Mexican and part French,” he revealed in his 1970 autobiography.

Williams, who died in 2002 at age 83, is still considered one of the greatest hitters of all-time and won six batting titles. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966.

Born in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente emerged as one of baseball’s biggest stars during the 1960s. He won four batting titles and 12 Gold Glove awards for his outfield defense with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A noted philanthropist, Clemente tragically died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972, while delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. “Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth,” Clemente said.

MLB annually presents the Roberto Clemente Award to a player who best represents baseball through “extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions” on and off the field.

Golfer Nancy Lopez experienced discrimination because of her heritage, as her hometown country club in Roswell, New Mexico, didn’t allow members of Mexican descent—including her parents. She didn’t let it stop her from chasing her dream.

Lopez became one of the sport’s biggest superstars, winning 48 LPGA Tour events and earning election to the Golf Hall of Fame in 1987.

“When I was growing up, it was a rich man’s sport—very expensive for me to play—and now so many people are working toward getting Hispanic young people to play the game, which is really, really great,” Lopez, now 68, told ESPN.

Boxing was a family affair for Oscar De La Hoya, whose grandfather, Vicente, and father, Joel, were both fighters. Neither reached the heights of Oscar, nicknamed the “Golden Boy,” who appropriately won a gold medal for the United States at the 1992 Olympics.

De La Hoya, now 52, won 10 world titles across six weight classes during his professional career and finished with an overall record of 39-6-0 and 30 wins by knockout.

The star pugilist is now one of the biggest marketers in the sport as the leader of Golden Boy Promotions.

Read More About Oscar De La Hoya

Growing up, Tony Gonzalez didn’t have a lot of Hispanic role models in the NFL. Especially at tight end, with some of the league’s earliest stars including Mike Ditka and Jackie Smith. “When I was younger, let’s face it, Latinos in the league were almost always kickers,” Gonzalez said.

But the California native, now 49, helped break that stereotype. Gonzalez played 17 seasons at tight end and was one of the most sure-handed pass catchers of his generation. The first-ballot Hall of Famer is the all-time leader at the position in receptions (1,325) and receiving yards (15,127).

Other stars like Anthony Muñoz (offensive tackle) and Victor Cruz (wide receiver) helped pave the way for Latino players in other roles.

Born in New York City, Alex Rodriguez began playing baseball at age 4 after moving with his family to the Dominican Republic. By age 17, he was the top pick in the 1993 MLB draft.

Rodriguez became one of the greatest power-hitting shortstops ever, blasting 696 home runs during his career and winning three MVP awards. He also won the World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009.

However, his admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs during his career has left many to question the legitimacy of his accolades. This is reflected in Hall of Fame voting, with Rodriguez, 50, still on the ballot after four years and yet to be elected as of 2025.

Read More About Alex Rodriguez

Laurie Hernandez was only 16 when she stepped onto the biggest stage in gymnastics, where she shined.

Hernandez, whose grandparents arrived in the United States from Puerto Rico, won team gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics with Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, and Madison Kocian—now affectionately known as the “Final Five.” She added an individual silver on the balance beam for good measure.

Now 25, Hernandez is a gymnastics color commentator and Mirrorball champion from her appearance on the reality show Dancing with the Stars. We wonder if she keeps the trophy with all of her medals.

Basketball great Diana Taurasi couldn’t be stopped in college, the pros, or the Olympics.

The 43-year-old, whose parents emigrated from Argentina to the United States, won three national championships at the University of Connecticut before joining the WNBA. She retired in 2025 as the league’s all-time leading scorer with more than 10,000 career points. Taurasi was also the catalyst for six consecutive Olympic gold medals with Team USA, including last year in Paris.

No wonder NBA legend Kobe Bryant dubbed her the “White Mamba” for her competitive instinct and overall dominance.

A high school hoops phenom in Maryland, Carmelo Anthony won an NCAA championship at Syracuse University and developed into one of the NBA’s top scorers. He ranks 10th all-time in points (28,289) and will be inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year—as an individual and member of the gold medal-winning 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation presented Anthony, 41, with a Hispanic Heritage Award for Sports in 2024, celebrating his basketball and philanthropic endeavors. “My connection to my heritage and community has always been a central part of my life and career,” he said.

Read More About Carmelo Anthony

Daniel Suárez made NASCAR history in 2016 when he won the Xfinity Series season title—becoming the first foreign-born champion in the sport’s almost-70-year existence.

Born in Monterrey, Mexico, dual U.S. citizen Suárez has competed in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series since 2017. He’s won two races at the top level, most recently the 2024 Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in a three-wide photo finish.

Suárez, 33, also drove for a famous Hispanic American team owner, musician Pitbull, who partnered with his team Trackhouse Racing from 2021 through 2025.