ATHLETES from Venezuela

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Venezuelan Athletes of all time. This list of famous Venezuelan Athletes is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Venezuelan Athletes.

1. Yulimar Rojas (b. 1995)

With an HPI of 42.98, Yulimar Rojas is the most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 37 different languages on wikipedia.

Yulimar Rojas Rodríguez (also known as Yolimar Rojas; born 21 October 1995) is a Venezuelan athlete who holds the world record for women's triple jump, at 15.74 m (51 ft 7+1⁄2 in). She is the 2020 Olympic champion, a four-time World Champion (2017 London, 2019 Doha, 2022 Eugene and 2023 Budapest), and three-time World Indoor Champion (2016 Portland, 2018 Birmingham and 2022 Belgrade); she is nicknamed la reina del triple salto – queen of the triple jump. Since 2014 she has held, and continued to beat, Venezuelan national records in triple jump and long jump. She is a recipient of the Venezuelan Order of José Félix Ribas – First Class. Raised in a deprived area of Venezuela, Rojas was successful in other sports as a teenager but struggled to practice due to lack of resources. Encouraged to move into athletics, she excelled in high jump and sprinting before developing an affinity for the triple jump. She moved to Guadalajara, Spain, in 2015 to continue her athletics training under coach Iván Pedroso, and became dominant in the event. After several years specialising only in the triple jump, she began seriously competing in the long jump again in 2021.

2. Félix Hernández (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 32.29, Félix Hernández is the 2nd most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019. Hernández led the major leagues in wins in 2009, led the American League in earned run average in 2010 and 2014, and won the AL Cy Young Award in 2010. He is a six-time American League All-Star. On August 15, 2012, Hernández threw the 23rd perfect game in MLB history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field by a 1-0 score. Hernández's perfect game was also the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners franchise history. On April 23, 2016, Hernández claimed the record for most strikeouts by a Mariners pitcher when he struck out Rafael Ortega of the Los Angeles Angels for his 2,163rd strikeout. The previous Mariners record of 2,162 strikeouts had been held by Randy Johnson. Hernández's 146th win, which occurred on May 9, gave him the club record in that category as well. For a decade, Hernández was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He was also a fan favorite in Seattle. Known for his durability, Hernández started 30 or more games in each of 10 consecutive seasons. Beginning at age 30, he experienced a series of injuries, a decrease in fastball velocity, and an increase in earned run average. After leaving the Mariners in 2019, Hernández signed with the Atlanta Braves and then with the Baltimore Orioles; however, he did not pitch in the major leagues again. Hernández appeared on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2024.

3. Robeilys Peinado (b. 1997)

With an HPI of 26.63, Robeilys Peinado is the 3rd most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Robeilys Mariley Peinado Méndez (born 26 November 1997) is a Venezuelan athlete whose specialty is pole vaulting. She won the bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships in London. In addition, she won multiple medals in several age categories. Peinado started off as a gymnast but switched to pole vault aged 12 as she was getting too tall for the sport. Her personal best in the event is 4.70 metres set in Cochabamba in 2018. This is the current national record.

4. Adriana Carmona (b. 1973)

With an HPI of 26.40, Adriana Carmona is the 4th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Adriana Carmona (born December 3, 1972, in Puerto La Cruz) is a Venezuelan taekwondo practitioner and Olympic medalist.

5. Dalia Contreras (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 25.71, Dalia Contreras is the 5th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Dalia María Contreras Rivero (born September 20, 1983) is a Venezuelan taekwondo practitioner. She won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in taekwondo. She also competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics, finishing 8th in her weight class. She won a Silver Medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo In the 2002 South American Games in Brazil she finished in the second place in her category (Finweight –47 kg), but the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) gave only gold medals in that category. Finally, in the 2006 South American Games in Buenos Aires, she won the gold medal. Notwithstanding, that year ODESUR gave the silver and bronze medals

6. Cristian Toro (b. 1992)

With an HPI of 19.29, Cristian Toro is the 6th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Cristian Isaac Toro Carballo (born 29 April 1992) is a Spanish canoeist. He competed in the men's K-2 200 metres event at the 2016 Summer Olympics with Saúl Craviotto and won the gold medal.

7. Ahymara Espinoza (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 0.00, Ahymara Espinoza is the 7th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into different languages.

Ahymara del Carmen Espinoza Echenique (born 28 May 1985 in Río Chico, Miranda) is a Venezuelan athlete specialising in the shot put. She represented her country at the 2013 World Championships without qualifying for the final.

8. César Amaris (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 0.00, César Amaris is the 8th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  His biography has been translated into different languages.

César Amaris Fernández (born 27 November 1989) is a Venezuelan rower. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

9. Robert Oramas (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 0.00, Robert Oramas is the 9th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  His biography has been translated into different languages.

Robert Manuel Oramas Brizuela (born Guatire, 9 June 1984) is a Venezuelan volleyball player. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

10. Luis Alberto García (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 0.00, Luis Alberto García is the 10th most famous Venezuelan Athlete.  His biography has been translated into different languages.

Luis Alberto García (born September 9, 1980 in Ciudad Bolívar) is a Venezuelan taekwondo practitioner, who competed in the men's featherweight category. He retrieved a silver medal in the 58-kg division at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and represented his nation Venezuela at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Garcia emerged himself on Venezuela's sporting fame at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where he picked up a silver medal in the men's 58-kg division, losing the final to Mexico's Óscar Salazar. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Garcia qualified for the Venezuelan squad in the men's featherweight class (68 kg), by placing third and granting a berth from the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Paris, France. Garcia crashed out early in a narrow 5–6 defeat to Brazil's Diogo Silva during his opening match. With his Brazilian opponent losing the quarterfinals to Iranian fighter and eventual Olympic champion Hadi Saei, Garcia denied his chance to proceed into the repechage bracket for the Olympic bronze medal.