Athletes on TIME's 100 Most Influential People (2026)

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Alysa Liu
by Bowen Yang (Emmy-nominated Actor and Comedian)





How can someone be so casual about being the best in the world? That’s for Alysa Liu to know and the rest of us to witness in a screaming frenzy. She’s flipped her ponytail after finishing a historic program that won her an Olympic gold medal for figure skating. She’s shrugged off inane questions while sending a song to the top of the charts. She’s somehow made her triumphs feel unsentimental to herself but meaningful to everyone else.

She is also a wonderful friend, a loyal teammate, a style icon with an activist lineage and impeccable music taste. All of those selves converge when she takes the ice, completely relaxed, ready to present something greater than the sum of its lutzes, set to multiple Gaga medleys. (Like I said: taste.)



Watching her from the stands in Milan, I felt so many inherited knots of expectation loosening: filial piety, social pressure, un-striped hair. That’s what great artists do: they make you reconsider what you’ve been carrying, and invite you to join them in being light on their feet.

What can I say? What can I do? I’m a fan of Alysa’s for life, and I won’t be casual about it.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...026/alysa-liu/









Chloe Kim
by Sunisa Lee (Olympic Gold Medalist in Gymnastics)





Chloe Kim makes effort look cool. Any athlete who has competed at the highest level knows how much work goes into moments that look effortless from the outside. What I love about Chloe is that she doesn’t pretend it’s easy. She embraces the grind of Olympic snowboarding and still brings so much style, confidence, and personality to everything she does.

This past year, she’s continued to show what it means to compete on your own terms. Chloe has been open about the pressures of elite sports and unapologetic about protecting her mental health. That kind of honesty is powerful, especially for young athletes who are watching and learning what success can actually look like.

Chloe shows up exactly as herself, and that authenticity resonates far beyond snowboarding. Seeing Chloe lead with that confidence means so much to me as an Asian American athlete. She’s showing young girls everywhere that they belong in spaces where they may not always see themselves, and that they can succeed without changing who they are.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...026/chloe-kim/









Scottie Scheffler
by Tony Romo (CBS Sports Analyst and Former NFL Quarterback)





From the moment I met Scottie Scheffler, I could tell he was mature beyond his years. To see a young player become this dominant is rare, especially in golf—unless you have something special inside of you. All of the time he has spent at the course all these years is a big reason he is so successful, but his faith and foundation are equally paramount.

He has such great perspective on everything. His faith is a strong component of why I believe he’s as great a player as he is. There’s a gift in that. It allows him to be freed up in high-pressure situations. He has a strong will and full belief in himself when he steps over a shot. We play a lot of golf together, and his commitment to his craft—and his love of the game—is impressive.

I think he’ll remain at the top for years to come because of the pure joy he has grabbing a golf club and hitting a golf ball. Although I’m going to beat him one day. I have every faith.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...tie-scheffler/









Hilary Knight
by Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Peace Prize Laureat)





For female athletes, playing a sport is more than competition—it’s a statement. With every game, the players are proving that women’s sports are an economy, a culture, a force.

Hilary Knight embodies it all. The greatest player in the history of women’s hockey holds all-time World Championship records for goals, assists, and points, along with two Olympic gold medals. She loves the sport so completely, she never stops finding new ways to be great.



But her legacy extends far beyond the record books. A critical voice in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s fight for fair pay, Hilary advocated for better wages, investment in girls’ programs, and greater visibility for women’s teams. She helped build the Professional Women’s Hockey League from the ground up—and ensured the road will be easier for the next generation.

In the final at this year’s Olympics, the U.S. team trailed Canada 1-0 late in the third period. With barely two minutes remaining, Hilary scored a goal and tied up the game, paving the way for her team’s victory in overtime.

Of course she did. That is what Hilary has always done. She shows up, she fights for what matters, and when the moment comes, she is ready.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...hilary-knight/









Lando Norris
by Paris Hilton (Entrepeneur and Philanthropist)





I first met Lando Norris at F1 Miami, and I instantly loved his energy. He’s obviously incredibly talented, but what really makes him stand out is how kind, genuine, and down-to-earth he is. Even with all the pressure of the spotlight, he stays grounded, which is rare. Watching him become world champion in 2025 was honestly amazing—so well deserved, and such a major moment.

I’ve also seen him with fans at races, and it’s very special. He takes the time to connect with everyone, and you can tell it truly means something to him. He’s so fun, warm, and approachable. I love that he’s inspiring so many people by showing that you can work hard, reach the top, and still stay completely true to yourself.

https://time.com/collection/100-most.../lando-norris/









Noah Lyles
by Willy Chavarria (Fashion Designer)





Noah Lyles is one of the fastest men in the world, winning his fourth consecutive 200-m dash at the World Championships in 2025. But he also represents a kind of modern excellence that transcends sport. What resonates most with me is his ability to hold both power and vulnerability at once; there’s confidence, but also a real sense of intention in how he moves through the world. He understands that being seen isn’t only about performance, it’s about presence.

In many ways, he’s redefining strength for a new generation through openly talking about his experiences with mental health, while also being expressive and unapologetically himself. That idea connects deeply to my work as a designer. I’m always thinking about how clothing can amplify that energy, how it can honor a person’s story rather than compete with it.

Noah has that rare quality where he’s not simply running races, he’s shifting perception. He brings together style, discipline, and emotion in a way that feels powerful and necessary, and that’s incredibly inspiring to witness.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...26/noah-lyles/