Eight athletes included on the TIME 100 most influential list

Tennis star Naomi Osaka is the only athlete to hold her place on Time Magazine’s annual list of the most influential people in the world.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lewis Hamilton and Naomi Osaka.

Athletes have been at the forefront of social activism in 2020 — and it’s been recognised in Time Magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people.

Eight sport stars were included, led by tennis champ Naomi Osaka who appears for the second consecutive year.

Osaka delivered a powerful message on racism in America by wearing seven different masks bearing the name of a victim of police brutality to her seven matches during her US Open triumph.

“She reminded us that we can all resist the excuses that guard us from giving love,” ex-WNBA star Maya Moore wrote. “Whatever power we have, the most lasting and life-­giving way we can steward that power is by using it to lift others up. Especially those who aren’t exactly like us.”

Moore, who is one of the most decorated female basketballers in history but walked away from the game to fight for the release of a wrongly-convicted prisoner, made the list too.

She was one of three basketballers, alongside back-to-back NBA MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo and former star Dwyane Wade.

Antetokounmpo took his game to new heights in 2020 but also made a stand by joining his Milwaukee Bucks teammates in refusing to play in a playoff game after a police shooting.

“Giannis sets an example by standing up for what he believes in,” wrote NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Giannis and tennis player Naomi Osaka.

Wade was recognised for his outspoken support of his transgender daughter.

“He’s modelling how parents can champion their kids, and fight for them, and help them become the best adult that they can be. I think that’s really beautiful,” artist John Legend wrote of Wade.

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton, who gave the Black Lives Matter movement a global platform by kneeling before races, runner Allyson Felix, who forced Nike to improve its treatment of athletes who fall pregnant, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, whose activism for gender pay equality and LGBTQ rights is unrelenting, and Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes were also honoured.

Last year’s list included LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Osaka, Alex Morgan, Mohamed Salah and Caster Semenya.