10 Men Who Killed it in both Classroom and Field

In our school days, many of us used to come up with excuses to cover up our poor performance in tests. One common excuse was blaming upcoming sports events for our lack of study time. Fortunately, our parents didn't know about the exceptional individuals who excelled both in the classroom and on the field. To prevent our own children from resorting to the same excuses, let's take a look at these ten remarkable men who achieved greatness in academics and sports.

10. Gene Tunney

Gene Tunney, a former marine, possessed a sharp mind both inside and outside the boxing ring. Known for his strategic approach and lightning-fast jab, Tunney won an impressive 65 out of 68 matches, with 48 knockouts and only one loss. He defeated legendary boxers like Jack Dempsey, Tommy Gibbons, and George Carpentier. Tunney's achievements earned him the title of Ring Magazine's first-ever Fighter of the Year in 1928. Moreover, he was honored with inductions into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.

What set Tunney apart was his passion for learning. A self-taught man, he avidly read works by Shakespeare, Somerset Maugham, and George Bernard Shaw. In fact, he published a book titled "A Man Must Fight" and even lectured on Shakespeare's lesser-known play, Troilus and Cressida, at Yale University. Gene Tunney epitomized the ideal combination of excellence in both the classroom and the sports arena.

9. Niels Bohr

Niels Bohr, a renowned physicist, revolutionized our understanding of atomic structure with his groundbreaking theories. His Bohr model of electrons orbiting the nucleus earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 at the age of 37. At just 23 years old, he had already been awarded a gold medal from the Academy of Sciences in Copenhagen for solving a scientific problem. Bohr mentored Werner Heisenberg, the physicist who discovered the Uncertainty Principle and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932. Additionally, Bohr's son Aage was also a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1975. Notably, Niels Bohr played professional soccer alongside his brother Harald for Akademisk Boldklub, a Danish soccer club, showcasing his talent both on the field and in the realm of physics.

8. Harald Bohr

Harald Bohr, brother of Niels Bohr, excelled as both a mathematician and a footballer. After earning his doctorate in 1910, he became a prominent mathematician, making significant contributions to the field of "almost periodic functions." Harald served as a professor at Polyteknisk Læreanstalt and later at the University of Copenhagen. Apart from his mathematical accomplishments, he was a skilled football player. He began his football career at Akademisk Boldklub, representing the Danish national football team in the 1908 Summer Olympics. Harald Bohr's popularity even drew a large audience of football fans to his thesis defense.

7. Vitali Klitschko

Vitali Klitschko, also known as Dr. Ironfist, made history as the first heavyweight boxer to hold a PhD. His journey in boxing began at the age of 14 when he started as a kickboxer. In 1996, he embarked on his professional boxing career and won his first 24 fights by knockout or TKO. In June 1999, Klitschko secured the WBO heavyweight title with a second-round knockout victory over Herbie Hide from the United Kingdom. Currently, he is the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and stands as one of the most accomplished individuals who have excelled both in the academic and sporting arenas.

Having won 45 matches, 41 of them by knockout, Klitschko has never been knocked out or knocked down in his career. He is equally impressive outside the ring. In 2000, he defended his doctoral thesis on the subject of "Defining the Abilities of a Boxer in Multistate Selection Sports" at the National University of Physical Education and Sport, earning his doctorate. Klitschko is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, German, and English. Presently, he is pursuing a political career and is considered a key figure in Ukrainian politics. Notably, he has a keen interest in chess. His brother, Vladimir, is also a renowned champion and holds a PhD.

6. Myron Rolle

Myron Rolle's accomplishments both on and off the field are truly remarkable. In high school, he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA, completed 21 credits of Advanced Placement classes, played the saxophone in the school band, and even starred in the lead role of the school's production of "Fiddler on the Roof." At Florida State University, he maintained an impressive 3.75 GPA and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science in just 2.5 years. Rolle's football career was equally remarkable. He was the top football prospect coming out of high school and received AP Third Team All-American honors at FSU. However, he is best known for becoming the first FSU football player to receive a Rhodes Scholarship, an opportunity he chose to pursue at Oxford University. While some doubted his ability to return to football after this academic pursuit, Rolle trained tirelessly by day and studied diligently by night in England. His dedication paid off when he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2010. Rolle has already established his own charitable foundation and plans to become a neurosurgeon. Regarded by Cornel West as "the future of black America," Rolle is undoubtedly a man to watch.

5. Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo, often regarded as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time, enjoyed an illustrious 18-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). When Mutombo arrived in the United States from his native country, he never imagined he would one day play in the NBA. However, Georgetown University's basketball coach, John Thompson, recruited him, setting him on a path to greatness. Mutombo's career achievements include winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times and being selected to the All-Star team eight times. Impressive both on and off the court, Mutombo is multilingual, fluent in nine languages including French and English. In recognition of his humanitarian efforts, Mutombo was awarded honorary doctorates from both Haverford College and Georgetown University. In 1997, he established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. There is no doubt why Mutombo is considered one of the top individuals who excelled academically and athletically.

4. Eric Prabhakar

Eric Prabhakar, one of India's first Olympians, demonstrated excellence in both sports and academics. Born in Chennai, he dominated the national sprinting scene in the 1940s. While blazing across the track, he also played cricket as the opening bowler for his college team and captained the college hockey team. Prabhakar completed his Master's degree in economics with first-class honors from the Madras Christian College before receiving the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford. It was at Oxford where he met athletics legend Roger Bannister. Prabhakar achieved quarter-finalist status in the 1948 London Olympics, completing the 100 meters in an impressive 10.6 seconds. He missed out on a medal by a mere 0.3 seconds, with the gold medalist recording a time of 10.3 seconds. Throughout his athletic pursuits, Prabhakar ensured that academics remained a priority. He ranked third in economics during his time at Madras University and pursued post-graduation in economics at Oxford before joining UNESCO.

3. Byron "Whizzer" White

Byron "Whizzer" White's journey from humble beginnings to success both in the classroom and on the field is truly inspiring. Born to parents who did not complete high school, White earned a scholarship from the University of Colorado at Boulder by graduating at the top of his class. At Boulder, he received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford. During World War II, White served in the US Navy and received two bronze stars for his service. After the war, he attended Yale University and graduated. White was named Deputy Attorney General, working directly under Robert F. Kennedy, and was nominated to the US Supreme Court in 1962 at the age of 44. Prior to his legal and judicial achievements, White excelled as a talented football player. He played for the University of Colorado at Boulder and became the school's first All-American player in 1937. In addition to football, he participated in basketball, baseball, and other sports, earning seven letters overall and achieving All-Conference recognition in every sport. White even deferred his Rhodes Scholarship to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates (now the Steelers) in 1938 and became the highest-paid professional football player at the time. Although his football career was short and interrupted, he was voted by the NFL as part of the All-Decade Team for the 1940s. Byron "Whizzer" White deserves his spot as the third-ranked individual who excelled both academically and athletically.

2. Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard, recognized as the "Boxer of the Decade" in the 1980s, is not only a skilled boxer but also a motivational speaker and author of his autobiography. As a member of the US 1976 Boxing Olympic team, he won a gold medal. Leonard initially aspired to study at the University of Maryland, but due to unexpected circumstances, he was compelled to resume boxing. In 1977, at the age of 20, Leonard won his first professional fight, setting the stage for a series of memorable bouts in boxing history. He went on to defeat some of the finest boxers of the modern era, including Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. Leonard's six world titles in five weight divisions—welterweight, junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight—remain an unbeaten record. In 1997, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Leonard's prowess as a motivational speaker has made him one of the most sought-after individuals in the world today. His speech, titled "Power" (Prepare, Overcome, and Win Every Round), is consistently booked by major Fortune 500 companies in the United States and abroad. Additionally, Leonard is actively involved in charitable work.

1. Philip John Noel-Baker

Philip John Noel-Baker stands as a remarkable individual in history, being the only person to have won both an Olympic medal and the Nobel Peace Prize. He pursued his studies at Cambridge from 1908 to 1912 and proved himself to be an exceptional student. Consequently, Noel-Baker rightfully claims the top position among those who excelled both academically and athletically. He represented Great Britain in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, where he ran track events. As captain of the British track team in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, he carried the flag. Noel-Baker initially won his first race in the 800 meters but later shifted his focus to the 1500 meters, earning a silver medal behind his teammate Albert Hill. He served as captain once again for the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris but did not compete.

During World War I, Noel-Baker volunteered as a medical orderly. After the war, he worked at the League of Nations, where he collaborated closely with several Nobel laureates. Throughout World War II, he served as a minister in Churchill's Government. Noel-Baker played a significant role in drafting the United Nations Charter and dedicated the remainder of his life to preventing nuclear war. In recognition of his efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1959.

10 Men Who Killed It in both Classroom and Field

1. Philip John Noel-Baker
2. Sugar Ray Leonard
3. Byron “Whizzer” White
4. Eric Prabhakar
5. Dikembe Mutombo
6. Myron Rolle
7. Vitali Klitschko
8. Harald Bohr
9. Niels Bohr
10. Gene Tunney