Shaun White – Biography Early life and challenges Shaun White was born on September 3, 1986, in San Diego, California. Diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, he underwent two open-heart surgeries before the age of one. Despite this early health challenge,
Abby Wambach – Biography Early life and beginnings Abby Wambach was born on June 2, 1980, in Rochester, New York. Growing up as the youngest of seven children, she was drawn to sports from an early age. Her parents supported her athletic pursuits, and by
Megan Rapinoe – Biography Early life and passion Megan Rapinoe was born on July 5, 1985, in Redding, California. Growing up in a large family with five siblings, Megan and her twin sister, Rachael, shared a deep love for sports. Encouraged by their parents, she
Alex Morgan – Biography Early life and passion Alex Morgan was born on July 2, 1989, in San Dimas, California. Growing up in Diamond Bar, she was an active child who excelled in various sports. It wasn’t until she was 14 that she began playing
Simone Manuel – Biography Early life and upbringing Simone Manuel was born on August 2, 1996, in Sugar Land, Texas. Raised in a supportive family, her parents encouraged both academics and athletics from an early age. Simone started swimming at the age of four alongside
Naomi Osaka – Biography Early life and roots Naomi Osaka was born on October 16, 1997, in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. She was raised in a multicultural household by her Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, and Haitian father, Leonard François. When Naomi was three, her family relocated
Manny Pacquiao – Biography Early life and hardships Manny Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978, in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines. Raised in extreme poverty, his early life was marked by financial struggle. His father left the family when Manny was young, forcing him to help
Conor McGregor – Biography Early life and childhood Conor McGregor was born on July 14, 1988, in Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland. Raised in a working-class family, McGregor displayed a strong interest in sports from an early age. Initially passionate about soccer, he later discovered boxing, training
Rafael Nadal – Biography Early life and beginnings Rafael Nadal was born on June 3, 1986, in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. Raised in a close-knit family, he was introduced to tennis by his uncle, Toni Nadal, who quickly recognized his natural talent. His athleticism was evident
Michael Phelps – Biography Early life and beginnings Michael Phelps was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. The youngest of three children, he grew up in a supportive but competitive household. His parents, Fred and Debbie Phelps, recognized his energy early and encouraged
Tiger Woods – Biography Early life Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. His father, Earl Woods, introduced him to golf before he could walk. By age two, Tiger was already swinging a golf club with remarkable precision. Growing up, he
Serena Williams – Biography Early life Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan. Raised in Compton, California, she was introduced to tennis at a young age by her father, Richard Williams. Alongside her sister Venus, Serena practiced for hours on public
Roger Federer – Biography Early life Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland. His father, Robert, is Swiss, and his mother, Lynette, is South African. Growing up in a supportive family, Federer showed athletic talent from a young age. While he
Usain Bolt – Biography Early life Usain Bolt was born on August 21, 1986, in Sherwood Content, a small town in Jamaica. Raised by his parents, Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, he spent much of his childhood playing cricket and soccer. Even as a child, Bolt
Daniel Libeskind – Biography Early life Daniel Libeskind was born on May 12, 1946, in Łódź, Poland, to Holocaust survivors. His childhood was shaped by the trauma his family endured during World War II. At a young age, Libeskind displayed exceptional talent in music, becoming
Tadao Ando – Biography Early years Tadao Ando was born on September 13, 1941, in Osaka, Japan. Raised in a modest household, Ando grew up without formal exposure to architecture. As a young boy, he developed a passion for building things, often constructing models and
Renzo Piano – Biography Early life Renzo Piano was born on September 14, 1937, in Genoa, Italy. Growing up in a family of builders, he was surrounded by construction from a young age. His father, uncles, and grandfather worked in the building trade, and he
Norman Foster – Biography Early life Norman Foster was born on June 1, 1935, in Manchester, England. Raised in a working-class family, his father worked in a factory while his mother was a waitress. Foster showed early interest in drawing and buildings, often sketching his
Zaha Hadid – Biography Early life Zaha Hadid was born on October 31, 1950, in Baghdad, Iraq. She grew up in an educated and progressive family. Her father was a successful businessman and politician, and her mother was an artist. From an early age, Hadid
Frank Gehry – Biography Early life Frank Gehry was born on February 28, 1929, in Toronto, Canada. His original name was Frank Owen Goldberg. Growing up in a modest household, Gehry was inspired by his grandmother, who encouraged his creativity by letting him build little