Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Mohamed Salah and other athletes in Time's 100 most influential people

Naomi Osaka

The Japanese star, who in January 2019 added an Australian Open title to the US Open crown she seized in the previous year, made it ro the list of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. 

In the Australian Open, who entered the tournament as the fourth seed, became world number one for the first time in her career. 

"Osaka was born in Japan, the country she represents, but grew up in the U.S., initially in the home of her Haitian grandparents. Some people want her to embrace a single identity. She’s more concerned with just being herself," said Chris Evert, who wrote her profile for Time magazine. 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian footballer who also plays for a Premier League club, Liverpool. 

Salah is an icon in Egypt after helping the country qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the first time they had reached the finals of the event since 1990. 

He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2017 and 2018 and was also English football's Player of the Year in 2017-2018 following a dazzling season with Liverpool. 

"Mo is an iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over, and yet he always comes across as a humble, thoughtful, funny man who isn’t taking any of this too seriously," said John Oliver, who wrote his profile. 

(Photograph:AFP)

LeBron James

LeBron James is an American professional basketball player, who also plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. 

He is one of the most popular basketball players and often termed as the greatest player of all time. 

"People in LeBron's position get tugged in different directions and have a lot of chances to make bad decisions. He's kept his head, and that's not easy," wrote Warren Buffett in James' profile. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods won the 83rd Masters, capturing his 15th major title to cement an epic return from scandal and injuries that once threatened his career.

Ending an 11-year major drought, the 43-year-old American superstar -- who underwent spinal fusion in 2017 fearing chronic back pain would deny him life's simple joys much less golf wins -- seized his first major title since the 2008 US Open. 

"Over the past few years, Tiger rehabbed rigorously from all the surgeries, and returned to the top of the game. While pundits doubted he’d ever win again, Tiger's commitment never wavered," wrote Justin Timberlake about Woods. 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Caster Semenya

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya has also made it to the Time's list of 100 most influential people in the world. 

She is fighting the International Athletics Federation (IAAF)' rule that aims to restrict testosterone levels in female runners. 

She is advocating to set aside impending regulations that will force female athletes with high testosterone levels to take medication to lower it before competing in events ranging from the 400m to the mile. 

"Caster Semenya has taught us that sex isn’t always binary, and caused us to question the justness of distributing societal benefits according to “male” and “female” classifications," said Edwin Moses, who wrote her profile. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Alex Morgan

Along with Salah, Alex Morgan is another football player, who made it to Time's list of most influential people in the world. 

She is a forward for Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League and the United States national team. 

In her profile for Time's, Mia Hamm wrote, "When we watch Alex Morgan play the game she loves, it’s easy to see why she's performing at such an extraordinary level. She's fast, strong and fearless. Alex continues to add so much confidence and variety to her game."

(Photograph:AFP)