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Apt Names of Olympians

In a delightful twist of fate, some Olympic athletes seem destined for their sports, with names perfectly suited to their athletic pursuits, adding an extra layer of interest and intrigue to their already inspiring stories.

Olympic Bolt, Brick Lane, Spitalfields.

Here is our collection of Olympic athletes with names that suit their sport. It's actually called an aptronym - a personal name aptly or peculiarly suited to its owner. It may also be a case of nominative determinism, which is the theory that some people gravitate towards a profession that fits their name. What else could Usain Bolt do other than be a sprinter?

The Most Apt Names of Olympic Athletes

• Olympia Aldersey— is there a better name for an Olympic athlete than Olympia? She competed in rowing for Australia in 2010, 2016 and 2020.
• Usain Bolt — Jamaican 100m and 200m sprinter, eight times Olympic Gold medalist, and the sprinter with the most apt name.
• Anna Smashnova — represented Israel in tennis at the 2004 Olympics Games, known to smash it over.
• Vania Stambolova — Bulgarian athlete who competed in the 400m hurdles at the London 2012 Olympics, who did not just stumble over.
• Yordanka Donkova — Bulgarian female 100m hurdler who an Olympic gold in 1988 and a bronze in 1992.
• Jeff Float — won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in the 4x200 freestyle relay.
• Nathan Leeper — an American high jumper who finished eleventh at the 2000 Olympic Games.
• Walter Bathe — Swimmer who won two gold medals in the 200 and 400 breaststroke at the 1912 Olympics.
• Lewis Moist — 1,500m freestyle swimmer at the 1908 Olympic Games
• Jeff Spear — competed in the 2012 fencing competition for the USA
• James Jett — 1992 Olympic 4x100m relay runner
• Ernst Fast — finished third in the 1900 Paris Olympic marathon
• Eugene Swift — competed in the 110m hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
• Malcolm Champion — 1912 Olympic swimming gold medal winner.
• Samson N'Dicka-Matam — a weightlifter from Cameroon who competed in weightlifting from 1996-2004. His brother Alphonse Hercule Matam competed in 1992.
• George Ball-Greene — 1908 Olympic Games tennis player, entered but did not compete.
• Lisa Lightfoot — Australian 800m runner at the 1996 Olympic Games.
• Martin Rush — Competed in the 1992 Olympic Games 20km Race Walk.

Related Pages

• Large list of apt names of sports people (not just Olympians)
• Olympic Athlete Name Trivia — the longest and shortest and most common.
• Funny Names of Olympians
• All About Olympic Games Competitors
• Funny Sports Names

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