<Table> <Tr> <Th> Number </Th> <Th> Athlete </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Jordan , Michael Michael Jordan </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Ruth , Babe Babe Ruth </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Ali , Muhammad Muhammad Ali </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Brown , Jim Jim Brown </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 5 </Th> <Td> Gretzky , Wayne Wayne Gretzky </Td> <Td> Ice hockey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 6 </Th> <Td> Owens , Jesse Jesse Owens </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 7 </Th> <Td> Thorpe , Jim Jim Thorpe </Td> <Td> Multiple sports </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 8 </Th> <Td> Mays , Willie Willie Mays </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 9 </Th> <Td> Nicklaus , Jack Jack Nicklaus </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 10 </Th> <Td> Zaharias , Babe Babe Zaharias </Td> <Td> Multiple sports </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 11 </Th> <Td> Louis , Joe Joe Louis </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 12 </Th> <Td> Lewis , Carl Carl Lewis </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 13 </Th> <Td> Chamberlain , Wilt Wilt Chamberlain </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 14 </Th> <Td> Aaron , Hank Hank Aaron </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 15 </Th> <Td> Robinson , Jackie Jackie Robinson </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 16 </Th> <Td> Williams , Ted Ted Williams </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 17 </Th> <Td> Johnson , Magic Magic Johnson </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 18 </Th> <Td> Russell , Bill Bill Russell </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 19 </Th> <Td> Navratilova , Martina Martina Navratilova </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 20 </Th> <Td> Cobb , Ty Ty Cobb </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 21 </Th> <Td> Howe , Gordie Gordie Howe </Td> <Td> Ice hockey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 22 </Th> <Td> DiMaggio , Joe Joe DiMaggio </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 23 </Th> <Td> Joyner - Kersee , Jackie Jackie Joyner - Kersee </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 24 </Th> <Td> Robinson , Sugar Ray Sugar Ray Robinson </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 25 </Th> <Td> Montana , Joe Joe Montana </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 26 </Th> <Td> Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 27 </Th> <Td> Rice , Jerry Jerry Rice </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 28 </Th> <Td> Grange , Red Red Grange </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 29 </Th> <Td> Palmer , Arnold Arnold Palmer </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 30 </Th> <Td> Bird , Larry Larry Bird </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 31 </Th> <Td> Orr , Bobby Bobby Orr </Td> <Td> Ice hockey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 32 </Th> <Td> Unitas , Johnny Johnny Unitas </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 33 </Th> <Td> Spitz , Mark Mark Spitz </Td> <Td> Swimming </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 34 </Th> <Td> Gehrig , Lou Lou Gehrig </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 35 </Th> <Td> Secretariat , Secretariat </Td> <Td> Horse racing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 36 </Th> <Td> Robertson , Oscar Oscar Robertson </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 37 </Th> <Td> Mantle , Mickey Mickey Mantle </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 38 </Th> <Td> Hogan , Ben Ben Hogan </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 39 </Th> <Td> Payton , Walter Walter Payton </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 40 </Th> <Td> Taylor , Lawrence Lawrence Taylor </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 41 </Th> <Td> Rudolph , Wilma Wilma Rudolph </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 42 </Th> <Td> Koufax , Sandy Sandy Koufax </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 43 </Th> <Td> Erving , Julius Julius Erving </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 44 </Th> <Td> Jones , Bobby Bobby Jones </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 45 </Th> <Td> Tilden , Bill Bill Tilden </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 46 </Th> <Td> Heiden , Eric Eric Heiden </Td> <Td> Speed skating , cycling </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 47 </Th> <Td> Moses , Edwin Edwin Moses </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 48 </Th> <Td> Sampras , Pete Pete Sampras </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 49 </Th> <Td> Simpson , O.J. O.J. Simpson </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 50 </Th> <Td> Evert , Chris Chris Evert </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> </Table>
who was selected as the sports illustrated best female athlete of the twentieth century
Martina Navratilova