Outdoor, field or even indoor sports are considered to be the cup of tea for athletes that have a muscular physique and a 6 ft plus height. Especially in sports like basketball, football, cricket, and ice hockey, these sports require real physical abilities and height gives u an X-factor or an upper advantage. However, there were great Shortest Athletes Of All Time that truly proved this theory wrong.
In Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar broke this myth and became the best ever batsman to play the game. In Football, Leo Messi broke the cycle and is considered the best-ever footballer. Similarly, there are plenty of Shortest Athletes that did well in their careers. Based on that, let’s take a look at the 10 Shortest Athletes Of All Time.
10 Shortest Athletes Of All Time
Content Summary
For a lot of these athletes, their height can work to their advantage or at least not pose a hindrance to their playing ability. Football players like Barry Sanders, Wes Welker, and Ray Rice embrace their height and use it to run fast down the field to rack up yardage and touchdowns.
10). Lionel Messi
- Country: Argentina
- Sport: Football
- Height: 5’7″
Football has never seen a player like Lionel Messi. Despite being the shortest athlete on the field (most of the time), he was never stopped by any defender. With 5’7″ height, he scored numerous goals and won 7 ballon d’Or, 6 golden shoes, and won 41 career trophies. Moreover, with Argentina,
he won an Olympic gold medal, Copa America and Finalmesia. There was always a concern shows regarding messi height and his ariel ability, but in the Champions league 2011 final against United, he stunned everyone by scoring a header against 6’5″ taller vnder sar. Despite his short stature and height, Leo Messi rose to the highest occasion and is eligible to call G.O.A.T.
9). Aditya Dev
- Country: India
- Sport: Body Building
- Height: 2’9″
At a stature of 2 feet 9 inches, Aditya ‘Romeo’ Dev was an exceptionally talented young man. He was more like a dwarf person but he got enormous talent. Alongside bodybuilding, he was a great dancer and entertainer. In 2006, He was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘World’s smallest bodybuilder.
8). Henry Franklyn
- Country: Canada
- Sport: Ice Hockey
- Height: 3’6″
Henry Franklyn was the shortest ice hockey player in ice hockey sports history. Henry Franklyn was a Canadian ice hockey player of the 19th century who had a revolutionary style of playing. He was the mere height of 3 feet 6 inches, but he was still a remarkable player. Henry Franklyn was excellent at his game and had all the best tricks up his sleeve. He was even the captain of his team.
7). Lionel Giroux
- Country: Canada
- Sport: Wrestling
- Height: 4’4”
Lionel Giroux, also known as Little Beaver, chose to ignore his detractors and went on to win titles. Little Beaver was a Canadian professional wrestler in the WWE. He began his career at the age of fifteen and wrestled to each big bucks. At 4 feet 4 inches, Lionel went down into history after he was roped into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. He died in 1995 of emphysema.
6). Tich Cornford
- Country: England
- Sport: Cricket
- Height: 5′
His real name was Walter Latter but due to his short height, he got himself nicknamed “Tich”. Tich Cornford is the shortest international cricketer to play the sport in cricket history. He played 4 test matches as the wicketkeeper of the English side in New Zealand in 1930. Besides his national appearance, he also played for the Sussex County Cricket Club. He had quite a prominent career until the breakout of World War II.
5). Dylan Mark Postl aka Hornswoggle
- Country: USA
- Sport: Wrestling
- Height: 4’5”
Dylan Mark Postl aka Hornswoggle is a former WWE wrestler. Hornswoggle created a tremendous buzz in the wrestling world when he made his debut in WWE in 2005. This 4 feet 5-inch man conquered the title of ‘The World’s Sexiest Midget’ and then went on to win a few other titles including the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
4). Jack Shapiro
- Country: USA
- Sport: American Football
- Height: 5’1”
With a height of 5.1 feet, Jack Shapiro was the shortest player in American football, but he only played for one game. Like Eddie Gaedel, his one game was also a publicity stunt for promotions. He played just a single match with the Staten Island Stapletons of the NFL during the 1929 season. Besides, he has also attracted the eyes of the audience during his brief appearance in the NFL Films Presents: One-game Wonders.
3). Julie Krone
- Country: USA
- Sport: Horse Racing
- Height: 4’10”
Julie Krone was the first-ever female jockey to win the Triple Crown. She got the triple Crown Title after capturing the famous Belmont Stakes in 1993. In 2000, Julie Krone became the first woman whose name entered the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Julie Krone stands at 4 feet 10.5 inches and was an accomplished horse rider who won many races and had a list of accolades under her belt. Despite her severe injuries sustained during racing, she stands among iconic sports individuals and is an inspiration to many young women across the world.
2). Frederick Walden
- Country: United Kingdom
- Sport: Football
- Height: 5’2”
Frederick Walden was 5 feet 2 inches tall, and he was widely called a ‘diminutive winger’. Walden was a young English football player who played at an international level for England. He started his professional career in 1909 after playing at several football clubs.
He earned himself the nickname “Fanny” due to his petite physique. Though Walden passed away in 1949, he continues to hold the record for being the shortest footballer to represent England at a national level.
1). Eddie Gaedel
- Country: USA
- Sport: Baseball
- Height: 3’7”
With a height of less than 3’7”, Eddie Gaedel was the shortest player to play in Major League Baseball. Although this was just for a publicity stunt purpose and after one time, he never stood on a plate. But it worked for him. Moreover, the jersey he worked on at that time, jersey number “1⁄8“, became quite famous. This famous jersey is now displayed in the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
10 Shortest Athletes Of All Time
| NO. | ATHLETE | HEIGHT | SPORT | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Gaedel | 3’7” | Baseball | USA |
| 2 | Frederick Walden | 5’2” | Football | United Kingdom |
| 3 | Julie Krone | 4’10” | Horse Racing | USA |
| 4 | Jack Shapiro | 5’1” | American Football | USA |
| 5 | Dylan Mark | 4’5” | Wrestling | USA |
| 6 | Tich Cornford | 5’0” | Cricket | England |
| 7 | Lionel Giroux | 4’4” | Wrestling | Canada |
| 8 | Henry Franklyn | 3’6″ | Ice Hockey | Canada |
| 9 | Aditya Dev | 2’9″ | Body Building | India |
| 10 | Lionel Messi | 5’7″ | Football | Argentina |
Conclusion
The best short male athletes include World Series champions, Super Bowl winners, Stanley Cup hoisters, and Olympic gold medalists but they all share one thing in common, their shorter stature.
The best short athletes prove that despite their height, people of all shapes and sizes can be successful professional athletes. All 5’10” or shorter, these athletes are not just the best at their height but also among the best athletes of all time.