The Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles the Olympic medalist gymnast from United States have been named the most influential athletes of 2021. The sports personalities definitely have made headlines with their rich endorsements. The two stars have focused more on their mental wellbeing through their actions.
“Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles continued to elevate their business influence through lucrative endorsements and investments. They each also stepped away from high-profile competition for mental health reasons, spurring a global dialogue about athlete wellbeing,” wrote SBJ in the statement released.
Osaka had refused to satisfy media obligations at the French Open and it was recognized as the correct step giving it a fresh look at the conference tradition. Simon Biles withdrew his name from the Tokyo Olympics to focus more on his mental health that a sports person faces.
In the list released by sports Business Journal, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, female soccer players Sinead Farrelly, Alex Morgan, and Mana Shim. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Rich Paul featured in the list of most influential athletes.
Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles are the most influential athletes of 2021
LeBron James endorsement deal with Pepsi after nearly for 20 years with Coca-Cola, an ownership stake in Fenway Sports Group, and starring in “Space Jam: A New Legacy” earned him a place in the influential list. The film was co-produced by SpringHill, which was valued at $725 million. It also had a major investment in the early part of 2021.
SBJ about Rich Paul wrote “Rich Paul, James’ agent, is a top NBA power broker — especially after his Klutch Sports Group joined with United Talent Agency — and was behind a five-part docuseries on the agency with BET Studios,”
Naomi Osaka had also featured in the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes of 2021. Her total net worth is $60 million. Thus, she became the highest-paid female athlete in the world.
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