The 10 Greatest Final Performances by Legendary Athletes

#10: Pete Sampras

Out of all of the ways to bow out of your sporting career, getting one over on a huge rival is hard to beat. Add in some huge competitive stakes, and that’s a near-perfect ending. When Pete Sampras got the better of Andre Agassi to win his 14th Grand Slam title and fifth US Open crown, it was a huge moment. His legacy was already in the running for G.O.A.T. honours, and this monumental retirement statement sealed it. To this day, you’d be hard-pressed to find a top-10 all-time tennis players list without a mention for this giant of the game.

#9: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Following the untimely death of his father and coach, Abdulmanap, UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov knew that his days in the sport were numbered. The general public had no idea that his UFC 254 clash with Justin Gaethje would be his final moments in the octagon. The Eagle was as dominant as you would expect, fighting through some dangerous leg-kicks to eventually manhandle The Highlight on the ground. He nearly finished him at the end of round 1, and when round 2 came, Khabib would not be denied for much longer. Hearing him retire at a perfect 29-0 was shocking, but his legacy is one that will no doubt stand the test of time.

#8: Florence Griffith Joyner

It’s one thing to retire while you’re the best in the world, but doing so just after literally revolutionising the game, that’s a different kinda flex. For Florence Griffith Joyner, she absolutely blew the competition out of the water at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. By the time the dust had settled, she had claimed three gold medals. Her performances at that event were credited with setting new benchmarks. Her unparalleled results combined perfectly with a breakthrough approach to personal style and expression. She retired abruptly shortly after, leaving the game behind at age 29 to pursue other interests.

#7: Bill Russell

No athlete in basketball history has had the type of championship success that Bill Russell did. As the leader of a particularly dominant Boston Celtics team, Russell won a staggering eleven championship rings during his career. Given his knack for finding his way to the peak of the mountain, it should come as no surprise that his last pro-appearance was Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals. With their fierce rivals, the LA Lakers, in front of them, Russell, who was player-coach at this point, fought off the mighty Wilt Chamberlain to win the game. His frankly insane consistency over his 13-year career will likely never be replicated.

#6: Ray Bourque

If you’re gonna struggle through your entire career to try and finally win the Stanley Cup, you might as well make your eventual breakthrough as dramatic as can be. For Ray Bourque, despite clearly being an elite player, his twenty-one seasons with the Boston Bruins didn’t produce a single championship win. For most players, having a two-decade-plus run without gold might be enough for them to take the hint. However, Bourque moved to the Colorado Avalanche and somehow played a key role in a 2001 Stanley Cup win. This, as it turned out, would be his final action as a pro. Out of all of the ways to cap off a long career, this one will take some beating!

#5: Rocky Marciano

When it comes to legendary heavyweight goodbyes, Lennox Lewis certainly almost got our vote. The unbeaten icon Rocky Marciano took home the top spot in the end, though. Few fighters in the history of boxing have displayed the type of grit that Marciano did. He plied his trade for years before he got the recognition he deserved and thankfully, he ended his career on his own terms. There was no long and ugly decline for this revered warrior. Marciano met the great Archie Moore in his 49th fight, suffering an early knockdown that nearly derailed everything. Rocky fought through it, though - eventually KO’ing Moore in round 9 before calling it quits at the peak of his powers.

#4: Ted Williams

If you asked Ted Williams to describe his ideal final statement on the baseball field, he’d have a hard time topping what actually happened in reality. In his last at-bat during the eighth inning, Williams hit a solo home run off Jack Fisher before leaving the game. It was the 521st of his career. After years of not making the gesture of tipping his hat to the Boston fans due to a distaste for their fickle nature, would Williams break his own rule to mark the occasion? As it turned out, no. He left the field with all of the principles intact, not changing his attitude whether they were booing or cheering him.

#3: John Elway

As an athlete, when you’re reaching the far-end of your 30s, it’s only natural that performance starts to drop off. That said, the really special ones know how to extend their shelf life by adapting their game. John Elway proved his calibre beyond any doubt at the age of 38 by leading the Denver Broncos to glory at Super Bowl XXXIII. He played a starring role on that night, showing elite passing and even scoring a rushing touchdown. It was just about as memorable a swansong as can be, and his retirement shortly after felt very well-earned.

#2: Mark Spitz

The vast, vast majority of athletes go through entire careers without having a fraction of the success that Mark Spitz had in his final Olympics appearance in 1972. Seven gold medals, with seven new world records set in the process. That’s a different level of dominance. His last actual race was the 4x100 meter medley relay, where he played a part in Team USA winning gold and setting a new record. After that, he decided to end his career, while barely in his athletic prime. Ok, sure, we’re breaking our own rule because he did technically attempt to qualify for the 1992 team, twenty years later. We’ll make an exception, though, because realistically, his career was done and dusted by age 22.

#1: Kobe Bryant

By the time the idea of retirement ever crossed the late, great Kobe Bryant’s mind, his position as one of the finest players in history was already sealed. Though the Lakers were having an abysmal 2016 season, the final game they played that year will be remembered for all eternity. Bryant, at the age of 37, knew his race was run. So, in one unexpected masterclass, he scored 60 points on the Utah Jazz. Even by Bryant’s usual standards, this was a tour de force - a fitting conclusion to one of basketball’s greatest careers. His tragic death in 2020 makes this parting gift to the fans all the more powerful to revisit.

But which legendary final performance stands out in your memory? Let us know in the comments section below.