“A quarter of a century of sport” (2/8). 2001-2025: as the first quarter of the 21st century draws to a close, the “World” Sports department lent itself, not without an element of subjectivity, to the game of selection. Here, without ranking them, are the 25 greatest international athletes of the first twenty-five years.
Aiko Tanaka
Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.
