The University of Florida has produced some of the greatest athletes in college sports history. The Gators were well represented on USA TODAY’s list recognizing the 10 greatest college athletes from Florida.
The list celebrates athletes across multiple sports whose national championships, individual accolades, Olympic success, and professional careers helped cement their legacies.
Tim Tebow makes this list after having a historic career for Florida football. Tebow threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns, and ran for 895 yards and 23 touchdowns on his way to becoming the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy after it had been exclusively reserved for upperclassmen.
Following his Heisman season, Tebow would bring Florida another championship, cementing himself in Florida history.
Tracy Caulkins was a standout swimmer, helping lead the women’s swimming team to a national championship as a freshman in 1982. She would go on to finish in the top three for the next two seasons.
Caulkins would collect 12 individual and four relay national titles during her career, along with the Honda Award for swimming and diving in each season of her collegiate career before turning pro.
Bridget Sloan arrived in Gainesville with an impressive resume, having won a silver medal with the U.S. gymnastics team at the 2008 Olympics and becoming the world all-around champion in 2009 — all before beginning her collegiate career.
She would continue the winning trend at Florida, winning three consecutive team national championships, and winning two all-around national titles and capturing two event titles each on balance beam and uneven bars.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Which Gators make 10 greatest college athletes in Florida history list
Reporting by Michael Trim Jr, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michael Trim Jr, Gators Wire | USA TODAY Network
