A listing of Minnesota-born athletes and others who have been involved in sports that are not currently listed within our primary sports categories. They are mentioned here simply because there are not enough others (who are nationally recognized) in the same sport.
- Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, MN)
Track Cyclist – Finished with a Silver Medal in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. - Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN)
Cross-country skier. In 2021, Diggins won the overall World Cup Title in Cross-country skiing and became the first American Female to do so. In the 2018 Olympics, Diggins and teammate Kikkan Randall became the first Americans to win a Gold Medal in cross-country skiing. They did so in the team sprint competition and also became the first females from America to win any medal in cross-country skiing. Diggins also holds five U.S. Junior titles. - Ryan Dungey (Belle Plaine, MN)
Motorcycle Supercross / Motocross rider. Dungey has many championships under his belt, including; 12 Supercross Lites, 8 Supercross, 7 Motocross 250 Class, and 10 Motocross 450 Class. He was awarded the “AMA Rookie of the Year” in 2007 for Supercross/Motocross and was the 2010 champion in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. - Tucker Hibbert (Driggs, Idaho)
Snowmobile snocross racer. Hibbert has won a record six gold medals at the Winter X Games and a total of eleven medals throughout his X Games career. Born in Idaho, his family moved to Minnesota shortly after his birth. He considers Pelican Rapids, MN as his hometown. - Dana Kunze (Minneapolis, MN)
Kunze has eight (8) World Champion titles and seven (7) World Record high dives, more than any other diver in history. He presently holds the current world record for the highest successful dive at 172′. This was broadcast on ABC’s Wide World of Sports in 1983. - Levi LaVallee (Longville, MN)
Snowmobile racer and extreme sports participant. Lavallee has won numerous Gold and Bronze medals in the Winter X Games. On December 31, 2011 he jumped across the San Diego Bay on a snowmobile and set the world record for his jump of 412 ft. LaVallee lives in Longville, Minnesota. - Jason Line (Wright, MN)
Auto Racer in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). Competed in his first NHRA race in 1985 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, MN. He was the 2004 NHRA Rookie of The Year. He finished first in the 2006 NHRA Pro Stock championships, and first in the 1993 NHRA Stock Elimantor Championship. - Alise Post (St. Cloud, MN)
Cycling – BMX. Won the Silver Medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. - Mike Schultz (Litchfield, MN)
Snowboarder – Paralympian. Schultz won two Olympic medals in the 2018 Paralympics (1 Gold, 1 Silver). He was also nominated by his peers to carry the United States flag in the closing ceremonies of the 2018 Paralympics. He is the founder of BioDapt, Inc. a company that makes prosthetics available to active amputees across North America. - Brittany Viola (St. Paul, MN)
Olympic platform diver. Won the NCAA championship in the ten-meter platform in 2008 and 2011. Was an alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Diving Team. In 2012, she took first place in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, NE, and made it to the 2012 London Olympics. She is the daughter of former Minnesota Twins pitcher Frank “Sweet Music” Viola who was the World Series MVP in 1987, the same year that Brittany was born. - PJ Wanderscheid (Sauk Centre, MN)
Snowmobile Racer. The only rider to have won four world championships (2002, 2003, 2006, 2011) at the Eagle River World Championships. He has won many other championships and other awards as well.
Honorary Minnesotans (resident)
Individuals who were NOT born (or raised) in Minnesota, but came to Minnesota and have lived the rest of their lives here.
- Gwen Jorgensen (Waukesha, Wisconsin)
Tri-athelete; Gold Medalist in the Women’s Triathlon – 2016 Summer Olympics. Jorgensen is also a World Champion Triathlete in 2014, 2015. She moved to St. Paul, MN (with her husband, Patrick Lemieux) after competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. - David Plummer (Norman, Oklahoma)
Swimmer – Winner of Bronze and Gold medals at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he swam for four years (2005-2008) and is now the head coach for the Wayzata High School boys swim and dive team. - Mallory Weggemann (Lawrence, KS)
Swimmer – Paralympic. Paralyzed from the waist down during a medical procedural to treat post-shingles back pain. Weggemann went on to win several gold medals in paralymopics events. In 2011 she was honored with the ESPY award as the Best Female Athlete with a Disability, and in 2009 and 2010 received the World Disabled Swimmers of the Year award. She currently lives in Minnesota.
Very interesting information. I have been a long time fan of both the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. Hopefully, both will have great seasons in 2014! I am looking forward to spring training in February. I live in the Philippines but can watch American sports on ESPN and on CBS Sports online.You have a nice blog.
~ Gary ~