A pair of Olympic swimmers, two Hall of Famers and an NBA Finals MVP make up the greatest athletes from Colorado.
Two of the greatest female swimmers in Olympic history highlight the top five athletes from Colorado, a group that also includes recent MLB Hall of Fame inductee Roy Halladay.
Five most dominant high school athletes in Colorado historyAmy Van Dyken, Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), 1991She won four gold medals in swimming at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won two more gold medals four years later in 2000. She was a 12-time All-American at University of Arizona after setting two state records in high school at Cherry Creek. She is a member of the Colorado Hall of Fame.
Missy Franklin, Regis Jesuit (Aurora), 2013While still in high school, Franklin competed in the 2012 Olympics and won four gold medals and a silver. She still holds the world record in the 200-meter backstroke and she holds eight of the 14 state swimming records in Colorado. She has won a total of 27 medals, including 16 gold, in international swimming competition.
Earl "Dutch" Clark, Pueblo Central, 1926An all-around athlete in high school, Clark earned 16 letters in high school, earning All-State honors in football and basketball, and setting league records in track and field. He was one of the top running backs in the NFL during the 1930s, earning All-Pro honors six times and leading the NFL in touchdowns three times. He is a member of the Pro Football, College Football and National High School Halls of Fame.
Chauncey Billups, George Washington (Denver), 1995A four-time All-State pick, Billups was named Mr. Colorado twice and was a McDonald's All-American as a senior. He scored 1,952 points in his high school career. He earned All-American honors in college at Colorado and went on to a 17-year career in the NBA. He was a five-time All-Star and the NBA Finals MVP in 2004.
Roy "Doc" Halladay, Arvada West (Arvada), 1995The late Halladay was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, capping a career that included eight All-Star games, two Cy Young Awards, a perfect game, and a postseason no-hitter. He won 203 games and lost just 105 with a 3.38 ERA and 2,117 strikeouts. He helped lead Arvada West to its only Class 6A state title in 1994 and was a first round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Also considered: Dave Logan, Wheat Ridge, football/basketball/baseball; Byron "Whizzer" White, football; Rich "Goose" Gossage, Wasson, baseball/basketball; Glenn Morris, Simla, track and field; Jack Christiansen, Odd Fellows Orphanage, football; Christian McCaffrey, Valor Christian, football.
