Thailand boasts a rich and diverse sporting culture with a number of athletes excelling in various sports and disciplines. The success of Thai athletes in international sports, including the Olympics and the regional competitions, showcases the country’s dominance in sports. Throughout history, Thailand has produced some of the best talents yet, so in this article, we will take a look at the top 4 athletes of all time.
Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon (Weightlifting)
Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon is a celebrated weightlifter known for her remarkable achievements in the 53kg category. She is an Olympic medallist, having won the gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she set an Olympic record with a clean and jerk lift of 126 KY surpassing the previously held record by Yang Xia at 125 kg. She won a silver medal at the World Weightlifting Championships in Doha in 2005.
She has also excelled at the Asian Games, earning multiple medals, including silver and bronze, across different categories. She specifically deserves a spot among the top 4 athletes of all time in Thailand due to her impeccable resilience. Despite suffering from an elbow injury that needed a minimum of three months of recovery, she returned to the sport and solidified her status as one of the greatest athletes.
Buakaw Banchamek (Muay Thai/Kickboxing)
Buakaw Banchamek is a prominent figure in the world of Muay Thai and kickboxing. His journey began at a young age when he started training at a young age, showing his natural talent. He became the first and only Thai fighter to win the title of the Shoot Boxing S-Cup World Champion.
He has won multiple tournaments, including the WMC World Champion, Thai Fight Tournament Championship, and the K-1 World Max Champion, where he also became the first athlete to win the title twice in 2004 and 2006. He has an impressive record, playing over 300 matches with 264 wins, including 81 by knockouts. His legacy remains to stand today as he became an ambassador for Muay Thai making him one of the top 4 athletes of Thailand.
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Ratchanok Intanon (Badminton)
Ratchanok Intanon is a badminton player known for her exceptional skills in the women’s singles category. She made history by becoming the first Thai player to achieve the World Number 1 ranking in 2016. Her playing style is often described as “balletic” due to being graceful. She became the youngest women’s singles World Champion in 2013 at the age of 18.
She won three consecutive titles at the BWF World Junior Championships. She also won multiple titles at the Grand Prix and World Superseries. Despite facing injuries that affected her performance, she continues to compete at a high level even now making her one of the top 4 athletes in Thailand.
Somkiat Chantra (MotoGP)
Somkiat Chantra 2025 was the first Thai rider to complete full-time in MotoGP. He won Race 1 in the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup and became the champion of the same in 2016. His early years were challenging, though he improved over the years, and his breakthrough moment came in 2022 when he won the Indonesian Grand Prix, after which he became the first Thai rider to achieve this feat.
He secured four podium finishes and concluded the season with a sixth-place overall ranking in Moto2. He is definitely one of the top 4 athletes in Thailand as he aims to make history in 2025.
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