Jackie Robinson, Baseball. Why: Jackie Robinson was the first Black man to play major league baseball. He faced horrible threats and backlash throughout the country. However, he persisted, had an excellent baseball career, and became a trailblazer in the MLB.

Shahrkhani was the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in Judoka. She went to the Olympics despite many restrictions for women in Saudi Arabia about practicing sports. She had not had thorough training, and lost very quickly, but said that she was proud to be in the olympics, blazing the trail and setting an example for young girls.