Most innovative athletes on social media
World-famous athletes don’t need to reinvent the wheel, or even do anything particularly exciting, to build a large following on social media. After all, they already command hordes of avid fans who are only too keen to follow them if they decide to log on. And given the sanitizing influence of media training on professional sports, most of these fans don’t expect much more from their idol’s accounts than a handful of carefully-curated behind-the-scenes snaps.
However, some athletes go the extra mile and have taken their social media presence to the next level, letting their personality shine through and doubling up as a sports influencer on top of their already demanding day job.
This innovation can take a number of forms, from creative online content to engaging storytelling, and exploring some of the new features offered by social media platforms from Instagram to TikTok. In this piece we’ll take a look some of the athletes who are using their substantial social media followings to try new things, to great effect.
Alex Morgan (Football)
The Olympic gold medallist and World Cup champion has gained plaudits for her engaging and authentic online content, which presents affecting personal moments alongside training insights and charity work. Her personal accounts are refreshingly unfiltered and reflect Morgan’s unwavering commitment to her athletic development. “You have to love the sport”, as she says.
Rob Gronkowski (American Football)
The NFL arguably attracts more attention on TikTok than any other major sports league in the world, and stars are using this visibility to both their and fans’ advantage – offering a glimpse into the NFL locker rooms and training grounds which were previously subject to a strict media blackout. Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski was always blessed with a larger than life personality, even back when he was winning Super Bowls for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, post-retirement, he has transitioned seamlessly to social media influencer, amassing 2.6 million followers on TikTok thanks to recurring fun features such as “Like It or Spike It”.
JaVale McGee (Basketball)
The talented and charismatic Sacramento Kings player has taken the NBA by storm with his unique playing style and undeniable skill, but he has also stepped up his social media game and developed a major following on Twitter and Instagram. His regular updates include updates on his basketball journey and a vlog series on YouTube, which offers a unique perspective into life as an NBA player both on and off the court.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (American Football)
A receiver for the New England Patriots, Smith-Schuster has become well-known for his entertaining and unique content on platforms like TikTok, which he uses to connect with fans through dance challenges and enticing behind-the-scenes footage. Fans have been taken by his candid online take on his career goals and accomplishments ever since he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Ronda Rousey (WWE)
Rousey shot to fame as a professional wrestler in WWE and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but she’s been developing her presence outside of the ring as well, starring in multiple films and television shows, and even appearing as a character in a number of video games, including RAID: Shadow Legends. Online, Rousey maintains a lively presence on her official website and social media platforms, including Instagram where she has amassed over 17 million followers thanks to her engaging content.
Dame Lillard (Basketball)
Lillard is a larger-than-life presence on and off the court, showcasing his musical and rapping talent and engaging with fans on social media. He has nearly eight million followers across all channels, which pales in comparison to, say, LeBron James’ 80 million, but his follower engagement is one of the highest ever among NBA players, which is an increasingly important metric for both algorithms and marketers.
Rahmel Dockery (American Football)
A wide receiver for the Oregon State Beavers, Dockery has gone viral on TikTok thanks to his obsessive chronicling of behind-the-scenes drills and practices. From his early social media success streaming Video Gameplay on YouTube, via features on the House of Highlights and Barstool Sports Instagram accounts, to online campaigns with Adidas and beyond, it seems Dockery is more than able to balance both his sporting and social media careers.
Eliezer Paul-Gindiri (golf)
An outlier on our list, Paul-Gindiri a.k.a. Snappy Gilmore is an amateur athlete, whose distinctive single-handed swing has made his more famous on social media than he could have ever hoped to be in the golfing world. His unusual swing and engaging content has won him fans, followers and celebrity endorsements from around the world, including nearly half a million followers on Instagram alone.
As we’ve seen, social media can be a great venue for famous athletes to cement a dedicated fanbase, especially through innovative and engaging content. But it can also be extremely useful for athletes who are just getting started, and especially among those who rely on sports fundraising to secure the equipment, coaching and training time that’s crucial to their future success. Why not get started fundraising today, and see how far social media will take you?