Friday December 17, 1999

In claiming the award, Pele beat out a list of Olympic greats including Muhammad Ali and Carl Lewis. AP

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The world’s National Olympics Committees have voted Brazilian soccer star Pele as No. 1 in their top five Athletes of the Century even though he’s the only one of the five who didn’t take part in the Olympics.

Behind Pele come Muhammad Ali, who won the Olympic light-heavyweight boxing title in 1960 before becoming a heavyweight megastar as a pro, Carl Lewis, who won nine athletics gold medals in four Games between 1984-96, basketball star Michael Jordan, who was among the United States “Dream Team” gold medalists in ’92, and Mark Spitz, who won seven swimming titles at the ’72 Games at Munich.

The NOCs also listed their top five leaders in sport with Baron Pierre de Coubertin, architect of the modern Olympics and International Olympic Committee president from 1896-1925, as No. 1 ahead of current IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who has held the position since 1980.

Former FIFA president Joao Havelange was third ahead of Primo Nebiolo, who was president of the International Amateur Athletic Federation for 18 years until his death last month, and Avery Brundage, IOC president from 1952-72.