A 5'3" NBA Star And 14 Other Amazing Athletes Who Did Not Have Body Types You'd Expect

"Maxi Moralez is more than half a foot shorter - and about 40 pounds lighter - than the average pro midfielder. He has the sort of body that usually gets filtered out of elite soccer long before adulthood. But Moralez would have none of that. He built his game around the advantages of being small: balance, quick turns, low center of gravity. His nickname is Frasquito - little flask. Small, but full."

"He was part of Argentina's U-20 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, earning the Silver Ball as second-best player, and had a long pro career. Last year, at age 38, he became the oldest field player to start all 34 matches of an MLS season since the league adopted that format in 2011. Even better? He is New York City FC's all-time leader in appearances, assists, and total goal contributions."

"Jim Abbott was born with a right arm that ended at the wrist, but played baseball by learning to balance his glove on the end of that arm while pitching, then quickly slip it onto his left hand after releasing the pitch. Batters tried to bunt on him until they discovered he could field his position. Amazingly, he made it to the major leagues with the Angels."

"He went 18-11 with a 2.89 ERA and finished third in the 1991 AL Cy Young voting, and two years later he threw a no-hitter! He finished with 87 career wins across 10 major league seasons. I've got to tell you one more story about an athlete without a limb, because it's incredible."

Maxi Moralez, shorter and lighter than typical elite midfielders, developed his game around balance, quick turns, and a low center of gravity, earning recognition in Argentina’s U-20 FIFA World Cup-winning squad and a Silver Ball. He later enjoyed a long professional career, becoming the oldest field player to start all 34 matches of an MLS season at age 38 and holding New York City FC records for appearances, assists, and goal contributions. Jim Abbott, born without a right arm beyond the wrist, adapted by pitching with a glove balanced on his arm and then transferring it to his left hand, reaching Major League Baseball with strong results including a no-hitter. Pete Gray also pursued enlistment after Pearl Harbor despite losing his right arm as a boy.

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