15 greatest Olympians to appear on a Wheaties box

Olympic athletes appearing on the cover of a Wheaties box is a time-honored tradition dating back to 1935. Here are the 15 greatest Olympians do so.

In 1934, Wheaties cereal and the world of sports teamed up for a partnership that would forever leave a lasting imprint on the legacy of both parties.

Wheaties made the fateful decision that year to put an athlete — legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig — on the back cover of its cereal box. The rest is history.

Athletes from nearly every major sport imaginable have graced the cover, adding another accolade to their resumes in exchange for helping the Wheaties brand garner widespread attention, particularly in America but also worldwide. For a cereal company bearing the slogan “Breakfast of Champions”, the presence of an elite athlete was the perfect asset.

While the first athlete to appear on the box was not an Olympian, the games have crafted their own unique place in the history of the tradition.

Originally, athletes were only featured on the back cover of the cereal box. That changed in 1958, when Olympic pole vaulter Bob Richards was featured on the front of the cover. Richardson would become one of the company’s most recognizable spokespersons, while a bevy of other Olympians, including a handful of multiple gold medal winners, would have the honor bestowed upon them.

With the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil just around the corner, here is a look at the 15 greatest Olympians to appear on a Wheaties box.

Next: No. 15