Sports figures
Baseball
- Jim Abbott, one-handed MLB pitcher famous for throwing a no-hitter despite his disability
- Scott Aldred, MLB pitcher
- Steve Boros, MLB infielder, manager and executive
- Geraldine Guest, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Jeff Hamilton, MLB infielder
- Rick Leach, MLB outfielder
- Joe Mays, MLB pitcher
- Ron Pruitt, MLB outfielder and catcher
- Merv Rettenmund, MLB outfielder
- Mickey Weston, MLB pitcher
Basketball
- Charlie Bell, one of Michigan State University's "Flintstones"
- Miles Bridges, professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets
- Demetrius Calip, player for 1989 University of Michigan championship team
- Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State player, one of the "Flintstones"
- JuJuan Cooley, pro player in Eastern Europe
- Tonya Edwards, European and WNBA player
- Marty Embry, played for DePaul University, drafted by Utah Jazz, 13-year pro career, chef, author
- Desmon Farmer, professional basketball player with Ironi Ashkelon
- Terry Furlow, MSU and NBA player
- Jeff Grayer, Olympic and NBA player
- Cory Hightower, Flint high school star
- Darryl Johnson, MSU player
- Kyle Kuzma, professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards
- Tamika Louis, Fresno State player
- Roy Marble, former Iowa and NBA player
- Thad McFadden, American-born Georgian national basketball player
- JaVale McGee, former Nevada and current Phoenix Suns player
- Pamela McGee, USC women's basketball star
- Monté Morris, professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves
- Deanna Nolan, WNBA player
- Morris Peterson, Michigan State player, one of the "Flintstones"
- Glen Rice, Michigan and NBA player
- Eddie Robinson, NBA player
- Keith Smith, Loyola Marymount player [2]
- Barry Stevens, Iowa State player
- Stacey Thomas, WNBA player
- Trent Tucker, Minnesota and NBA player
- Coquese Washington, WNBA player; first president of WNBA players association; current head coach of Penn State women's basketball team
- James Young, NBA player, 2019-20 top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League
Track and field
- Herb Washington, four-time All-American sprinter, world record holder, professional baseball player
Boxing
- Tony Burton, also football player and actor
- Chris Byrd, world champion
- Tracy Byrd, world champion
- Andre Dirrell, pro middleweight boxer, Olympic bronze medalist in 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens
- Anthony Dirrell, pro middleweight boxer
- Claressa Shields, first back-to-back two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2012 Summer Olympics in London and 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
Football
- Carl Banks, linebacker, two-time Super Bowl champion
- Tony Branoff, running back and MVP University fo Michigan
- Tony Burton, also boxer and actor
- Brandon Carr, cornerback for Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys
- Todd Carter, kickoff specialist for Carolina Panthers
- Lynn Chandnois, Pro Bowl player for Pittsburgh Steelers
- Don Coleman, Michigan State player, member of College Football Hall of Fame
- Terry Crews, NFL defensive end; actor
- Courtney Hawkins, NFL wide receiver
- Mark Ingram II, NFL running back; 2009 Heisman Trophy winner; born and raised in Grand Blanc, attended Flint Southwestern Academy
- Mark Ingram Sr., NFL wide receiver
- Stephen Jones, CFL player
- David Kircus, pro football wide receiver
- Paul Krause, NFL Hall of Famer
- Todd Lyght, NFL defensive back, Notre Dame assistant coach
- Thad McFadden, NFL wide receiver
- Mike Miller, NFL wide receiver
- Booker Moore, running back for Penn State
- Jim Morrissey, NFL linebacker for Super Bowl XX champion Chicago Bears
- Don Morton, head coach, North Dakota State, Wisconsin
- Ricky Patton, NFL running back for Super Bowl XVI champion San Francisco 49ers
- Clarence Peaks, NFL fullback
- Thomas Rawls, NFL running back for Seattle Seahawks
- Harold "Tubby" Raymond, member of College Football Hall of Fame; 300 wins as head coach at University of Delaware
- Andre Rison, NFL wide receiver, 5-time Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl champion
- Bob Rowe, NFL lineman
- Jon Runyan, 14-year NFL lineman; politician
- Dan Skuta, NFL player
- Fernando Smith, NFL defensive lineman
- Robaire Smith, NFL defensive lineman
- Barry Stokes, NFL offensive lineman
- Andre Weathers, cornerback, University of Michigan and New York Giants
- Brent Williams, NFL defensive end
- Reggie Williams, NFL linebacker
- Chris Wilson, Canadian Football League player
- Lonnie Young, NFL defensive back
Hockey
- Ken Morrow, defenseman, Davison, Michigan native, part of Miracle on Ice and four-time Stanley Cup champion with New York Islanders
- Brian Rolston, won 1995 Stanley Cup championship with New Jersey Devils [3]
- Tim Thomas, goaltender; Davison native; former goalie for Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins; 2010 Olympics silver medalist, 2011 Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe award winner
Mixed martial arts
- Mike Perry, UFC fighter since 2016
Tennis
- MaliVai Washington, 1996 Wimbeldon finalist
Weightlifting
- Lamar Gant Powerlifter, first person in history to deadlift five times his own bodyweight