These Sports Stars Don’t Mind An Age Gap In Their Relationship
When they say love is blind, they really mean it. Your feelings can't see skin color, type of hair, or how tall or short someone is. Passion also doesn't care how old someone is, just ask these sports stars. From Derek Jeter to Cristiano Ronaldo, some of the biggest names in sports have a nice gap in age with their partners. Others might find it uncomfortable, but these stars don't mind in the slightest. Continue reading to find out which athletes don't bat an eye at the age of their significant other.
How To Mend A Broken Heart With Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft had a rough year in 2011 with the passing of his wife, Myra, after she lost a battle to ovarian cancer. "I sort of feel robbed," Kraft said to the Boston Globe when discussing his late wife.
A year after her she passed away, he found new hope in Ricki Noel Lander, an actress and dancer. She's 39 years younger than the owner of the New England Patriots. Maybe that's why she secretly had a baby with another man in 2018, which Kraft didn't mind!
Jordan Bounces Back
His Airness divorced his wife Juanita in 2006 and had to pay $150 million in divorce settlements. That didn't stop the legend from pursuing love again but from a younger, gorgeous woman.
Michael Jordan met Yvette Prieto in 2008, and by 2011, they got engaged. Two years after that, they tied the knot in Palm Beach, Florida. She's 15 years younger than him, but that's not a thing to Jordan. In 2014, they had twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel.
This Model Steps Up To The Mound
We're not bashing the age differences between these people in sport and their partners. It would be hard for any person not to be attracted to model Kate Upton. Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander is ten years older than Upton, but we're sure he doesn't mind.
They dated for a few years before getting married in 2017. They endured a terrible leak of private photos that many celebrities faced a while ago. That ordeal more than likely only strengthened their relationship.
A Hall Of Fame Couple
Not only does Derek Jeter have a Hall of Fame career on the field, but his dating history is out of the park as well. With names like Vida Guerra, Mariah Carey, and Miss Universe Lara Dutta in his past, it could be hard to settle after that.
That was until model Hannah Davis caught the star's eye. The 16-year age gap wasn't going to stop the former slugger from changing Hannah's last name to Jeter.
One Lovely Union
Minus any of the extracurricular noise revolving around Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, the two have had a beautiful relationship over the years. The former Miami Heat player is nine years younger than Union, but he's the last to care.
After divorcing NFL player Chris Howard in 2006, three years passed before Union and Wade began dating. Things would heat up rather fast, leading to a marriage in 2014. They welcomed their first child together in early 2019.
An Age Gap He Couldn't Pass On
When you sit and consider that 12 years is the same amount of time you spend going from elementary to finishing high school, you might think that's a lot of time. We wonder if that's how Jeff Garcia sees it when it comes to his wife, Carmella DeCesare.
Garcia is 12 years older than his spouse, the former Playmate and WWE Diva. 2009 was Garcia's final year in the NFL, and the couple got married two years before that.
Hips And Numbers Don't Lie
It would have to take more than a ten-year difference for anyone to turn down singing sensation known as Shakira. The center-back for Barcelona, Gerard Pique, was only 14 when Shakira released her smash hit, "Whenever Wherever."
They met when Pique was a part of Shakira's music video "Waka Waka," a song used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The couple now has several children together, and they also share the same birthday. At least they'll always have one thing in common!
Nash Doesn't Mind The Gap One Bit
"We don't need no [expletive] Instagram posts to prove our love. I love you. We love you. Thank you for making life so good. Happy Valentines Day," Steve Nash captioned this photo.
Clearly, an age gap doesn't bother the former basketball star. Nash married Lilla Frederick when she was only 26, and he was 42, in 2016. The following year, she gave birth to their son, Luca. "Mom's a serious champ, and we're in love with this little guy," Nash said.
Ward's Wife Caught A Little Embarrassment
The former Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout, Hines Ward, had one more play left in him in 2014 when he married Lindsey Georgalas in Heinz Field in 2014. Ward might not have cared about the age difference, but Gerogalas minded it a bit at first.
After their marriage, the two appeared on Celebrity Wife Swap in 2015 when Ward was 39, and his wife was only 24. Ward admits that "she was hesitant" at first, but it all worked out in the end.
Tiki Barber Risked It All
Scandal surrounded Tiki Barber after word got out that he had an affair with his babysitter-turned-NBC intern. That's already a lot to take in, but the lady in question, Traci Lynn Johnson, ended up becoming the former running back's wife.
The two wed when Barber was 37 and Johnson was 23. Barber must really have a thing for her, too, because a source told the NY Post, "On her 21st birthday, he sent her 21 dozen roses to her dorm. He also gave her a diamond and sapphire bracelet."
She Couldn't Resist His Blue Eyes
The Olympic gold medalist and former WWE star, Kurt Angle, had just ended his relationship with his past wife when he met Giovanna Yannotti. They connected on the set of 2009's End Game, according to Yannotti.
Yannotti didn't care about their 18-year age gap as she fell in love with Angle's "big blue eyes" and how handsome he was. The two spent some years as friends before the wrestler asked her out on a first date to Arby's.
Dr. J Likes His Patients Younger
Julius "Dr. J" Erving is a basketball legend and one of the best to do it right next to Michael Jordan. Does that mean they both have to like younger women? No, but it just happened to turn out that way.
Erving documented his shady past in his autobiography and let the people know about his current partner, Dorýs Madden, who is 19 years younger than he is. Many thought they might've been a fling, but it turns out they're the real deal.
A Happy, Younger Wife
The climate of soccer has never been tenser when it comes to deciding who's better between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. That aside, we're sure Ronaldo didn't take long to determine if he still liked his now-wife Georgina Rodriguez after learning she was ten years younger.
Rodriguez said: "With Cristiano, I have found love. We complement each other very well. We have a beautiful relationship. When I have him next to me, I have everything."
You Can Bet Iron Mike Didn't Think Twice
Mike Tyson's legacy might seem made up, but trust us, it isn't. The self-proclaimed pigeon lover isn't one to avoid doing something because it isn't generally accepted. He's probably more inclined if that's the case.
Now, we're not saying he chose to marry Lakiha Spicer just because she's nine years younger than him. She's the one that helped him turn his life around. "I'm very happy me and my wife got together," he says, "because I don't know how I would have survived out there."
This Is Indeed Impressive
Universally acknowledged as Pele, the former soccer superstar has a massive gap between himself and his wife. He was married twice before he decided to see if the third time was a charm in 2016.
Marcia Aoki was the lucky woman, who is 32 years younger than the footballer. Pele impressed many with his skills on the pitch, but he shocked a ton more by marrying a woman that much younger than he is.
Woods Keeps It Private This Time Around
Tiger Woods might not have the same game he used to, but that doesn't mean he still can't take a swing at the younger ladies. The prolific golfer has a chaotic past involving women, but his current relationship with Erica Herman seems stable.
Herman is nine years younger than Woods, who appeared not long after he split with Kristin Smith. A key difference between this relationship and the others is that Woods keeps it more private than ever.
A Match Made In Heaven
AJ Lee doesn't need much of an introduction, but she's a three-time Diva champion in the WWE, and she won the woman of the year 2012-2014 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated. As for her boo, CM Punk's history pretty much speaks for itself.
The two ruled the ring together for a few years before they both eventually left. If a powerbomb doesn't frighten them, we're sure a nine-year age gap doesn't bother the couple either. They tied the knot in 2014 and have been happy ever since.
Who Can Tame Brock Lesnar?
Brock Lesnar loves to fight. The WWE star and MMA fighter is as big as they come and isn't afraid of anyone. It takes a strong lady to handle a man like him, and he found that in Sable.
Sable being ten years older than Lesnar could play a part in their happy union. The two got married in 2006 and are still together today. That's an accomplishment already because most celebrity couples fizzle out way sooner than that.
The Lee And Wozniacki Connection
Caroline Wozniacki is one sensational tennis player. She's the former number-one ranked player in singles but if that doesn't impress you enough, her husband was a spectacular NBA player as well.
David Lee won a ring with the Warriors in 2015 and announced his retirement from the league shortly after getting engaged to Wozniacki. After all, Lee is seven years older than her, so he might need a little more free time to keep up with his babe.
Former Swedish Champ Now Has Perfect Life
Swedish tennis champ Björn Borg was 46 on his wedding day while his wife Patricia Ostfeldt was only 35. That means Ostfeldt wasn't born yet when Borg was ten... that's a mighty gap. Still, none of that matters to Borg, because he's found the one.
"It feels as though I have found the right woman for me, and I'm now living the way I want to live. I have the perfect life now, and I wouldn't change a thing," he said to The Telegraph.
Cycling To Love
With what is now a tarnished legacy, former all-world cyclist Lance Armstrong might not receive the same admiration that he used to, but at least he has the attention of one special lady. After his split with Sheryl Crow in 2006, he admitted it was tough that it didn't go well with her.
A few years later, he began dating Anna Hansen, whom he is 11 years older than. The couple has two children together, Olivia and Max, and they appear to have a healthy relationship going.
Who Can Forget These Two?
The former San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker shocked a lot of people when he and the beautiful Eva Longoria became a couple. It was primarily because he was seven years younger than her, but what seemed like a real possibility, didn't work out.
After meeting in 2004, they tied the knot in 2007 but soon came trouble in paradise. Reports were that Parker had an affair, even though each of them denied that. Later, Parker did get caught cheating, which led to their divorce in 2011.
A Huge Age And Size Difference
Nashville star Hayden Panettiere has always had a thing for older men. She dated Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia when she was only 18 and he was 29. After that breakup, she went for the former heavyweight boxer, Wladimir Klitschko, who is 13 years her senior.
The two dated for a while starting in 2009, but eventually, they broke it off in 2018 after having a child together in 2014. Klitschko is still protective of his ex, says Panettiere, so they're on good terms.
When Hockey And Wrestling Collide
Hockey is a cold game, so NHL stars need some warm loving too, no matter how much younger their partners might be. Former NHL defenseman Sheldon Souray shared his life with the much younger WWE wrestler, Kelly Kelly.
They got married in 2016 and even were on the E! show WAGS, but the marriage didn't last long at all. They would end up splitting a year later. She was ten years younger than he was, so maybe he just needed someone more his speed.
