The most popular sport in Haiti is football, known here as Soccer, though basketball is slowly but steadily gaining popularity, especially among the youth.

American athletes from Haiti are resilient and stubborn and finish what they start, and that comes from their heritage,” says Emmanuel Thalerand, the brother of former Seattle defensive end Cliff Avril, whose foundation has built a school and 25 houses in Haiti to give back to his homeland.

Explore some of Haiti’s star athletes, both in the U.S. and around the world.