• Forbes, Thursday, April 22, 2010 12 PM

Cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong is the most influential athlete in America, according E-Poll Market Research, which measures consumers' opinions about more than 5,000 celebrities on 46 attributes including influence, awareness and likability. More than half of all Americans know who Armstrong is, with nearly 33% considering him to be "influential" and 46% saying they "like him a lot," Tom Van Riper reports.

Talent is only one element in the calculus of what makes an athlete "influential." Endorsements, media attention, and off-the-field image also play big roles. In short, says E-Poll CEO Gerry Philpott, "it means that people feel he's making an impact."

Rounding out the Top 10 are the Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, snowboarder Shaun White, the Cavalier's Shaquille O'Neal, Indianapolis Colt Peyton Manning, the Boston Celtic's Kevin Garnett, the Los Angeles Laker's Kobe Bryant, speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, and the Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade. Tiger Woods is notably absent.

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