Comprehensive overview of elite athletes who openly use creatine supplements for athletic performance, from Olympic champions to MLB record holders

Creatine has become the most scientifically-backed supplement in professional sports, with 28% of collegiate athletes regularly using it for performance enhancement. From baseball's home run kings to soccer's greatest scorers, elite athletes across every major sport have turned to this natural compound for its proven ability to boost power, strength, and recovery. Whether you're exploring science-backed supplements or curious about what fuels professional athletic performance, this comprehensive guide reveals which athletes trust creatine and why.

Key Takeaways

• You're witnessing widespread adoption – From 50% of NBA players to Olympic sprinters, creatine has become the most popular legal performance enhancer in professional sports

• Safety profile drives confidence – Athletes using creatine experience lower injury rates compared to non-users, with reduced muscle cramping, strains, and dehydration incidents

• Performance gains are measurable – The phosphocreatine system rapidly regenerates ATP energy, enabling athletes to maintain peak power output during high-intensity activities

• Market growth reflects athlete demand – The global creatine market reached $1.11 billion in 2024 with Americans consuming over 4 million kilograms annually

• Gender gaps are closing – While 48% of male college athletes use creatine compared to 4% of females, more female athletes are discovering its benefits for lean muscle and performance

• Dosing protocols matter – Professional athletes typically follow established loading phases of 20-25g for 5-7 days, then maintain with 3-5g daily for optimal results

Baseball's Power Hitters and Creatine

1. Mark McGwire: The Home Run King's Secret Weapon

Mark McGwire, the former Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals slugger who broke Roger Maris's single-season home run record in 1998, was one of the first major athletes to publicly endorse creatine. In a Chicago Tribune interview during his record-breaking season, McGwire stated "It's good stuff. It does everything you'd want" when discussing his creatine supplementation routine. His openness about using the legal supplement helped normalize its use in professional baseball during an era of intense scrutiny over performance enhancement.

McGwire's advocacy came at a crucial time when creatine sales hit $100 million annually with double-digit growth. His 70 home runs in 1998 demonstrated the potential benefits of combining creatine supplementation with elite training, though he emphasized it was just one component of his comprehensive fitness program. The first baseman's influence extended beyond baseball, inspiring athletes across sports to explore creatine gummies and other convenient supplement forms.

2. Barry Bonds: San Francisco's Supplement Advocate

Barry Bonds, MLB's all-time home run leader with 762 career homers, openly discussed his creatine use during a 2002 Fox Sports Net interview. The San Francisco Giants legend stated "Definitely. I take supplements. I have taken creatine, protein pills and amino acids. To replenish your body is very important" when addressing questions about his training regimen. His transparency about legal supplementation came during intense media scrutiny of baseball's performance enhancement culture.

The seven-time MVP's acknowledgment of creatine use highlighted how elite athletes view supplementation as essential for recovery and maintaining performance through grueling 162-game seasons. Bonds emphasized the importance of proper nutrition and legal supplements for sustaining elite performance levels well into his 40s, proving that smart supplementation strategies could extend athletic careers.

Soccer's Elite Performers

3. Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal's Supplement Pioneer

Cristiano Ronaldo, widely considered one of soccer's greatest players with five Ballon d'Or awards, has been vocal about his comprehensive supplement routine including creatine. In a Men's Health interview, the Portuguese superstar revealed "I take supplements. I have taken creatine, protein pills and amino acids. To replenish your body is very important" when discussing his legendary fitness regimen. His dedication to physical optimization has allowed him to maintain elite performance levels well into his late 30s.

Ronaldo's influence on soccer's supplement culture cannot be overstated. His meticulous approach to nutrition and recovery, including strategic creatine use, has inspired countless young players to adopt similar protocols. The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend's longevity at the highest level demonstrates how proper supplementation combined with world-class training can extend athletic prime years far beyond typical expectations.

4. Sergio Agüero: Argentina's Energy Optimizer

Sergio Agüero, Manchester City's all-time leading scorer and Argentina international, incorporated creatine into his training routine to maintain explosive speed throughout matches. Reports indicate the supplement "helps him to maintain his energy levels during matches, allowing him to play at his best for the entire 90 minutes" of intense competition. His ability to score crucial late-game goals throughout his career may partly stem from optimized energy systems supported by creatine supplementation.

The striker's approach to supplementation reflects modern soccer's demands, where players cover up to 10 kilometers per match at varying intensities. Agüero's success with creatine has influenced Premier League players to explore athletic performance solutions that support both explosive sprinting and sustained endurance throughout matches.

Research Pioneers and Creatine Science

5. Dr. Roger Harris: The Creatine Research Pioneer

Dr. Roger Harris, the British scientist who first demonstrated creatine's muscle-loading potential in humans during the 1990s, fundamentally changed sports nutrition. His groundbreaking research established that supplementation could increase muscle phosphocreatine content by 20%, providing the scientific foundation that convinced professional athletes to adopt creatine. Harris's work proved that the phosphocreatine system performs energy homeostasis in muscle cells by rapidly resynthesizing ATP during high-intensity exercise.

The researcher's protocols, including the now-standard loading phase of 20g daily for 5-7 days, became the blueprint followed by elite athletes worldwide. His continued research into creatine's mechanisms helped establish safety profiles that gave sports organizations confidence to permit its use, unlike many other performance-enhancing substances.

6. Dr. Richard Kreider: Sports Nutrition Authority

Dr. Richard Kreider, Executive Director of the Human Clinical Research Facility at Texas A&M University, has published extensively on creatine's benefits for athletes. His research demonstrated that creatine supplementation enhances performance in short-duration anaerobic intermittent exercise that characterizes most professional sports. Kreider's work has been instrumental in establishing creatine as the most effective nutritional supplement for high-intensity training adaptations.

His studies showing that athletes taking creatine experience lower incidence of injuries compared to non-users have been particularly influential in professional sports. This safety data has encouraged team physicians and trainers to recommend creatine as part of comprehensive recovery supplements programs for injury prevention.

Olympic and Elite Athletic Programs

7. NCAA Division I Programs: Collegiate Creatine Culture

Research from NCAA Division I athletic programs reveals extensive creatine use among college athletes, with 48% of male athletes reporting regular supplementation compared to 4% of females. Football players lead usage rates, followed by wrestlers and track athletes, reflecting the supplement's particular benefits for power and strength sports. This widespread adoption at the collegiate level creates a pipeline of creatine-educated athletes entering professional sports.

The data shows that 74.2% of young athletes cite enhanced performance as their primary reason for taking creatine. University strength and conditioning programs have increasingly incorporated creatine education into their nutrition protocols, recognizing its role in helping athletes transition successfully to professional careers where supplementation becomes even more critical for maintaining competitive edges.

8. USA Track and Field: Sprinters and Power Athletes

USA Track and Field athletes, particularly sprinters and throwers, have embraced creatine for its proven benefits in explosive events. The supplement's ability to enhance phosphocreatine stores directly benefits events lasting under 30 seconds, where ATP regeneration determines performance outcomes. Olympic sprinters have credited creatine with improving their ability to maintain speed through championship rounds requiring multiple races in short timeframes.

The organization's acceptance of creatine, confirmed by its absence from WADA's prohibited list, has encouraged open discussion about supplementation strategies. American track athletes' success with creatine has influenced international competitors to adopt similar protocols, contributing to the supplement's global acceptance in athletics.

Professional Basketball's Adoption

9. NBA Players: League-Wide Supplement Culture

The National Basketball Association has seen widespread creatine adoption, with estimates suggesting 50% of players use the supplement regularly. The demanding 82-game regular season plus playoffs creates unique recovery challenges that creatine helps address through enhanced muscle recovery and reduced fatigue. Players particularly value creatine's benefits for maintaining explosive jumping ability and sprint speed throughout long seasons.

Basketball's combination of aerobic and anaerobic demands makes creatine particularly valuable for maintaining performance during crucial fourth-quarter minutes. The supplement's ability to support both practice intensity and game performance has made it a staple in team training facilities, where sports nutrition staff often provide daily supplementation routines tailored to individual player needs.

10. CrossFit Games Athletes: Functional Fitness Champions

CrossFit Games competitors, who must excel across multiple fitness domains, have embraced creatine for its versatility in supporting varied training demands. Elite CrossFit athletes face workouts combining Olympic lifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning, making creatine's ATP regeneration benefits particularly valuable. The supplement helps maintain power output during high-rep Olympic lifts while supporting recovery between multiple daily training sessions.

The sport's emphasis on measurable performance improvements aligns perfectly with creatine's documented benefits. Athletes report improvements in benchmark workouts and competition performance after implementing proper supplementation protocols. Many CrossFit athletes prefer convenient supplement forms that fit their mobile lifestyles and frequent travel to competitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all professional athletes use creatine?

No, while creatine is widely used across professional sports, not all athletes supplement with it. Usage varies by sport, with power and strength athletes showing higher adoption rates than endurance athletes. Some athletes are non-responders who see minimal benefits, while others choose to rely solely on dietary sources. The decision to use creatine remains individual, based on sport demands, personal response, and professional guidance.

Is creatine banned in any professional sports?

Creatine is not banned by WADA, the NCAA, or any major professional sports organization. It's classified as a legal dietary supplement and is considered one of the few performance-enhancing substances that's both effective and permitted. Athletes can use creatine without concern for drug testing violations, though they should always verify supplement quality through third-party testing to avoid contamination with banned substances.

How much creatine do professional athletes take daily?

Professional athletes typically follow established protocols of 20-25g daily for 5-7 days during loading phases, then maintain with 3-5g daily. Some athletes skip the loading phase and take 3g daily for 30 days to reach saturation. Dosing may vary based on body weight, with larger athletes sometimes taking up to 10g daily during maintenance. Timing often coincides with carbohydrate intake to enhance uptake.

Can female athletes take creatine safely during competition?

Yes, female athletes can safely use creatine during training and competition. While historical usage shows only 4% of female college athletes using creatine compared to 48% of males, this gap is closing as more research demonstrates benefits for women. Female athletes experience similar performance improvements without significant weight gain when following appropriate dosing protocols. The supplement is particularly beneficial for female power athletes and those in sports requiring repeated sprint performance.

What's the difference between creatine for athletes vs regular users?

Professional athletes often use more sophisticated supplementation strategies than recreational users, including precise timing around training, periodization during competitive seasons, and integration with comprehensive nutrition programs. Athletes may use higher quality products with NSF Certified for Sport verification and work with sports nutritionists to optimize protocols. However, the basic supplement and dosing remains similar – the difference lies in the precision of implementation and monitoring.