'Let's celebrate!' LeBron James and Megan Rapinoe delighted at Joe Biden's win

NBA superstar and World Cup winner were both involved in high-profile tussles with President Donald Trump

US vice president-elect Kamala Harris and president-elect Joe Biden arrive for victory address after being declared the winner in the 2020 presidential election, in Wilmington, Delaware. EPA

US president-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden with vice president-elect Kamala Harris are joined by family members after Mr Biden delivered his victory address following the announcement of the winner in the 2020 presidential election, in Wilmington, Delaware. EPA

People watch fireworks after media announced that Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden has won the 2020 election, in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

US president-elect Joe Biden gestures in celebration after delivering remarks in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife Jill, and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her husband Doug, react to the confetti at their rally in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris arrives to deliver remarks before introducing the US president-elect Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

People gather to watch the speeches in Times Square in New York City. Reuters

Gabriella Ziccarelli, 32, from Arizona, holds a US flag as she watches a speech by vice president-elect Kamala Harris, in Times Square in New York City. Reuters

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris speaks in Wilmington, Delaware, November 7, 2020. Reuters

US president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris gesture during their post-election rally in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

A person wearing a protective mask holds a 'Biden Harris' campaign sign outside Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Bloomberg

The presidential motorcade, with US President Donald Trump, travels through Reston, Virginia, after President Trump played golf at his International golf club. AFP

President Donald Trump returns to the White House from playing golf in Washington, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. AFP

President Donald Trump plays golf at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. AFP

A woman reacts as she watches speeches by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, in Times Square in New York City. Reuters

People watch the speeches by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, at Times Square in New York City. Reuters

Confetti falls after US president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris delivered speeches in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

US president-elect Joe Biden with his wife Jill Biden, salute the crowd on stage after delivering a speech in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

US president-elect Joe Biden, wife Jill Biden, vice president-elect Kamala Harris and husband Douglas Emhoff hold hands while wearing protective masks during a post-election event in Wilmington, Delaware. Bloomberg

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris and president-elect Joe Biden stand on stage with family members in Wilmington, Delaware. AP Photo

A boy carries a sign with vice president-elect Kamala Harris at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. Reuters

People watch a speech by Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, at Times Square in New York City. Reuters

A woman takes selfie photo posing with an extra edition of a newspaper reporting that Democrat Joe Biden is projected to win the 2020 US presidential election, in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters

Joe Biden's victory in the US presidential election, bringing an end to Donald Trump's turbulent four years in office, set off a flood of congratulations and reactions from American athletes.

NBA star LeBron James, who led a high-profile effort to drive voter turnout and one of the leading supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, tweeted a photo of one of the most famous moments of his glittering career, when he pulled off a spectacular block of Andre Iguodala during the 2016 NBA finals, but replaced his face with Biden's and his opponent's with Trump.

He also addressed a message to Philadelphia, the biggest city in the state of Pennsylvania, which swung the election in Biden's favour.

"THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Let's celebrate! Responsibly still."

Another sports star Trump repeatedly tussled with was World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, who shortly after Saturday’s result came in tweeted a thank you to “Black Women”, who voted overwhelmingly for Biden in this year’s election.

Rapinoe was one of the first white athletes to kneel during the US national anthem and has called Trump sexist and misogynistic. Before the 2019 World Cup she said she would not go to the White House celebrations if the US lifted the trophy, a promise she kept.

She and fiancée Sue Bird, an four-time WNBA champion, spent Monday on a call to encourage people phone banking for the now president-elect. Bird broke out a celebratory post a la James.

Rapinoe's international teammate Alex Morgan also joined in the celebrations. The striker, who made her Women's Premier League debut for Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Reading, must have been in the dressing room when she heard the news.

She tweeted a picture of Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, who will become both the first female vice president as well as the first woman of colour to hold that office.

Women's National Basketball Association players also celebrated Harris becoming the first woman to be on a winning presidential election ticket.

The reigning US Open women's champion, Naomi Osaka, was also in celebratory mood. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who wore facemasks bearing the names of black Americans killed by police during her run to the title in September and who has also spoken of her support for Black Lives Matter, posted this GIF after Biden won Nevada, adding to his electoral vote total after winning the presidency.

Basketball hall of famer Magic Johnson, who has been part owner of a number of Los Angeles sports franchises including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers, said he was celebrating for the third time in the past few weeks.

"Today I completed my trifecta: the Lakers, the Dodgers, and now #BidenHarris!! It's been a fantastic 30 days!" Johnson wrote.

American Kyle Lowry, who plays in Canada for the NBA's Toronto Raptors, is glad his vote helped make a difference.

"Your vote counts!!!!" he said