Greatest Sportsman/woman Ever

[Lord Tyrion]

Can't take Redgrave. Minority sport. One of my choices, Bradman, is iffy as not many countries play cricket. That is why Bolt or Lewis have to be up there as pretty much anyone in any country has the opportunity to be an athlete so the competition is huge.

Thread re-opened.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Ed Moses

 

[Rooter]

Ed Moses

He related to Victor? i think he went downhill when he arrived at Liverpool..

 

[louise_a]

Greatest all round sportsman is Max Woosnam without a doubt,

 

[Norrin Radd]

H was a 400mtr hurdler and between 1977and 1987 he won 107 consecutive finals and broke the world record four times.

He was practically unbeatable in his day.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Al Oerter - first athlete to win a gold medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympics?

Don't think there can be an ever in this tbh.

Perhaps though - Ali has to be in just about everyone's top three. And I doubt anyone else would be.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not mine. Lost too often, sorry. He gets elevated above others due to a massive personality.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Tiger Woods

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Can't take Redgrave. Minority sport. One of my choices, Bradman, is iffy as not many countries play cricket. That is why Bolt or Lewis have to be up there as pretty much anyone in any country has the opportunity to be an athlete so the competition is huge.

Thread re-opened.

What makes rowing a "minority" sport and why does it effected someone's standing as a sportsman ?

Is that the same for people like Woods or Nicklaus who both play a minority sport ? Or Boxing ?

 

[bluewolf]

What makes rowing a "minority" sport and why does it effected someone's standing as a sportsman ?

Is that the same for people like Woods or Nicklaus who both play a minority sport ? Or Boxing ?

Yeah, I'm calling bollox on that one too.

 

[chrisd]

Virtuosity - couldn't put club on ball 18 months ago, now 12 handicap!

 

[Karl102]

Duncan Edwards
Dennis Law
George Best
Bobby Charlton
Eric Cantona
Paul Scholes
Ryan Giggs

Ok, can argue about the order if you want....

In all seriousness, Redgrave is up there. To be at the top of your sport for 20+ years is special. Jangir Kahn won 555 competitive elite squash games without being beat. I think it's the longest sporting winning streak ever.....

 

[Duckster]

Miguel Indurain
Ali has to be in there
Redgrave simply because it's one of the most physically punishing sports and he did it over how many years???

 

[Pin-seeker]

Phil The Power.
AP McCoy

 

[Qwerty]

Yeah, I'm calling bollox on that one too.

I'm not surprised seeing as you nominated someone who does Ironman

 

[Karl102]

I'm not surprised seeing as you nominated someone who does Ironman

Robert Downey JNR ?!? What sport does he do?!?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Impossible to compare generation to generation and sport to sport but there are many that have excelled in their own fields.

Redgrave
Hoy (and Froome)
AP McCoy
Michael Schumacher
Pele

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

To be the greatest ever, one of the criteria has to be how far ahead of the rest of the field was that person. Based on that, the contenders are people like:

Ed Moses (107 consecutive wins not finals)
Jehangir Khan
Don Bradman
Joe Louis

Although I am a huge admirer of Steve Redgrave, how do we know how good he actually was based on the fact he was 1 of 4 in a team? Likewise any cyclists who were also part of a team.

 

[wrighty1874]

Daley Thompson and Michael Johnson for me.

 

[williamalex1]

Ali , considering being banned in his prime , IMHO he is the greatest sportsman and entertainer I've watched in my lifetime [ so far] .