Greatest Sportsman/woman Ever

[Deleted Member 1156]

Got a feeling Bradman played in a team, and in a sport that most definitely requires others to perform well before Bradman could achieve what he did. The best batsman ever without a doubt, but if his bowlers hadn't created the platform and freedom for him play... great yes, but greatest no.

You could turn your argument around to say that if Bradman hadn't scored so many runs his bowlers wouldn't have had the freedom to play so well?

Yes cricket is a team sport but when a batsman is at the crease he is very much performing as an individual.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

So winning Wimbledon, winning an Olympic gold medal, captaining the England football team as well as being a scratch golfer, scoring a century at Lords and scoring a 147 at snooker is obviously not worth of consideration.

Yeah but could he hit the ball forum distances?

 

[richart]

Muhammad Ali for me.

Wasn't he the most recognised person on the planet at one time ?

Shane Gould must have been one of the greatest sportswomen. She held simultaneously all freestyle world records from 100 metres to 1500 metres. Won gold medals at Munich Olympics in 200 and 400 freestyle, and 200 IM in world record times. She retired shortly after the games aged 16.

A friend of mine competes in Masters swimming. She qualified for the final of the 100 metres in the Masters World Champs in Australia a few years ago. Unfortunately Shane Gould decided to come out of retirement at that event. My friend was in the next lane to her, and has got the video coverage of them diving in together, but they were not swimming beside each other for long.

 

[Smiffy]

John Holmes.
Turtle throttler par excellence.
:thup:

 

[Qwerty]

So winning Wimbledon, winning an Olympic gold medal, captaining the England football team as well as being a scratch golfer, scoring a century at Lords and scoring a 147 at snooker is obviously not worth of consideration.

Was he any good at rowing a boat?

 

[Qwerty]

John Holmes.
Turtle throttler par excellence.
:thup:

Good call but If we're talking unique skill then Ron Jeremy has got to be worth a shout. :thup:

 

[bluewolf]

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

Very true, but you had to google her didn't you?

 

[Doh]

He has been mentioned only once i think but if you are going to talk about Olympians you have to included Ben Ainslie for me.

 

[Qwerty]

Very true, but you had to google her didn't you?

Yep But to be fair I shouldn't have to be googling the greatest ever sports person, For that reason she out! Along with boat rowers

 

[bluewolf]

Yep But to be fair I shouldn't have to be googling the greatest ever sports person, For that reason she out! Along with boat rowers

She is most definitely not out.. I'm not having your woeful sporting knowledge as a qualifier for what makes a sports person great.. If that was the case then the only criteria would be Man Utd players of the Ferguson era...

 

[Slab]

To be the greatest I’d think you not only would have had to skoosh your own sport but be known globally for an achievement, (all too easy in today’s tech heavy world) & that achievement transcends their own lifetime/generation. Lets face it you can't be the greatest if no one knows what you did!

It needs to be a greatness that’s almost profound and really meaningful in folks lives at the time

Pele
Ali
Fangio
Bannister

And from the modern (my) era, Schumacher & Borg

Around the world these guys don't even need their full name for them to be known! (Maybe that should be a qualifier to even get on the list) Maybe a Ronaldo or Messi or a.n. other will join them but I think without the internet they just couldn't make the grade

 

[Smiffy]

He has been mentioned only once i think but if you are going to talk about Olympians you have to included Ben Ainslie for me.

His cookery programmes are okay I guess

 

[bobmac]

Charles Burgess Fry didn't do too badly

 

[Robster59]

To be honest it's a ridiculous argument because people can't agree about who was the best in one sport, never mind across them all. The skill sets are totally different. The eras in which they participated, the equipment available and standard of competition all have an impact.
For me it's down to achievement, approach, contribution to the sport, natural ability, achieving beyond your ability, charisma, etc.

And who, in reality, has a knowledge of all the great sportsmen and women from all eras.

It can't be done.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

There's no fun in that answer. This is a classic bar room question with no correct answer, hence why it is a good one.

 

[Norrin Radd]

There's no fun in that answer. This is a classic bar room question with no correct answer, hence why it is a good one.

Is the right answer.
Now how about googling Frank Dux

 

[Robster59]

There's no fun in that answer. This is a classic bar room question with no correct answer, hence why it is a good one.

Is it my fault I'm a miserable, pedantic old fart? Well, alright, probably yes.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Mog comes to mind Steve..

 

[Slime]

Greatest all round sportsman is Max Woosnam without a doubt,

Is the right answer ............................... by a distance!

So winning Wimbledon, winning an Olympic gold medal, captaining the England football team as well as being a scratch golfer, scoring a century at Lords and scoring a 147 at snooker is obviously not worthy of consideration.

You forgot to mention that he was also a world class table tennis player .................... and he won an olympic gold medal on the same day that he won a silver medal!
Max Woosnam was the ultimate sports phenomenon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Woosnam



Slime.

 

[Robster59]

Mog comes to mind Steve..

GOM works as well :angry: