who was the greatest athlete of the 20th century?

Answer 1

WAYNE GRETZKY

Answer 2

He was an amazing athlete but I give greatest athlete to either Jim Thorpe or Jessee Owens. On the female side it's hard to beat "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias . The woman excelled at golf, Track and Field, scuba diving, basketball and probably a dozen others. She represented "her company in the 1932 AAU Championships, she competed in eight out of ten events, winning five outright, and tying for first in a sixth. In the process, she set five world records in the javelin throw, 80-meter hurdles, high jump and baseball throw in a single afternoon. Didrikson's performances were enough to win the team championship, despite her being the sole member of her team." (1) The only woman that is even considered her equal is Jackie Joyner Kersey. In fact ESPN rated Jackie just ahead of "Babe" on greatest female athletes of the 20th century. Ali was no villain - he objected to the war and if you agree with him or not he simply exercised his rights under the law. Bill Clinton went to Canada to keep from getting drafted. No one is calling him a villain for doing so. Boxing would have died a long time ago without Ali. He was the last great ambassador for the sport. It has declined in popularity ever since he retired. Today it has been replaced by MMF bouts in most Americans opinions. The man is a sports hero in my book and his stance on equal rights is to be commended not scorned.

Answer 3

MUHAMMAD ALI - The Greatest Of All Time - No doubt, no question, no competition. It is said the best conditioned athlete is the boxer and Ali proved he was not only the best in the ring, but out of it as well.

Michael Jordan is second.

The athlete mentioned in a previous answer was Jesse Owens who pissed off adolph hitler by besting the great German runner of his time. That runner was a white Arian who later become one of Owens' best friends, further POing the fuhrer. As great as Jess was, Ali still was tops.

Answer 4

Jackie Joyner Kersee

Answer 5

Jackie Robinson-

He lettered in baseball, track & field, basketball and football at UCLA - the first ever there! He wasn't even the best at baseball yet that is where is had the greatest impact and changed the face of the game.

Answer 6

I would have to agree with Ali, the caliber of his opponents will never again be matched by any other fighter, sure there are plenty of fighters with good records but not with the quality of opponents Ali had

Answer 7

The black American athlete (Jesse Owens) who competed in Nazi Germany and won in front of Hitler, thereby quashing the notion of a master race

Answer 8

Muhammed Ali, boxing great and humanitarian.......Lance Armstrong, cycling great, cancer survivor and founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, raising millions and millions of dollars for cancer research.......Wayne Gretzke, hockey great and nice guy.......

Answer 9

Who else? your answer is Michael Jordan, NBA

Answer 10

michael jordon

Answer 11

mickey mantle