Who is your favourite athlete and why?

Question

I saw Iryna Mykhalchenko in the ladies high jump at Gateshead last week and although she was injured she was still brilliant. It was the first time I have seen her jump and I was well impressed.

Answer 1

Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (born March 1, 1980 in Khyber Agency to Pashtun parents of the Afridi tribe) popularly known as Shahid Afridi is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented Pakistan since 1996 in international cricket. He made his ODI debut on October 2, 1996 against Kenya at Nairobi and his Test debut on October 22, 1998 against Australia at Karachi. He has scored over 4,500 ODI runs at a strike rate of more than 107 runs per 100 balls, and has taken over 160 ODI wickets. He was brought into the team as a legspinner at the age of sixteen as a replacement for the injured Mushtaq Ahmed. He then gained notability as a pinch-hitter and began opening with Saeed Anwar. He holds the record for scoring the fastest century (which he scored off 37 balls) in One Day Internationals. He also shares the record for the second fastest century (off 45 balls) in One Day Internationals with Brian Lara. One of Pakistan's most useful all rounders, his extremely aggressive batting style has ensured that he has a strike rate higher than most batsmen in the world though his average of around 25 underlines the inconsistency in his batting.

A propensity for the unexpected, and a reputation for lacking patience while batting has meant that he has never been able to command a regular place in the Pakistan side.Geoff Boycott once appropriately quipped that there are more brains in a chocolate mouse. However, in the two games between Pakistan and India, contested in 2005, that he participated in, Afridi made his presence felt, almost recording the fastest Test half-century, and dismissing Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar three times, in helping Pakistan register an unlikely draw.


Shahid Khan AfridiHe currently has the best strike rate in ODIs, and also the record for most number of 6s in ODIs (214) and most 6s in an innings (11). But nowadays his presence in the team is more for his useful bowling than his batting: his spin bowling includes the off break, leg-break and the quicker one which he can deliver at nearly 80 mph hence his ability to remove the tail of the batting side. His batting is suspect in bouncy pitches and against opponents like Australia but remains a good opener in sub-continent pitches where he draws large crowds.


Afridi in ActionAfridi has been consistent with his batting and bowling throughout 2005 starting from the Indian tour to the West Indies and England tour. The new Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer has helped Afridi in reaching full potential by improving his shot selection and giving him a free reign over his batting attitude. Since his return to the Pakistan team he has been a regular member despite the competition from Shoaib Malik, and Abdul Razzaq.

On 21 November 2005, Shahid Afridi was banned for a Test match and two one-day internationals for deliberately damaging the pitch in the second match of the three-Test series against England. TV cameras pictured him scraping his boots on the pitch surface when play was held up after a gas canister exploded. Afridi later pleaded guilty to a level three breach of the ICC code of conduct relating to the spirit of the game. Inquiries were made and Afridi's antics came into view. He was investigated and banned after the day's play, along with receiving a huge amount of criticism from the cricketing world for bringing the game into disrepute. Match referee Roshan Mahanama said: "This ban should serve as a message to players that this type of behaviour is not allowed." His behaviour was also condemned by the Pakistan Cricket Board. [1] [2] [3]

On April 12, 2006 Shahid Afridi announced a temporary retirement from Test cricket until after the World Cup 2007 so he could concentrate on ODI's. He also claimed that the workload was too much to cope with. However, on April 27, 2006, after much discussion with Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, Afridi reversed his decision.

Answer 2

Lloyd Doyley 4 watford

Answer 3

Steve Yzerman.
For reasons too numerous to mention in this space.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Yzerman

This should give you some info. It does bring up the osteotomy, but not the eye injury that took him out of the playoff in 2004. He now has metal plates to reinforce his eye socket after taking a puck to the face. Yes, he was still playing professionally after both.

Answer 4

Dwyane Wade of the Miami HEAT. He does things that no player has done in a long time. Wade makes basketball fun to watch.

Answer 5

I would have to say the great Ray Lewis, because he gets some much done on the field, and he helps out his community all the time.

Answer 6

Mohini Bhardwdj
im not sure if that is exactly how to spell her last name
but she was on the gymanstics olympics team
almost all gymnastics are very youthful (ex. 18 y/o) but she was 25 and was AWESOME!!! i admire her sooo much

Answer 7

Jose Canseco because of his mullet in the early 90's

Answer 8

Ben Dover,great films!

Answer 9

Christiano Ronaldo, the way this 21 year old can run with the ball, and move around other players.

Answer 10

Jay Mckee of the Buffalo Sabres. he's a great defenseman and he's really hot