Who is the greatest athlete who has ever lived. Any sport. Tell me who and why.
2006-07-18 16:05:58 · 22 answers · asked by yankfan1226 3 in Sports ➔ Other - Sports
Lance Armstrong. First of all, what he accomplished was absolutely incredible -- the Tour de France is one of the most difficult events in sports, and to win it that many times in a row is astounding.
Not to mention he overcame a fight with testicular cancer. The man is truly a hero.
2006-07-18 16:08:09 · answer #1 · answered by Gabbo 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
kind of like "who was the greatest President?", it all depends on what you mean by "greatest". the greek soldier who ran from Marathon to Athens to report victory ran just over 26 miles in full armor and died as soon as he reached Athens and delivered the good news. a strong candidate.
Jesse Owen won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin with Hitler watching. Hitler claimed black atheletes were inferior but Jesse Owens wasn't buying that!
Roger Bannister ran the first sub four minute mile when no one thought it was possible, perhaps even himself. now good high school runners break this time (although they now run the 1500 meter race -- just less than a mile -- almost everywhere).
Jim Thorpe was a great athlete in baseball, football and track. He won Olympic gold medals but they were taken away because he had played some semi-pro baseball when he was younger and didn't deny it when asked. He got them back later.
then of course there was Babe Ruth. He hit 714 home runs using primitive equipment (much too heavy a bat) and no training to speak of. He also was a pretty good pitcher and held a World Series pitching record that was only broken recently.
If the Babe were to appear today, using a proper bat and proper training methods -- today players don't need a winter job to survive and can stay in shape for baseball year-round -- who knows how many home runs he would hit.
On the other hand, the Babe faced pitchers who routinely went nine innings, meaing he got up to bat a third or fourth time against the same pitcher many times. Today, the Babe would see the starter maybe twice, then a long reliever, a set-up man and a closer. Maybe the Babe would not have hit as many home runs.
That's what makes sports -- and your question -- great. There is no one "right" answer. The "greatest athlete who ever lived" probably hasn't been born yet, or may have lived in some part of the world where no one but a few local people ever heard of him, or her.
good luck!
2006-07-18 16:25:10 · answer #2 · answered by paul w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That cannot ever be answered, it's what I call a "rhetorical argument".
I'm a cyclist. As much admiration as I have for Lance Armstrong as an athlete, I usually am convinced that some Roman gladiator, a slave unknown to the historical record books, was the greatest athlete ever. Maybe Spartacus? Who knows. But those guys trained for years and fought to the death. That's motivating, if nothing else is. You win or you die. That'd make me train hard.
2006-07-18 16:11:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Michael Jordan
2016-03-16 01:43:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the person who said kobe needs to be shot. he is such a scrub. michael jordan is by far the greatest athlete of all time. fast, tall, strong, skilled, a leader. I think basketball players are the most athletic people.
2006-07-18 16:10:24 · answer #5 · answered by Joe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say Michael Jordan. Mike is originally from NC and played in the 80s for UNC. I was about 10 when he led his team to win the NCAA finals. I fell in love with NCAA basketball that year. To this day, I love watching my team (UNC) play! Mike went from being cut from the varsity team in his high school to being the greatest basketball player who ever lived. He transcended basketball- he was a role model, was fashion-forward, and became an actor and eventually owned his own team. He is, was, and always will be amazing.
2006-07-18 16:11:07 · answer #6 · answered by Starry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Michael Jordan! he is awesome! and he is a very respectful man! he is one of the greatest known athletes ...hes also the greatest because he went pro in baseball also, and GOLF! it shows that he is multi-talented , and has a beautiful wife and kids, plus how he never gave up.... the story how he got cut from his middle school team? it shows he is a hard worker.....so.. yay! go M>J!
2006-07-18 16:53:05 · answer #7 · answered by Lexi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pele is the greatest athlete ever. He is the best soccer player ever. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.
2006-07-18 16:15:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wayne Gretzky
He by far hold more records in his sport than any others do in theirs.
Wayne Gretzky holds or shares 61 NHL records: 40 for the regular season, 15 for the Stanley Cup playoffs and six for the NHL All-Star Game.
Not only does Gretzky hold more records it's the nature of how he broke the records, he didn't just break them he shattered them.
2006-07-19 03:41:14 · answer #9 · answered by Rockin' Mel S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Warren Dunn! He is good at whatever position he play he can get threw the hole real fast and he gives back to single mothers. Good athlete and a good person!
2006-07-18 16:08:42 · answer #10 · answered by smiles18 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋