With Michael Phelps winning another 6 Olympic medals, media is making comparisons as to whether he is the greatest athlete of all times. Perhaps in swimming he is like Serena Williams might be the best ever in tennis or Tiger Woods in golf but there are many sports ignored by the media for various reasons but the participants are outstanding athletes. 3 ignored sports come to mind, those being Free rock climbers(no ropes), professional motocross riders and..........wait for it..........pro rasslers!
Winning tournaments, or medals, or championships are important, but are the participants necessarily more athletic? Look at rock climbers and what they do. Magnificent bodies, incredible strength, and outstanding endurance to go non stop for hours up a 3000' wall where any mistake kills them. Impressive!
Pro motocrossers, not only incredible skills handling a 240 lb machine on the roughest terrain imaginable, doing 70-100 foot jumps twice or three times a lap for 15 laps, and do it for 35 minutes twice a day full tilt, no pacing it. 15 time national Champion Ricky Carmichael is twice the athlete of Serena Williams but rarely a mention as being a top athlete. He has my vote!
Now pro rasslers, yes we all know it's fixed and really not a sport but nevertheless these guys are tremendous athletes. The things they do in the ring, the moves, the jumping off top ropes, flips, falls, and taking a lot of abuse, often while injured for as long as 45 minutes in big matches, takes a top athlete. Phony as it might be, these guys have to be in great shape to do this!
To me boxers are sub par athletes because they dont fight very often. Basketball players are great but don't go full tilt for the whole game and get lots of rest during it. Football...great skills and no endurance. Too much bench time to get my attention.
Anyway, who do you consider the best athlete ever?
Winning tournaments, or medals, or championships are important, but are the participants necessarily more athletic? Look at rock climbers and what they do. Magnificent bodies, incredible strength, and outstanding endurance to go non stop for hours up a 3000' wall where any mistake kills them. Impressive!
Pro motocrossers, not only incredible skills handling a 240 lb machine on the roughest terrain imaginable, doing 70-100 foot jumps twice or three times a lap for 15 laps, and do it for 35 minutes twice a day full tilt, no pacing it. 15 time national Champion Ricky Carmichael is twice the athlete of Serena Williams but rarely a mention as being a top athlete. He has my vote!
Now pro rasslers, yes we all know it's fixed and really not a sport but nevertheless these guys are tremendous athletes. The things they do in the ring, the moves, the jumping off top ropes, flips, falls, and taking a lot of abuse, often while injured for as long as 45 minutes in big matches, takes a top athlete. Phony as it might be, these guys have to be in great shape to do this!
To me boxers are sub par athletes because they dont fight very often. Basketball players are great but don't go full tilt for the whole game and get lots of rest during it. Football...great skills and no endurance. Too much bench time to get my attention.
Anyway, who do you consider the best athlete ever?
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