Greatest athlete in the world? GDG

[Danno]

Had an arguement at work concerning Michael Phelps being called the greatest athlete in the world, TODAY. I defended the statement because he has been the best at many different events; often competeing vs people that have spent the last 4-8 years or more training for that ONE event. He on the other hand has been dominant, so far, at many events vs the best that the world could throw at him. Seems like he is only competeing vs himself and the current WR. Only time will tell if he can pull off all 8.

If he is not the best athlete in the world today, who is?

By what criteria?

[Golddogs]

Had an arguement at work concerning Michael Phelps being called the greatest athlete in the world, TODAY. I defended the statement because he has been the best at many different events; often competeing vs people that have spent the last 4-8 years or more training for that ONE event. He on the other hand has been dominant, so far, at many events vs the best that the world could throw at him. Seems like he is only competeing vs himself and the current WR. Only time will tell if he can pull off all 8.

If he is not the best athlete in the world today, who is?

By what criteria?

One of them for sure. I have always thought Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Jim Thorpe 2 of the greatest of all time because of the # of sports they excelled at.

[Fire Angel]

I don't know that you can pick the world's greatest athlete. From sport to sport you are comparing apples to oranges. I would agree that Phelps is great and may be the best swimmer of all time. I think gymnasts are some of the best athletes around, for their strength and balance. But then a track star for his/her speed, power and endurance is great also. Too many variables.

[whelchel]

Agreed, too many variables. I don't like hearing about the number of gold medals, because there are too many swimming events. Do you see a team usa basketball player getting a chance for gold in the slam dunk, free throw shooting, and 3 point shooting,,, no.

Also, swimming and many other sports require physical stamina and athleticism, but how about hand/eye coordination.

Phelps a better athlete than Bo Jackson was, NOT A CHANCE. Bo would out run, out sprint, out jump, out hit, out catch, out anything him (except for swim)... That's the truest form of athleticism. This topic gets me fired up.

[Franco]

Greatest Athelete in the world? No.
Greatest Olympian? Yes.

Greatest Athelte would be a toss up between Tom Dempsey (his record for the longest Field Goal ever has lasted over 30 years) or Craig Ironhead Heyworth. Ironhead could eat two slabs of ribs before a game then maul the opposing defense!

[GONEHUNTIN']

My vote would have to go to Lance Armstrong.

[Stephen Whitley]

My vote goes to the man, who a few years back, wrestled about a 6 foot shark out of the surf after the shark attacked a little kid. And then the man took the leg away from the shark!

[Hoosier]

Phelps is the most dominant at his sport ever.

[Goose]

Here are a few I always enjoyed watching:

Sanders, Rice, Sweetness, Kareem, Jordan, Johnson, Duran, Armstrong.

[Gun_Dog2002]

Hes the best swimmer for sure. Best athlete, i doubt it. The cyclists performed a 6 hour + event. Find me another Olympic sport that lasts that long with continuous effort.....that being said any multi day road race is much more difficult than the Olympic race.

/Paul