Who are your Top 6 Athletes ever? (2021 Edition)

[Say Hey Kid]

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Carl Lewis
3. Usain Bolt
4. Roger Federer
5. Michael Jordan
6. Michael Phelps

Click to read more...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Is this more so "favorites" or "best"? I remember when ESPN did its Top 100 athletes of the century back in 1999/00. Greatness is difficult to measure: an individual vs. a team player, even equine athletes were mentioned (Secretariat for one). Childhood memories are my favorites, the early Flyers, the Big Red Machine and certain race horses but that is pure favoritism more so than anything else.

You had something similar a while ago:

Your Top Ten 20th Century Athletes who played in North America | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League (mandatory.com)

 

[kihei]

I'm going with favourites:

Roger Federer
Rafa Nadal
Muhammad Ali
Ilie Nastase
Henry Aaron
Bjorn Borg

Michael J0rdan
Rod Laver
Arantxa Sanchex Vicario
Arthur Ashe

 

[Lambo]

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Usain Bolt
3. Diego Maradona
4. Michael Jordan
5. Michael Phelps
6. Steffi Graf

 

[Maestro84]

I'm 33 so in my lifetime the most dominant athletes were:

- Michael Jordan
- Usain Bolt
- Michael Phelps
- Tiger Woods
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Novak Djokovic
- LeBron James

HM: Michael Schumacher, Tom Brady, Mike Trout, Manny Pacquiao, and Mario Lemieux


I made it 10 because 5 is impossible to pick

 

[Perennial]

I'm 33 so in my lifetime the most dominant athletes were:

- Michael Jordan
- Usain Bolt
- Michael Phelps
- Tiger Woods
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Novak Djokovic
- LeBron James

HM: Michael Schumacher, Tom Brady, Mike Trout, Manny Pacquiao, and Mario Lemieux


I made it 10 because 5 is impossible to pick

I can't see having a golfer in the top 10... otherwise, why not a bowler? Or a snooker player? Or a dart player?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I can't see having a golfer in the top 10... otherwise, why not a bowler? Or a snooker player? Or a dart player?

How much do the best Bowlers or Snooker players make per year?

And 95% of golfers are really good athletes in excellent shape. No different than there being a small percentage of American football players in bad shape. If you've ever swung a golf club you'd know it's an athletic motion and requires athleticism.

 

[Perennial]

How much do the best Bowlers or Snooker players make per year?

And 95% of golfers are really good athletes in excellent shape. No different than there being a small percentage of American football players in bad shape. If you've ever swung a golf club you'd know it's an athletic motion and requires athleticism.

How much they make per year is irrelevant...

I'd argue swinging a golf club is more about coordination than it is athleticism...

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Jordan
Gretzky
Bonds
Messi
Phelps
LeBron

f*** tennis. Golf isn't a sport.

 

[Perennial]

What about Shaun White?

He won Olympic Gold medals in snowboarding, and won Gold medals in skateboarding at the X Games...

In terms of difficulty, that's way more impressive than running 100 meters, or swimming a few laps in the pool

 

[Paris in Flames]

I can't see having a golfer in the top 10... otherwise, why not a bowler? Or a snooker player? Or a dart player?

How much they make per year is irrelevant...

I'd argue swinging a golf club is more about coordination than it is athleticism...

What about Shaun White?

He won Olympic Gold medals in snowboarding, and won Gold medals in skateboarding at the X Games...

In terms of difficulty, that's way more impressive than running 100 meters, or swimming a few laps in the pool

.....who hurt you

 

[saskriders]

Lol. Someone should go play snooker on a legit snooker table (not a pool table) and then watch some Ronnie O'Sullivan video. It is insane the skill those guys have.

 

[Perennial]

Lol. Someone should go play snooker on a legit snooker table (not a pool table) and then watch some Ronnie O'Sullivan video. It is insane the skill those guys have.

He's incredibly skilled, but it doesn't require any athleticism to be a snooker player...

 

[Beau Knows]

He's incredibly skilled, but it doesn't require any athleticism to be a snooker player...

I mean someone else picked a horse, so it could be worse

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I mean someone else picked a horse, so it could be worse

That would be me. Do you have anything else to add?