Greatest athlete of modern times

Safari Dave said:
I'm also thinking Bo Jackson, but Deion Sanders was faster...

I don't think any mountaineer will ever be more accomplished than Reinhold Messner.

Ted Williams was one of the best baseball players who has ever lived, but I think it was more of a combination between his almost unbelievable vision and hand/eye coordination, rather than all around athleticism. The fact that he was a good hunter and fisherman was definitely a plus!
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And Ted Williams spent some of his prime MLB years at war.

Set many International fishing records.
 
Jim Thorpe might be the GOAT, just depends on the definition of "modern times."
 
Altitude sickness said:
With the 2026 World Cup now over. Talk continues that Lionel MessI may be the greatest athlete of all time.

He is very talented.

My choice for number one is Reinhold Messner

Number two Ted Williams.


What are yours.
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@Altitude sickness - the FIFA World Cup is currently “in the Moment” but I’ve only read that Messi might be the Greatest “Soccer Player” of all time - Not the Greatest athlete. I’ve also read that even in Soccer - Cristiano Renaldo is considered a better “athlete” but perhaps Messi the better Soccer Player. My opinion is really irrelevant since I am Not a great athlete myself —- but why should that stop me from stating my opinion and therefore in No particular order: *JIM THORPE a natural top athlete, very little formal training - Olympic Gold Medal Decathlete, Prop Football, Pro Baseball. *Bo Jackson - Top NCAA sprinter, Pro Football & Pro Baseball (But he’s DQ’d because likely a heavy steroid user). ** Brad Pitt - he’s had every Woman in Hollywood and beyond - No other man can match that…amazed he can still walk
 
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Safari Dave said:
I'm also thinking Bo Jackson, but Deion Sanders was faster...

I don't think any mountaineer will ever be more accomplished than Reinhold Messner.

Ted Williams was one of the best baseball players who has ever lived, but I think it was more of a combination between his almost unbelievable vision and hand/eye coordination, rather than all around athleticism. The fact that he was a good hunter and fisherman was definitely a plus!
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Bo was a freak athlete and one of the best in two sports. Deon might be faster but wasn't half the baseball player Bo was.
 
As an American, who has always considered soccer a 3rd world sport (sorry, but that's just how it is in most of the US).

Pele was the only soccer player that I've known anything about in my 61 years on this planet.
 
I’m thinking Bo Jackson like some others, it I am only familiar with American sports.
 
Russ16 said:
Carl Lewis has to be in the conversation. Bolt was greater sprinter but Lewis had success in field sports as well. Along those lines Jackie Joyner-Kersee is in the conversation.

In terms of dominance no one is as dominate in sports right now as Tadej Pogachi. Hes dominating every format of his sport at a level rarely seen in any sport.

Bo Jackson is not a wrong answer at all. His combination of speed and power is unmatched. He could have been competitive at any sport he chose.

Sports are all so different I think you have to look at two things. First is success or dominance in their chosen sport and second is the potential to translate their abilities to other sports.
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@Russ16 - Carl Lewis was Great “consistent” and a Top Sprinter & Long Jumper for almost 8 years and he was CLEAN (No steroids) He was a standout class act… But Bolt was also “Clean” and I would say he was the Fastest Ever by far — 20+ years ahead of his time and won 100 meter Gold in two consecutive Olympics, his record still stands and because of that - rate him far ahead of everyone. But neither Lewis or Bolt would be considered “versatile” — the were Great Sprinters and Lewis Long Jumped too. I have to eliminate Bo Jackson (amazing as he was) along with Barry Bonds and other steroid users
As far as Jackie Joyner-Kersee?? She’s not in the conversation…She’s a girl- never beat any man and never would. She was Never the BEST in the World but was the Best WOMAN in the World (Great) and that’s impressive.
 
I also don't get pretending to be hurt all of the time.

Much more respect for athletes who pretend to be OK, when they act actually have a broken bone.


(Like the goalie from Argentina)
 
Tanks said:
Don't forget MJ, LeBron James or Tom Brady
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Even Tom Brady would Not consider himself one of the Greatest “Athletes”, he is one of the “Least athletic” Quarterbacks in the NFL - highly specialized skills and an above average athlete by most measurements (but he’s got Below average athletic skills compared to most other NFL athletes) maybe greatest Quarterback ever just Not the Best athlete ever. Of course he married Giselle and that elevates him to another level
 
Altitude sickness said:
With the 2026 World Cup now over. Talk continues that Lionel MessI may be the greatest athlete of all time.

He is very talented.

My choice for number one is Reinhold Messner

Number two Ted Williams.


What are yours.
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The World Cup?
Is that soccer?
The game that the little kids in high school played because they could get hurt in foot ball?
 
Funny enough, I was listening to a local sports radio station this morning, and one of the hosts suggested cyclist Tadej Pogačar. The host is a cyclist himself, so clearly has a bias, but made an interesting argument on how dominant he is to his sport and how many different areas he is good at.

It's nearly impossible to compare from one sport to another for best athlete, as they require different disciplines to be great. Perhaps Jim Thorpe or Bo Jackson as multi-sport greats. Perhaps Gretzky as the most clear and obvious, undisputed GOAT of his sport.
 
I like the Bo Jackson pick. Great college football player and if I recall correctly, he hit a first pitch home run in a MLB all star game.

However, I would suggest strong consideration should be given to Kevin Mayer.

Who the heck is Kevin Mayer?????

The most points scored in a single decathlon competition by a male athlete is 9,126, achieved by Kevin Mayer (France) at the Decastar IAAF Combined Event Challenge in Talence, France, on 15–16 September 2018. Mayer’s individual performances were as follows: 100 m – 10.55 sec; long jump – 7.80 m; shot put – 16.00 m; high jump – 2.05 m; 400 m – 48.42 sec; 100 m hurdles – 13.75 sec; discus – 50.54 m; pole vault – 5.45 m; javelin – 71.90 m; 1,500 m – 4 min 36.11 sec.
 
DryFly1995 said:
Greatest athletes...Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan. Those guys could have played at the pro/oly level in a few sports.

GOAT/dominant in their sport (in no particular order)...Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Jon Jones, Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson, Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Barry Sanders, Mike Tyson, Muhammed Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Usain Bolt.
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@DryFly1995 - Bo was a Star PRO Baseball & Football Player but most agree he was a heavy steroid user and for me that eliminates him. MJ seemed the most gifted athlete in the NBA but he couldn’t make the Majors in Baseball and only got to AAA because he was MY (throwing arm like a girl). Dave DeBusher/Knicks played in the Majors/Pitcher and NBA….Not sure he was one of the Greatest athletes ever but I wish I was 1/2 that good !
 
DaddyFlip said:
Bo Jackson. Final answer. Done and done.
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I will definitely have to vote for Bo. He was my teammate at Auburn (baseball) from 83- 86, we fished some, hunted some and shot our bows a lot. I would really like it on early morning trips as he would always bring something really good to eat.

Then we played against one another in the minor leagues before his call up. I saw some unbelievable things on the baseball field many times when we were just goofing around before or after practice.

We still keep in touch a little bit, hearing from him 8-10 times a year.

Some people say he could’ve been an Olympic sprinter with more training,
 
Flbt said:
The World Cup?
Is that soccer?
The game that the little kids in high school played because they could get hurt in foot ball?
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Aah, no. Soccer IS football. It's the same thing. The other thing is "hand-egg". ;)
 
HankBuck said:
@DryFly1995 - Bo was a Star PRO Baseball & Football Player but most agree he was a heavy steroid user and for me that eliminates him. MJ seemed the most gifted athlete in the NBA but he couldn’t make the Majors in Baseball and only got to AAA because he was MY (throwing arm like a girl). Dave DeBusher/Knicks played in the Majors/Pitcher and NBA….Not sure he was one of the Greatest athletes ever but I wish I was 1/2 that good !
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Bo did NOT use steroids! I did know a few guys that did, if he did he started in the third grade.
 
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375 Ruger Fan said:
I like the Bo Jackson pick. Great college football player and if I recall correctly, he hit a first pitch home run in a MLB all star game.

However, I would suggest strong consideration should be given to Kevin Mayer.

Who the heck is Kevin Mayer?????

The most points scored in a single decathlon competition by a male athlete is 9,126, achieved by Kevin Mayer (France) at the Decastar IAAF Combined Event Challenge in Talence, France, on 15–16 September 2018. Mayer’s individual performances were as follows: 100 m – 10.55 sec; long jump – 7.80 m; shot put – 16.00 m; high jump – 2.05 m; 400 m – 48.42 sec; 100 m hurdles – 13.75 sec; discus – 50.54 m; pole vault – 5.45 m; javelin – 71.90 m; 1,500 m – 4 min 36.11 sec.
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That's right. Caitlyn Jenner isn't half the man Kevin Mayer is. Hahahahaha
 
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