A runner can NEVER be in consideration of greatest athlete off all time

If complexity and difficulty of skill set determines who qualifies as a possible "greatest athlete", the only qualifiers would be gymnasts.

Sally Vixxxxxxxxens wrote:

tennis (Serena) is also excluded from the conversation.

serena isn't fat, she's yolked.

penn wrote:

I’d love to hear someone even try to make an argument for one.

Ronaldo, MJ , Gretzky , Nolan Ryan, Babe Ruth, Patrick Mahomes, Lewis Hamilton, Roger Federer, Tiger and etc..

I don’t believe I can can be convinced someone that just runs can be considered an all time great athlete.

No actual skill is involved whatsoever. In today’s world the market determines your value and runners aren’t in the same stratosphere as other athletes in terms of compensation.

If what runners were doing was an amazing skill or feat they would be rewarded accordingly. And they are not.

While I agree with you, some of the people you name are ridiculous. Lewis Hamilton a race car driver. Tiger a golfer? Federer lmao at least he is a better athlete than most on your list. Get serious. The only “runner” who would even deserve consideration would be Bolt. A distance runner could definitely never be the greatest athlete ever.

Other than MJ and Ruth your list is terrible. I’m surprised you didn’t name some madden Xbox player as being one of the goat athletes smh. I’d put Bolt above dam near anyone on your list except Jordan but there others id put ahead of him as well.

Have you ever heard of Bo Jackson?

Real Obvi wrote:

penn wrote:

I’d love to hear someone even try to make an argument for one.

Ronaldo, MJ , Gretzky , Nolan Ryan, Babe Ruth, Patrick Mahomes, Lewis Hamilton, Roger Federer, Tiger and etc..

I don’t believe I can can be convinced someone that just runs can be considered an all time great athlete.

No actual skill is involved whatsoever. In today’s world the market determines your value and runners aren’t in the same stratosphere as other athletes in terms of compensation.

If what runners were doing was an amazing skill or feat they would be rewarded accordingly. And they are not.

You included a golfer.

ROFLMAO

I think it is funny when some say Brady as the greatest athlete. Have they not seen how much better athletes there are on his own team? He is just a talented QB, but not much of an athlete. Lamar Jackson is a better athlete.

Tiger Woods? Golf? You can be massively overweight and excel at golf. Auto racing is also a stretch. But I actually agree with you.

Everyone seems to define what makes a great athlete differently. MJ would qualify in my book as the guy likely would excel at just about anything. Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders also come to mind and they were probably better athletes than MJ.

But in terms of badassness, an elite runner or cyclist can endure more than just about anyone. The sustained pain of running and cycling over long distances gives them an edge that even great athletes don't have--and it is in their heads.

I would rather have the reputation for mental toughness and endurance than being able to chip a little ball into a hole or drive a car really fast. Those are unique skills but what are they good for? If it is head to head grind it out for survival, i will take the toughness of the distance runner or cyclist to own your ass.