I considered Webb. Many may say Lance Armstrong, but biking's a little more leg strength based. I will go with Michael Phelps, assuming he's still the best swimmer out there. If not, then whoever is. The best swimmer in the world means the best cardio in the world.
I would have to say that a cross country skier would have the best cardio.
The best cross country skier in the world.
Think about running with your arms and your legs.
Michael Phelps seldom swims for much longer that a few minutes.
And, I'm just assuming. But what do you mean by cardio?
If you by "cardio" mean oxygen uptake, then it´s the best XC skiers. Swimmers generally have lower oxygen uptake than runners, bikers and skiers.
wonder you are an idiot.
cross country skiers have the best "cardio" because that is a "whole" body exercise
Michael Phelps swims for more than a few minutes. He more than likely swims at least 10 miles a day, consistently. I vote Michael Phelps by far.
Chris Solinsky
While swimming your max HR is lowered about 13-14 bpm. Also, depending on the type of stroke, you actually don't use your legs (which have larger muscle groups than the arms) as much as you might think. Cross country skiing by far. Take a look at the graph about 1/3 down the page...
I'm going to have to second solinsky on this one
You dont use your legs? What stroke dont you use your legs. Just curious. To be a good elite swimmer, just about every muscle in the body needs to be used. In swimming you use different muscles for each stroke, and you use your legs for every one. Try swimming without legs, and tell me how far you get.
xcski wrote:
Cross country skiing by far. Take a look at the graph about 1/3 down the page...
Well, why don't East Africans dominate it then? And don't say cuz they don't have any snow neither.
Definitely Solinsky. Solinsky > Phelps in a fight.
lol, right.
"depending on the type of stroke, you actually don't use your legs...as much as you might think."
I did not say that you don't use your legs at all. If I did, that would be silly, but I did not.
Also, it has been shown in many studies (and I provided a convenient graph for you to view) that cross country skiers take the lead when it comes to max O2 uptake. That's not to say that swimming isn't a great cardio workout, it's just not the best.
Well, why would they dominate it?
Oh really? wrote:
xcski wrote:Cross country skiing by far. Take a look at the graph about 1/3 down the page...
Well, why don't East Africans dominate it then? And don't say cuz they don't have any snow neither.
Oh really? wrote:
xcski wrote:Cross country skiing by far. Take a look at the graph about 1/3 down the page...
Well, why don't East Africans dominate it then? And don't say cuz they don't have any snow neither.
Well, you gotta admit there aren't too many East African XC ski areas.
But, physiologically I think it's because XC skiing is a total body sport. East Africans do not have good natural upper body strength. So I don't think they would be as good. This has been discussed elsewhere on Letsrun.
By the way, I assume you mentioned East Africans because of their supposedly high Aerobic capacity?
Well, East Africans don't on average have a higher oxygen uptake than European athletes. That's not the difference maker. They have more mechanical advantages for running (longer leg/upper body ratio, longer achilles tendon etc.)
Best Cardio wrote:
I vote Michael Phelps by far.
Give me one reason why he should be voted over Don Sage.
swimming is actually easier on the heart due to the horizontal position of the body..... the heart doesn't have to fight gravity for venous return
I go back & forth between Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong and Michael Granville.
Ben True