Can an athlete train for more than one sport?

We already know it's a fact you can be great at two sports...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes

Now with Andy Murray and David Rudisha that's different. Now you're not just talking "top level" (like the MLB), now you're talking "best in the world." Andy Murray could be a "great" runner but not Rudisha.

could tennis be used effectively as cross training though or would it be counter productive as it gets in the way of athletics recovery etc?

Bo MF Jackson!

and how crucial is body shape? Could Murray 'get away' with his tennis body in maybe the 400m? Or would everything have to change? If so how quickly could he adapt his body to the demands of track and field? Same question for Rudisha!

Anyone whos a fast sprinter will crush almost anyone in any speed related sport, HOWEVER the technical aspect of both sports cannot be peaked at the same time due to dual demands.

Also, periodization and peaking for games in two sports would be extremely complex and you wouldn't be fully recovered to devote all your CNS and muscular resources to one.

for the vast majority of people ... "the man who chases two rabbits catches none."

alzie wrote:

I am of the point of view that humans (even trained athletes) are working nowhere near their genetic potential and that it would be possible to keep 2 sports at a very high level.

Why are you of that point of view? What evidence do you have that we are nowhere near our genetic potential? Why do you think that a genetic potential even exists? Without more supporting statements, your point of view is empty and vague.

Regarding two sports at a high level, people do this all the time. Carl Lewis in the 100m and long jump. Triathletes excel at THREE sports. And then you have quite a few football/baseball/basketball/track athletes.

alzie wrote:

and how crucial is body shape? Could Murray 'get away' with his tennis body in maybe the 400m? Or would everything have to change? If so how quickly could he adapt his body to the demands of track and field? Same question for Rudisha!

What body shape are you talking about? Everyone has a different body shape. Even within the same sport.

For over two decades I have been among the top age group runners in my area, as well as one of the top older rock climbers in the world. These two disciplines have almost non-overlapping, yet complimentary demands on endurance, power, balance, technique, mindset, specific strength, etc..

It is a challenge to balance training and performance (as well demands of work, life,etc.), yet I feel that overall I have developed 99% of both my running and climbing potential while staying healthy and having a lot of fun and adventure. If I was forced to focus only on one for too long I would feel very much out of balance and developing a much smaller fraction of my overall athletic ability.

Kenenisa Bekele was the best in the world at not only track, but also cross country.

rain dog wrote:

For over two decades I have been among the top age group runners in my area, as well as one of the top older rock climbers in the world. These two disciplines have almost non-overlapping, yet complimentary demands on endurance, power, balance, technique, mindset, specific strength, etc..

Age group handicaps don't count. You're not really one of the best runners or rock climbers in the world. I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just pointing out that your data point isn't relevant and doesn't count in this discussion.

ppp wrote:

rain dog wrote:

For over two decades I have been among the top age group runners in my area, as well as one of the top older rock climbers in the world. These two disciplines have almost non-overlapping, yet complimentary demands on endurance, power, balance, technique, mindset, specific strength, etc..

Age group handicaps don't count. You're not really one of the best runners or rock climbers in the world. I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just pointing out that your data point isn't relevant and doesn't count in this discussion.

OP didn't specify that it had to be about the best in the world. Just whether one could train for two sports. It seems like this poster's anecdote is in fact relevant.

Critical Thinking wrote:

OP didn't specify that it had to be about the best in the world. Just whether one could train for two sports. It seems like this poster's anecdote is in fact relevant.

You really think the OP has never heard of someone doing two sports before? Seriously?

You're wrong though. He does specify that they have to be about the best in the world. He says it in the FIRST paragraph.

You could; but why would you want to do so?

ppp wrote:

Age group handicaps don't count. You're not really one of the best runners or rock climbers in the world. I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just pointing out that your data point isn't relevant and doesn't count in this discussion.

If being in the top percentile among all participants in running and top tenth of a percentile in climbing is not sufficiently "high level", then perhaps you are right. In terms of maximizing/optimizing personal potential, you are likely quite wrong.

Caveat: I am not a 14:15 5K guy like you and most of the posters on this board, so insert the proper grain of salt as needed.

Grant Fisher also plays varsity soccer for his school... I think hes pretty good at it too. And its not like running takes alot of time. around an 1 or 2 hours a day. so if he practiced for soccer each day also, Im sure that if he took the time he could be a good soccer player in addition to being a good runner.

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There is practically no chance that Rudisha and Murray could swap sports and "perform" at the same level. Pure running and and tennis are to dissimilar. They're different skill sets.

If Seb said that running is the foundation of every sport, he's mistaken.

rain dog wrote:

If being in the top percentile among all participants in running and top tenth of a percentile in climbing is not sufficiently "high level", then perhaps you are right. In terms of maximizing/optimizing personal potential, you are likely quite wrong.

Caveat: I am not a 14:15 5K guy like you and most of the posters on this board, so insert the proper grain of salt as needed.

The OP said top of the sport or among the best in the world or some words to that effect. I don't think he said anything about maximizing personal potential in two sports.

If you aren't even a 14:15 guy then you are definitely not among the best in the world. I'm not a 14:15 guy.

ppp wrote:

You really think the OP has never heard of someone doing two sports before? Seriously?

You're wrong though. He does specify that they have to be about the best in the world. He says it in the FIRST paragraph.

He said, "at a high level." This could very well mean at a high level for a particular person. Let's say I could only ever hope to go about 14:30 for the 5000, and managed to run 14:35 while also, say, being a fairly high level welterweight boxer?

Since you reject age handicapping, I guess gender handicapping is out too? Do you think the OP would be uninterested if Tirunesh Dibaba was on the Ethiopian national team for soccer?