Is there any other sport where the top participants are called "Elites"

Post Collegate is so much better...

Elite is weird.

I know of no other sports where the top players are commonly called elites as in running.

In most other sports the top players are labelled by accomplishments or honors (or expected honors). Such as probowlers, hall of famer, all star, MVP, Olympian, or Master (which can refer to mastering the sport).

thirst4knowledge wrote:

I know of no other sports where the top players are commonly called elites as in running.

In most other sports the top players are labelled by accomplishments or honors (or expected honors). Such as probowlers, hall of famer, all star, MVP, Olympian, or Master (which can refer to mastering the sport).

Usually top participants in other sports are simply called "pros". Not all top participants in running are necessarily professionals, since there is such little money to go around. Plus, because there aren't distinct teams for runners to be on, it's not quite as clear cut who is a "pro" and who isn't. "Elites" is a catch all term. Also, hobbyists and top talents usually aren't participating in the same events in other sports, like people do in road races, so there's less of a reason to have a distinction.

The reason they have that title, is that there are so many of us (runners) in general. What else can we call them?

I was called a "local elite" because I ran in the low 15's. But when running against big shots, I was way back by the first mile.

Try a different title and see if it sticks. Who knows?

Football.

There was debate whether Eli Manning could be called an elite quarterback.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11585512/why-never-properly-rated-eli-manning-nfl

I am going to guess that most so called elites don't even want to be referred as elites.

Maybe we should just call them the "Brahmins" and the back of the packers, the "Untouchables"

Gymnastics, not in all countries but in the US in order to be eligible for the national team you have to test elite and if you receive a certain score you can call yourself an International Elite. The gymnasts that are selected on to world championship and olympic teams are elites

tennis

Triathlon has tried it. Lines are very vague. Trouble starts when Joe Down The Street beats Elite Eric and $ is to be handed out.

If you consider life a game then yes.

Porn

There will be an "Elite Eight" when the quarterfinals of the NCAA basketball tournament rolls around in a few weeks.

Certainly not CrossFit. Their best "athletes" should not be considered "elite", they should be considered "jokes".

The British Royalty are referred to as elites. Therefore, any time they play a sport they are referred to as elites.

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it homeboy.

Cross Country Skiing.

IMO the designation exists because barely anyone makes enough money to get by, so while most sports can call their top runners "professional," professional runners are very few and far between. "Elite" refers to all of the runners that probably could make some money off of the sport if this were a sport that actually had money in it.

We have a bunch of Elite QB's in the NFL

[Usually top participants in other sports are simply called "pros". Not all top participants in running are necessarily professionals, since there is such little money to go around. Plus, because there aren't distinct teams for runners to be on, it's not quite as clear cut who is a "pro" and who isn't. "Elites" is a catch all term. Also, hobbyists and top talents usually aren't participating in the same events in other sports, like people do in road races, so there's less of a reason to have a distinction.[/quote]

You're close- I'm sure it goes back to the amateur days to differentiate them from the slower guys.

Also- what is a pro? There are more pro's in running than any other sport. But the range of pay is huge.

Some people get wealthy and some win prize money every once in a while and get free gear.

Exactly what IS a pro in this sport?

The Hammer Thrower who gets free clothing and shoes and picks up a few bucks here and there?

I've won tons of gift certificates and merchandise over the last 43 years.

I've gotten free shoes or discounts, like that but I'm not elite or pro.

British Royalty wrote:

The British Royalty are referred to as elites. Therefore, any time they play a sport they are referred to as elites.

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it homeboy.

I've never heard of the Royal Family being referred to as "elites".

I've never heard the term "elite" applied to a group of track and field athletes outside of North America.