Are Distance Runners the Best Athletes on Earth?

Crossfitters are definitely the most versed / best athletes on the world.

"Athleticism is not synonymous with skill".

This is a half truth. Piano players are skilled but not athletes. I'm not a soccer fan, but they are in "good shape", so should not be disqualified because it also requires skill, as does basketball. There is no right or wrong answer, but given no skill component whatsoever in distance running, they would not be in most conversations regarding the best athletes. Decathletes make the conversation, but given how few people compete in decathlons, it is unlikely that they are the best either

When genetics is the limiting factor. ...

Skills McKenzie wrote:

"Athleticism is not synonymous with skill".

This is a half truth. Piano players are skilled but not athletes. I'm not a soccer fan, but they are in "good shape", so should not be disqualified because it also requires skill, as does basketball. There is no right or wrong answer, but given no skill component whatsoever in distance running, they would not be in most conversations regarding the best athletes. Decathletes make the conversation, but given how few people compete in decathlons, it is unlikely that they are the best either

There is ABSOLUTELY a skill component to elite distance running. Otherwise, Meb Keflezighi wouldn't be where he is today.

yep, all athletics, even distance running, begins in the central nervous system which is honed to produce skillful movement. A lot of that "aerobic base" volume stuff is really just skill development.

RichardJFronning wrote:

Crossfitters are definitely the most versed / best athletes on the world.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! No real athlete would ever do crossfit!!!

I'd have to say many basketball players are extremely athletic. Honestly at the pro level, tennis players are pretty athletic but I'm not sure where'd I would rank them

I'd probably put Olympic lifters ahead of powerlifters.

Athleticism to me encompasses: endurance, power, speed, quickness, agility, and coordination. I don't know which athletes best combine all of those. Certainly the ball sports are skill based but soccer, american football, and basketball are so popular that the best players must also be spectacular athletes, so that's one place I'd go to find the best athletes. I'd also look at the dec/heptathletes of course.

I'd put wrestlers right there with boxers (I used to wrestle, never boxed, but damn wrestling is the toughest thing I've ever done)

You're obviously from an area of the world where you've not been exposed to mountaineers/alpinists. I think you'd rearrange your synopsis were you to spend a week training with one of the elite guys.

Boxing

norphxc wrote:

Athleticism to me encompasses: endurance, power, speed, quickness, agility, and coordination. I don't know which athletes best combine all of those. Certainly the ball sports are skill based but soccer, american football, and basketball are so popular that the best players must also be spectacular athletes, so that's one place I'd go to find the best athletes. I'd also look at the dec/heptathletes of course.

I'd put wrestlers right there with boxers (I used to wrestle, never boxed, but damn wrestling is the toughest thing I've ever done)

Wrestling, YES. That's a good one. Insane strength/endurance.

I liked the tennis answer as well.

My two pennies wrote:

You're obviously from an area of the world where you've not been exposed to mountaineers/alpinists. I think you'd rearrange your synopsis were you to spend a week training with one of the elite guys.

Sounds interesting - what type of training do they go through?

Nothing is left to chance with these guys. Take ueli steck for example. He climbed the Eiger North Face in 2:47. This is something that 50 years previous took FIVE days. He typically runs around 100 kilometers a week when training for a climb (believe it or not, with 2k and 1k repeats once to twice a week). He also does 3x 2 hour gym sessions a week, and 3x 2 hour rock gym/outdoor climbing sessions a week. He also augments this with about 50k of cycling per week, depending on weather. Mind you, the majority of his hard runs are done at an altitude of 2500m and up. As the goal climb nears, he begins to introduce some 4 hour hikes at altitude with a 40kg pack. This is all per Ueli after speaking with him in chamonix this summer. These guys are highly specialized, and elite in their own right. Realize that they are taking their lives into their own hands each and every time they go up. Alpinists and mountaineers all have many friends and climbing partners that have died along the way. How many 2:20 marathoners say that? How many 2:20 marathoners have been up k2? It's all relative in my mind. The elite finds the sport that their demeanor, environment, and natural skills gravitates toward, and they thrive- applied to boxers (inner city), runners (african kids), XC skiers (Scandinavia), etc.

Best conditioned.

Ask other athletes to run 80-120 mpw, even at a reduced pace for their abilities, & watch them s.h|t themselves. Ask them to hold near top speed for 1/2 mile or do a 22 mile long run, followed by doubles the next 6 days, then another 22. And after a race, tell them they shouldn't breathe hard, but instead go into a jogged lap. Watch their reactions.

Wow that sounds like a real cool sport to watch.

The athleticism of hockey players is hugely underrated. I dno about number 1 but its definitely in the mix. Wrestling i agree with as a good candidate. Boxers also come to mind and maybe tennis players

to me distances runners are not in the discussion at all as much as i hate to say it. I dont even think they are the most athletic runners

Maybe not the best athletes in terms of diversity of movement/athleticism, but the most stubborn and driven. It takes a lot to slog out 50 miles on some dirt track without any fans to push you along.

Definitely Cross Country skiers.

Bowlers are also high up there.