HOW WE DID IT: We gave the performance stats and achievement records of 79 male athletes to a panel of 5 judges, and asked them to rank the competitors based on six criteria: speed; vision and reflex; stamina and recovery; coordination and flexibility; power, strength and size; and success and competitiveness. The final category examined success—records held and victories—as well as competitiveness, based on the sport's popularity. Soccer, for example, the world's most popular sport, was judged the most competitive. The panel gave a total score for each athlete in the first round. Sixty athletes were eliminated in the second round, either because of low scores or because they were not first in their field. Our panelists then made the final ranking. Yale statistician John Emerson helped normalize the scores so no single panelist could exert undue influence.
THE JUDGES: Ed Coyle, exercise physiologist, University of Texas; has studied top athletes, including cyclist Lance Armstrong. Steve Fleck, chairman of the Sport Science Department at Colorado College and former head of the Physical Conditioning Program for the U.S. Olympic Committee. Eric Heiden,orthopedic surgeon at a Salt Lake City sports medicine and training facility; won five gold medals in speed skating in 1980. Kris Homsi, director of sport science for Sparq, a training and assessment company used in college recruiting. Mark Verstegen runs a group of training facilities called Athletes Performance.
AND THE WINNER IS: ROMAN SEBRLE. The Czech decathlete could jump over Shaquille O’Neal. He could throw a 16-pound ball the length of a 53-foot yacht. From a running start, he could leap over a two-lane highway. Mr. Sebrle has ideal size, according to physiologists, and expertise over a range of athletic pursuits, employing the speed of an NFL back and the vertical jump of an National Basketball Association forward. Some judges questioned whether Mr. Sebrle could withstand a tackle by an NFL lineman, but none questioned his talent in the 10 track and field events that make up the decathlon. He has won Olympic gold and silver medals for the Czech Republic and is the current world champion.
1. Roman Sebrel - Decathlete
2. LeBron James - NBA player
3. Floyd Mayweather - Boxer
4. LaDaninian Tomlinson - NFL player
5. Roger Federer - Tennis player
6. Sidney Crosby - NHL player
7. Liu Xiang - 110M hurdler
8. Jeremy Wariner - 400M sprinter
9. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira aka Ronaldinho - Soccer player
10. Alex Rodriguez - MLB player
Do you agree with this list? Who was left off? Who shouldn't be on it? If there were an Olympics with other planets (yeah yeah) which athlete would represent Earth?
__________________
"I don't dink anyone en dis division can endure my riddum."
What an impossible list to compile. You could ask 1 thousand people to put together a list like this and you would undoubtedly get close to 1,000 different lists.
__________________ Fav. Fighters
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva
Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira
Ken "You got kicked. By a kick." Shamrock
WAR The CroCop!
Honestly, I'd list at least the top 5 decathletes in the world in the top 10 on this list. Why put a hurdler or a 400m runner on there when you can put someone who is slightly worse at either event, but world-class in 8 other events? I understand they need a little variety, but take it from other sports that might relate more to the reader...cough cough...an MMA fighter (GSP).
Tom Glavine had the chance to go pro in either hockey or baseball. I'd take him over ARod for this list any day. Deon Sanders also.
__________________
"I don't dink anyone en dis division can endure my riddum."
This list has stepped in to look serious but only thing its looked like is comedic.
Ronaldhino is in there? sorry but this guy has struggled to hold down a 1st team spot in the Barca squad, and looks like hes being offloaded to Man City, just about a above average premiership team.
I can't stand the guy but Christiano Ronaldo is twice the athlete ronaldhino is...
Steven Gerrard, Michael Ballack, Cesc Fabregas, Gennaro Gattuso... could go on for ages, way better athletes than ronaldhino.
This world is a big place, all those judges from what I read are american... only 4.56% of the worlds population are in The USA.
World's Greatest Athlete article
Linear Mode
