# Amazing athleticism for no apparent reason. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717 "2007-11-16T17:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/1 "2007-11-16T17:25:51Z")
One of the things I most enjoy about sports are the casual displays of athleticism. The thing athletes can do that they take for granted, but that are tulry remarkable to see. An example of this would be a tocuhdown celebration Ohio State had this year in which OSU offensive lineman Alex Boone vaulted over a six foot three inch wide reciever. By accident. Another example would be Cris Carter and Randy Moss back when both were Vikings. One of the pregame shows had them demonstrating how they practice one handed catches. They would grab a roccketing spiral out of the air by the nose, by the center, or even by the tail with such ease and grace that you’d think anyone could do it. In Kevin Garnett’s younger days he’d occasionally jump up and slap the backboard during a stoppage in play. He could get remarkably close to putting his hand over the top. And everyone on earth has seen Tiger Woods dribble a golf ball, then hit a 200 yard fungo with a swing that 99.9% of the world couldn’t pull off with a ball on a tee. [http://youtube.com/watch?v=6oTMosZ76b8](http://youtube.com/watch?v=6oTMosZ76b8) Pretty much every sport has this, and I’d love to see or read about some new examples. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/2 "2007-11-16T17:35:32Z")
Amazing Alexei Kovalev Stickhandling Shooting Hockey Video [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AI7KeY-DmNU/hqdefault.jpg "Amazing Alexei Kovalev Stickhandling Shooting Hockey Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI7KeY-DmNU) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/3 "2007-11-16T17:38:30Z")
THis [video](http://youtube.com/watch?v=7vL19q8yL54) of Adrian Wilson, outstanding strong safety for the Arizona Cardinals, jumping a 66 inch hurdle, with only a couple of steps run up, is pretty impressive. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/4 "2007-11-16T17:56:05Z")
We’ve all seen baseball players snap a bat in two over their knee, a pretty impressive feat, and dang if I can remember his name but I do remember watching a game a good 15 to 20 years back where a rather athletic looking batter took a hard swing at a ball, missed, and unintentionally broke the freakin’ bat in two **on his back as he swung around** from swinging so hard. That was the one and only time I’m aware of that ever happening. Royal Bo Jackson running up the wall after catching a fly was understated ease of athleticism and from what I understand Ken Griffey Jr. playing basketball is a thing to behold, some would argue his best sport. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/5 "2007-11-16T17:58:47Z")
When Mark Todd’s left stirrup course broke on the Cross Country jumping course at the Badminton 3 Day Event (an event that exceeds the Olympic Equestrian in difficulty) he carried on, completing the rest of the course (2/3 of it!) with one stirrup, a feat that is considered pretty much superhuman. He not only finished but was in 3rd when he withdrew his horse from the next phase because of a pulled muscle. FYI, the jumps on the Badminton Cross-country jumping course look like [this](http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=4032358955&PhotoAlbumId=4307556229&PhotoId=4312099849) and [this](http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=4032358955&PhotoAlbumId=4307556229&PhotoId=4312514647). and [this](http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=4032358955&PhotoAlbumId=4307556229&PhotoId=4312514563). As a horse person and (beginner level) eventer myself I literally get shudders from thinking about doing that middle one (the steps-down) without both my stirrups. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/6 "2007-11-16T18:01:51Z")
[Mark Henry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Henry) is currently a 380 pound joke of a tub of a pro wrestler. However, 10-15 years ago he was a world-class powerlifter. And in the prime of his powerlifting career, at 6’1" and a solid-but-not-ripped 330, _he could dunk a basketball_. That just isn’t right. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/7 "2007-11-16T18:11:39Z")
I was watching a video of _male_ gymnasts yesterday. shutup. I was really really impressed. Here are these guys, ini peak physical perfection. They are not skinny by any means. Well-built but not overdone muscles, sturdy, stocky bodies, and yet they’re flinging themselves around as if they don’t weigh over 200 pounds. Boggles the mind. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/8 "2007-11-16T18:25:15Z")
Francisco Gento Lopez was said to have been able to dribble a 10.5s 100m. If true that completely blows my mind. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/9 "2007-11-16T18:33:03Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I was watching a video of _male_ gymnasts yesterday. shutup. I was really really impressed. Here are these guys, ini peak physical perfection. They are not skinny by any means. Well-built but not overdone muscles, sturdy, stocky bodies, and yet they’re flinging themselves around as if they don’t weigh over 200 pounds. Boggles the mind. [/QUOTE] Yeah, they’re insane, but that kind of performance is actually central to their sport. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/10 "2007-11-16T18:36:47Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Yeah, they’re insane, but that kind of performance is actually central to their sport. [/QUOTE] I know and I love it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/11 "2007-11-16T18:44:00Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I was watching a video of _male_ gymnasts yesterday. shutup. I was really really impressed. Here are these guys, ini peak physical perfection. They are not skinny by any means. Well-built but not overdone muscles, sturdy, stocky bodies, and yet they’re flinging themselves around as if they don’t weigh over 200 pounds. Boggles the mind. [/QUOTE] What male gymnast weighs over 200 lbs? These guys run around 5’5" tall. If they were 200 lbs they’d all look like Charles Barkley. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/12 "2007-11-16T18:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] What male gymnast weighs over 200 lbs? These guys run around 5’5" tall. If they were 200 lbs they’d all look like Charles Barkley. [/QUOTE] [http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/paul\_hamm/index.shtml](http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/paul_hamm/index.shtml) 137lbs. Now there may be some 6’2" gymnasts that weight 200lbs, I don’t know. I kind of doubt it though. ---
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/13 "2007-11-16T18:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Yeah, they’re insane, but that kind of performance is actually central to their sport. [/QUOTE] On the subject of their athleticism: A friend of mine who was a police officer had a neat story about trying to restrain a 140 pound college gymnast who was being belligerent. Apparently a gymnast can generate obscene force from any limb in any direction. If he does not want his wrists to be held together to be cuffed you will not be able to coerce him to do so. What this means in a practial sense is that after you pepper spray the gymnast you need five police officers sitting on him to actually have a chance of keeping him restrained. Four officers are apparently not enough. When they were arresting him they assumed he was on some sort of drug, but the reality was that he was just freakishly strong. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/14 "2007-11-16T18:57:32Z")
People, I was watching a video. I didn’t stop to go look up their weights! It was purely a WILD ASS GUESS with no thought involved whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/15 "2007-11-16T19:45:59Z")
[Here’s a video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVZ3ZcorTF0) of Swedish high jumper Stefan Holm running 6’2" hurdles as a part of his training. He’s 5’11" ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/16 "2007-11-16T19:48:35Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] THis [video](http://youtube.com/watch?v=7vL19q8yL54) of Adrian Wilson, outstanding strong safety for the Arizona Cardinals, jumping a 66 inch hurdle, with only a couple of steps run up, is pretty impressive. [/QUOTE] Even moreso when you realize he’s 230 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/17 "2007-11-16T19:51:08Z")
[QUOTE=jk1245] Even moreso when you realize he’s 230 lbs. [/QUOTE] Seriously. We’re talking about the kinetic energy of a freaking _freight train_ here. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/18 "2007-11-16T20:03:08Z")
While the actual skills aren’t nearly as impressive as other things posted, Steve Nash gets mad props for his soccer skills considering that he’s a badass basketball player. [Here he is doing a little juggling at a charity basketball event](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehvrkKwCTqA). [And here’s the memorable teamwork dunk from the Slam Dunk Competition](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RctnK0sOUJg) ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/19 "2007-11-16T20:06:57Z")
[Spud Webb](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CitnrHyoONU) in the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest. He’s 5’6". ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-athleticism-for-no-apparent-reason/426717/20 "2007-11-16T20:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] People, I was watching a video. I didn’t stop to go look up their weights! It was purely a WILD ASS GUESS with no thought involved whatsoever. [/QUOTE] Can you imagine the responses had you not told them to shut up first? 🙂