# Are elite male sports actually "open" competitions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2023, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761 "2023-01-25T03:48:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/41 "2023-01-26T22:42:12Z")
[Moderating] > [@md-2000](#): > > There might be a niche opportunity for women in pro soccer since they have much practice at faking it. If that is, in fact, an orgasm joke, as it appears, then it’s completely inappropriate for this thread. If that’s not what it is, then please explain what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/42 "2023-01-26T22:44:23Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > The general rule of thumb is that because of hormones, men have much more muscle development and particularly a lot more upper body strength than women. Of course, the women who excel in professional sports are outliers in this regard, but then they would be competing with men who are also outliers. > > So the obvious question was whether the musculature makes a difference versus skill or endurance. This is one of the reasons I think ultramarathoning is one of the sports where an elite woman has the best chance of beating an elite man. Over 100k, or 100 miles, endurance, aerobic fitness, mental toughness, and tolerance for pain are almost as important as foot speed and muscle development. Women don’t consistently beat men in ultras - I don’t know of any race that has been won outright by a woman - but if it were to happen, I suspect this is the most likely sport. By the way, the faking orgasm joke - not funny, dude. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Ah, now I got it. A very lame joke I must say, disparaging both women and the sport of football (soccer). But whatever floats your boat. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/43 "2023-01-27T02:57:51Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I don’t know of any race that has been won outright by a woman Women regularly win ultramarathons outright. Courtney Dauwalter won the 2017 Moab 240 by _9 hours_. Maggie Guterl won the Big Dog Backyard Ultra\* by running 250 miles, outlasting the rest of the field. Men win most of the races, for sure, but at the elite level, women still win their fair share. \*The Backyard Ultra is a killer concept. You run a 4 mile trail loop in an hour. At the top of the hour, everyone still standing heads out for another. You keep going until only one person answers the bell. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/44 "2023-01-27T05:42:08Z")
Curling is another sport in which i don’t understand why both sexes don’t compete equally. It’s not really necessary to lift the stone, and force/speed of the throw shouldn’t be a factor - it’s accuracy that counts. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/45 "2023-01-27T07:23:10Z")
This is a complete guess but could it be to do with the sweeping? I’ve never tried it but it looks very physical and perhaps men on average have an advantage? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/46 "2023-01-27T12:01:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > > > I don’t know of any race that has been won outright by a woman > > Women regularly win ultramarathons outright. Courtney Dauwalter won the 2017 Moab 240 by _9 hours_. Maggie Guterl won the Big Dog Backyard Ultra\* by running 250 miles, outlasting the rest of the field. Men win most of the races, for sure, but at the elite level, women still win their fair share. > > \*The Backyard Ultra is a killer concept. You run a 4 mile trail loop in an hour. At the top of the hour, everyone still standing heads out for another. You keep going until only one person answers the bell Thanks. I read about Guterl’s win on [irunfar.com](http://irunfar.com), but I’d forgotten it. And _of course_ it would be Courtney Dauwalter, wouldn’t it? Both wins go to my point that ultramarathoning is one of the sports with the most parity between men and women. The Big Backyard is another Lazarus Lake race, of course. Swear I think that man gets off on torturing runners… ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761/47 "2023-01-27T15:29:26Z")
Apologies. I would have though it’s more disparaging of men. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-elite-male-sports-actually-open-competitions/978761.md?page=2)