# The greatest athletic feat of the past 100 years **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109 "2003-02-24T05:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/81 "2003-02-27T15:16:12Z")
The four minute mile. Brian Laras 375 and 501 in a season Don Bradman’s entire career Marciano’s 49/0 record ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/82 "2003-02-27T17:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\*Babe Ruth made sports people into celebrities, and Michael Jordan may be the most recognizable or household name, but in the purest sense of the word, the greatest “athlete” ever is Jim Thorpe. EVERY sport he ever took up, he was amazing at. > \*\* Nitpick: He wasn’t a great baseball player, though he was at track and football. Made the majors, but was a reserve. His baseball legacy, IIRC, was driving in the winning run in the Vaughn-Toney double no-hitter ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/83 "2003-03-03T00:58:57Z")
**lurker** –I’ll give you he wasn’t a baseball all-star or anything. But look at it this way–even in today’s bloated 30 team league, the 25th man on the worst team in the league is one of the 750 best baseball players in the entire world. I think in terms of sheer proficiency, just being able to make it to the Majors is quite an accomplishment. ---
**Author:** ![Labor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Labor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labor)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/84 "2003-03-03T14:45:14Z")
How about Shackleton, Crean and Wild climbing from one side of South Georgia Island to the other with no maps (the island had not been mapped) , no mountaineering equipment, short rations, and fairly worn down from being trapped in Polar ice for most of the previous summer and winter. They had to sail 800 miles in a small boat to get from Elephant Island to S. Georgia a few days before the mountain climb. They were some tough cookies. Survival is an athletic event! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/85 "2003-03-03T15:35:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*“Seemed to have” is pretty vague. Dempsey’s special shoe was approved by the league, and giving a special advantage to one kicker over all others would not be in the game’s best interests. Not only that, but by taking away the length of his foot, he was actually at a mechanical _dis_advantage in terms of power, since he couldn’t use his ankle as a lever. > If he was a soccer player, I’d say it would be easier to argue he had some kind of advantage kicking a round ball with that greater kicking area. But footballs are a funny shape, not very well suited for making accurate straight-ahead kicks to begin with. (One of the reasons soccer-style football kickers are so much more accurate is because they can actually use the aerodynamics of the ball to aim it. If you watch the ball in the air you can see how it curves right or left. This much control with a straight-on kick is simply impossible.) All straight kickers have to hit the ball at about the same spot in order to get it to go where they want. Dempsey’s large “foot surface” probably made precise kicking _harder_, not easier. Like trying to hit a finishing nail with a mallet. \*\* [http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/football/nfl/legends/ltatdempsey.htm](http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/football/nfl/legends/ltatdempsey.htm) Here is a picture. Are you implying that hitting a football straight on with a pointed shoe is easier than the blunt shoe Dempsey wore? I’m of the opinion that his shoe was part of his strength. He didn’t have a ‘mini shoe’ shaped like other kickers. He had a good striking device… he had less chance of hitting off center. Hitting a football straight is easier when you involve more surface area, as opposed to a narrow front of a shoe. Soccer style kickers get more control because they hit with a greater surface are than straight ahead kickers. Dempsey was percieved as having an advantage at the time as well. Also, “Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints had a club foot. Dempsey was the field goal kicker for the New Orleans Saints. People all over the country and fellow players said it was an unfair advantage. Dempsey had a square toe shoe on his kicking foot. He broke the national football league record for the longest field goal–a long 63 yards at the end of the game to defeat the Detroit Lions. I was in high school then and I kept thinking this was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. It was a victory for the Saints and a very happy Tom Dempsey, smiling ear to ear. I felt good seeing a fellow disabled person perform well at any professional sport.” [http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Casey%20Martin.htm](http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Casey%20Martin.htm) ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/86 "2003-03-04T01:34:09Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > Lance Armstrong in 1999. He was given a 30%_ chance of living in 1996 due to testucular cancer which had spread to both his lungs and brain. Three years later, he wins the [toughest sporting event in the world](http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html). As an American cycling fan, I am required to genuflect at the Altar of Armstrong. His accomplishments are incredible, starting with merely surviving. In terms of lifetime achievement, I agree with **Tapioca** In terms of sporting accomplishment, though, even Lance recognizes [Eddy Merckx’s](http://homepage.ntlworld.com/veloarchive/riders/m.htm#merckx)right to claim the title of greatest cyclist. To use the OP’s criteria of single-season accomplishment, consider the following year, 1974 _(parenthetical notes mine)_: > [@](#): > > Tour de France _(overall winner of the toughest regular sporting competition)_ > 8 stages, Tour de France _(won 8 of the 20 individual stages that make up the full Tour)_ > Giro d’Italia _(Overall winner of the second-hardest Grand Tour)_ > 2 stages, Giro d’Italia > World Pro Road Race _(one day road race against the sport’s best)_ > Tour of Switzerland _(overall winner of the multi-day tour just behind the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana in difficulty and prestige)_ > Points competition, Tour of Switzerland _(Fastest sprinter in that race)_ > KoM, Tour of Switzerland _(best climber in that race)_ > 3 stages, Tour of Switzerland > Critérium des As _(another prestigious one-day race)_ > Super Prestige Pernod Trophy _(another prestigious one-day race)_ Most of the accomplishments in that year are impressive by themselves, but to occur in one year is just amazing. The comment about Mark Spitz winning in different disciplines applies equally to Merckx. Sprinters are usually poor climbers, one-day race specialists usually cannot compete in the 2-3 week Grand Tours, etc. In this one year, Merckx won 2 of the three Grand Tours (no one has won all three in the same year) plus the world championship. Simply amazing. And Mercks was not a conservative, play-it-safe, wait-for-the-other-guy-to-mess-up racer. He did all this from the front, constantly attacking. No wonder he was nicknamed [“the Cannibal”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/tour_de_france/800876.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Miguelon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@Miguelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miguelon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/87 "2003-03-05T00:22:45Z")
Wow, what a great thread!! Best read I’ve had in a while. I agree with whoever said that womens’ records aren’t given much credit. I’m a man however and can’t say that I have much interest in womens’ sports. That’s why when I saw a special on Lynn Hill, she knocked my socks off!! Considered by many to be the best female rock climber in history she holds the world record for free climbing (without the assistance of ropes) The Nose of El Capitan in Yomesite National Park. She climbed this 3000 foot rock face in 1 day (23 hours)!! A world record which has yet to be broken by Man or Woman!! [http://www.girltech.com/Sports/sp\_herstory5.html](http://www.girltech.com/Sports/sp_herstory5.html) ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/88 "2003-03-05T02:09:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xema \* > \*\*That would get my vote were it not for his solo, unassisted, no-oxygen ascent of Everest 2 years later (August 1980). > > He believed that mountains should be climbed “By fair means” which he felt meant no oxygen and no help from others. This precluded the standard “easy” route on Everest (which he’d used for his 1978 climb) because of the “engineering” done each year to forge a route of ladders and ropes through the icefall. As he saw it, the only way to climb Everest fairly was to hike in from the north, through Tibet. This became politically feasible in 1980, and he grabbed the chance. > > Even the concept is remarkable. To have pulled this off on the first try (which he did, but barely) is, to me, the greatest athletic feat of the 20th century. \*\* I think Sir Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tensing need a mention too. ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/89 "2003-03-05T02:24:17Z")
This won’t come close to the other achievements mentioned (and rightfully so), but I think that Barry Sanders running behind poor offensive lines for years in a tough division was great. He was only 31 when he retired and he had less than 1,000 yards to go before breaking Payton’s record. If Barry hadn’t retired early, he could’ve broken Payton’s record by a few thousand yards. ---
**Author:** ![smorgan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@smorgan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smorgan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/90 "2003-03-05T02:25:55Z")
I know wrestling isn’t popular but how could no one mention Cael Sanderson’s college career. 4 national championships and he remained undefeated. 159-0 i believe. TOP THAT! ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/91 "2003-03-05T02:26:33Z")
Pardon my mistake, Barry had 1,457 yards to go before breaking Payton’s record ---
**Author:** ![consolid8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@consolid8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/consolid8)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/92 "2003-03-05T02:59:39Z")
For me it was this weekend. My 11 yr old took second in his statewide wrestling tournament and qualified for Top Gun, the national kids wrestling tournament for the best wrestlers from all over and out of the country as well. I know, I know, only second. But he was on top of his game 100% Sunday, and he never did this well at this huge tournament before. In 5 previous seasons he’s finished fourth at best. Watching him compete is way bettter for me than any pro sports I ever watch. But hey, I’m The Dad. 2nd? Maybe Elway rushing for the touchdown in a Superbowl. That close up of his face showed pure single-minded determination. He was not going to be stopped. Or Lance Armstrong after the surgery. Those two things define athletic competition to me. The “I’m going to succeed and no one is going to stop me” attitude. ---
**Author:** ![hightechburrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@hightechburrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hightechburrito)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/93 "2003-03-05T07:11:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dave\_D \* > \*\*I’m surprised no one has mentioned Alexander Karelin. He wrestled for 12 years in internation competition before he lost his first match in the 2000 olympics. \*\* Right after he finally lost a match, I remember the commentators saying that no one had even scored a point on him in years, and the only reason he got scored on that time was because the other wrestler was awarded a penalty point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109.md?page=4)