Best athletic career ever?

[Joeb4usc]

Secretariat… still hold the fastest time at all 3 Triple Crown Races after 50 years.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Secretariat… still hold the fastest time at all 3 Triple Crown Races after 50 years.

Sad. Even a horse has her beat.

 

[18IsTheMan]

A quick glance shows Sheryl Swoopes had a better career. 4x champion and 3x MVP, 2x scoring champion,

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Spartacus.

 

[Uscg1984]

It's hard to argue with the hardware. He is clearly the best ever in his sport and there isn't even a close #2.

 

[Uscg1984]

Secretariat… still hold the fastest time at all 3 Triple Crown Races after 50 years.

Yes, if we're going to open the category up to animals, Secretariat's triple crown run is the closest thing to athletic perfection the sports world has ever seen. His run in the Belmont, specifically, was virtually supernatural.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

If I had a choice, it would probably be Pele. Don't know anyone who dominated his or her sport more than he did.

You could make a list. Micheal Phelps would be on it.

 

[Rogue Cock]

You could make a list. Micheal Phelps would be on it.

Yeah, I thought about him. Pele just did it for so long and in all the best soccer leagues.

 

[ToddFlanders]

It's hard to argue with the hardware. He is clearly the best ever in his sport and there isn't even a close #2.
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Phelps clearly bested every swimmer ever, but does anyone else think the different swimming events are kind of silly? The strokes are just made up and arbitrary. I mean if there was backward running, sideways running and skipping I’m sure Usain Bolt would have won just as many medals as Phelps.

And BTW, Bolt is the greatest athlete ever. He did an event that 98% of people in the history of the world have done in their lives (running) and did it so much better - essentially putting the world record out of reach for generations.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Maybe Ruth, maybe Brady, maybe Phelps, maybe Russell. Maybe a lot of people or animals.

Definitely not Sue Bird.

Credit to Rapinoe, though. She actually got me talking about the WNBA a little bit. That's the most significant thing she's ever done.

 

[PerchedOnRings]

I think if we are talking about the career on paper Bill Russell has to be considered, 5 time NBA MVP, 12 time NBA All Star, 11 NBA championships, 2 NCAA championships, NCAA tournament MVP, 3 college player of the year awards, 2 time consensus NCAA All American

This