YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME

[Moodybluebird]

Mine are, in no particular order:

Ed Moses
Muhammed Ali
Usain Bolt
Franz Beckenbauer
Rivelino

Being a big athletics fan I was tempted to include Lynn Davies, Jonathan Edwards or even Seb Coe as my last pick but in the end I went for Rivelino, who I was enthralled by during the 1970 World Cup and just couldn't leave him out.

Unless their personality appealed to me, I dismissed certain sportsmen, no matter how dominant they are/were in their field. Both Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton come into this category.

It will be interesting to see who your personal favourites are.

[Moodybluebird]

Mine are, in no particular order:

Ed Moses
Muhammed Ali
Usain Bolt
Franz Beckenbauer
Rivelino

Being a big athletics fan I was tempted to include Lynn Davies, Jonathan Edwards or even Seb Coe as my last pick but in the end I went for Rivelino, who I was enthralled by during the 1970 World Cup and just couldn't leave him out.

Unless their personality appealed to me, I dismissed certain sportsmen, no matter how dominant they are/were in their field. Both Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton come into this category.

It will be interesting to see who your personal favourites are.

The heading should probably read Top 5 FAVOURITE Sportsmen/Women

[Cleve van Leef]

Cassius Clay
Usain Bolt
Pele
Jack Nicklaus
Michael Phelps

[jon1959]

Not the best, but my favourites. (Can't decide on the fifth)

Muhammed Ali
Cathy Freeman
Johah Lomu
Malcolm Marshall
Clive Sullivan or Socrates

[UNDERHILL1927]

These are my favourites but I'd put a case forward for each of them to be considered one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.

Football - C Ronaldo
Rugby - Lomu
Boxing - Calzaghe
Athletics - Bolt
Golf - Woods

[Moodybluebird]

Not the best, but my favourites. (Can't decide on the fifth)

Muhammed Ali
Cathy Freeman
Johah Lomu
Malcolm Marshall
Clive Sullivan or Socrates

Personally I would have put Plato ahead of Socrates.....sorry !

I do feel guilty about not including any women but Cathy Freeman is a good choice, especially as she represented the Aboriginal people of her country with such dignity.

[Moodybluebird]

These are my favourites but I'd put a case forward for each of them to be considered one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.

Football - C Ronaldo
Rugby - Lomu
Boxing - Calzaghe
Athletics - Bolt
Golf - Woods

This thread is all about personal favourites, which I regret not making clearer in my original heading, so your list is spot on.👍

[UNDERHILL1927]

This thread is all about personal favourites, which I regret not making clearer in my original heading, so your list is spot on.👍

✌️

[Rjk]

I tried to think of sportspersons who absolutely demanded your attention, hair on the back of your neck stuff.

I was about to put Chris Hoy, his races in the Olympics were just so exciting.
but then I thought that outside of a few Olympic cycling events I happened to be watching, I've made literally no effort to see any of his other races - so can I really have him as one of my top 5?

[Hilts]

Ali
Maradona
Duran
Daley Thompson
Calzaghe

[Hilts]

Victoria Pendleton comes very close barking mad.

[lardy]

I tried to think of sportspersons who absolutely demanded your attention, hair on the back of your neck stuff.

I was about to put Chris Hoy, his races in the Olympics were just so exciting.
but then I thought that outside of a few Olympic cycling events I happened to be watching, I've made literally no effort to see any of his other races - so can I really have him as one of my top 5?

Fine I think. The Olympics is all about becoming an expert in a sport for a few days. The things I could have told you about the omnium...

[binman]

Steve Lynex
Rocky
Rowdy Roddy Piper
Giant Haystacks
Leighton Rees

[Packerman]

Mark Cavendish
Brett Favre
Mohammed Ali
Kev Sinfield
Arnold Palmer

[chris lee]

- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Federer
- Christiano Ronaldo
- Tyson Fury
- Usain Bolt

[life on mars]

Jessie Owens ( before my time but essential to mention )
Michael Phelps
Floyd Mayweather
Steve Redgrave
Chris Hoy.
Ronaldo

[Moodybluebird]

- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Federer
- Christiano Ronaldo
- Tyson Fury
- Usain Bolt

I forgot all about Federer, probably because he's still playing but if I had a 6th pick it would be him.

[Der Kaiser]

C Ronaldo
LeBron James
Tyson Fury
Whitts
Patrick Kane

[The Bloop]

Bit of a tough one but these are those who I've probably most enjoyed watching over the years.

Roger Federer
Usain Bolt
Ian Botham
Ronaldo
Greg Lemond

Not far off the list are Viv Richards, Geraint Thomas, Michael Johnson, Lionel Messi, Shane Warne amongst others

[Moodybluebird]

Bit of a tough one but these are those who I've probably most enjoyed watching over the years.

Roger Federer
Usain Bolt
Ian Botham
Ronaldo
Greg Lemond

Not far off the list are Viv Richards, Geraint Thomas, Michael Johnson, Lionel Messi, Shane Warne amongst others

Lord Botham if you don't mind ! Viv and Lionel were on my shortlist too. The more you think about it the more difficult it gets so I just thought of those sportsmen that over the years meant something to me personally and more importantly they were people I took a liking to for whatever reason. Hence no Tiger or Hamilton, who I just couldn't take to.

[delmbox]

Original Ronaldo
Joe Calzaghe
LeBron James - Not a massive basketball fan but the guy's a powerhouse of a talent, and gives a lot back too
Aaron Ramsey
Geraint Thomas - Not a massive cycling fan but I love seeing normal Welsh lads being world class

[life on mars]

Lord Botham if you don't mind ! Viv and Lionel were on my shortlist too. The more you think about it the more difficult it gets so I just thought of those sportsmen that over the years meant something to me personally and more importantly they were people I took a liking to for whatever reason. Hence no Tiger or Hamilton, who I just couldn't take to.

For me Jim Clarke and Jackie Stewart Well are ahead of Hamilton , the tracks and cars Clarke and Stewart had to apply and use were remarkable , modern cars are almost computers ,safer , and the modern technology is of a great assistance for today's driver compared to the old days , in my humble view

[delmbox]

For me Jim Clarke and Jackie Stewart Well are ahead of Hamilton , the tracks and cars Clarke and Stewart had to apply and use were remarkable , modern cars are almost computers ,safer , and the modern technology is of a great assistance for today's driver compared to the old days , in my humble view

not disagreeing with everything you say but those cars were also a lot slower and they had to think about far less than today's F1 drivers have to. I think the best "pure racers" of the modern crop - Hamilton, Alonso, Verstappen and others would do just fine in that era

[Moodybluebird]

For me Jim Clarke and Jackie Stewart Well are ahead of Hamilton , the tracks and cars Clarke and Stewart had to apply and use were remarkable , modern cars are almost computers ,safer , and the modern technology is of a great assistance for today's driver compared to the old days , in my humble view

F1 has never been a sport I got into. Rightly or wrongly it seemed that by and large whoever had the best car won. I know this is simplifying matters and there are exceptionally good drivers, but would they win if they drove an inferior car. No they wouldn't. I did like Nigel Mansell mind and his tussles with Schumacher.

[Hot Shot Hamish.]

Brian Lara
Shane Warne
Pele
Muhammad Ali
Tiger Woods