What sport or other endeavor requires the greatest all-around athletes?

[j66kicker]

A lot of bubble-blowing here.

“Hitting a baseball is THE hardest thing to do in the world of sports.” Really? Harder than landing a quadruple axel? Harder than running a 2:05 marathon? Harder than the 4-6-7-9-10 split in bowling?

“We can probably eliminate boxing...” Really? We can? Why?

There is unlikely to be any consensus on the topic. But we should at least attempt some consensus as to what we are measuring and how those measures are weighted. Here’s a beginning (one that places boxing and ice hockey at 1 and 2).

Degree of difficulty— sport ranking

Haha - cheerleading came out as the 52nd most difficult sport, ahead of fishing, bowling, billiards and curling.

 

[Bigboote]

Just to stir it up, what about ultra endurance racers? 50 or 100 mile courses, sometimes in the mountains in punishing terrain.

Or expedition mountain climbing poses a series of challenges, both mental and physical, unlike anything else I can think of.

Along the same lines, I was going to suggest grand-tour cycling. There’s 40 minutes of hell, but then there’s three weeks of hell. I watch the Tour de France most years and see those riders go over a climb I couldn’t imagine, then five more worse than that one. Then again the next day. And again. . .

They come back after crashes. They descend at 70-80 mph.

I dunno what anyone else’s definition of all-round athlete is, but my vote is for the tour rider.

 

[Golden Husky]

Making split-second decisions while riding a half-ton thoroughbred race horse in tight quarters is really difficult...and really dangerous.

 

[MilfordHusky]

This guy:

 

[meyers7]

Just a couple cents here. Of course everyone has an opinion. And it really depends on how one describes, thinks of "athleticism".

I don't find baseball or golf as overly athletic. Very high on skills, but don't really need a lot of athleticism. No endurance at all (per game, maybe some per season). But really for a baseball player, half the game they are sitting on the bench, half of the other half they are standing waiting for the pitcher/batter. Golf has to walk, but no running, jumping, throwing, catching. Very, very high on skills though. I would agree hitting a baseball is one of the toughest "skills" there is. Golf, high skills also, BUT, no distractions, the ball is stationary, and no one is trying to stop you from taking your shot. No quickness needed. No quick adjustments. You have all day to figure out your shot, set it up and attempt it.

Football has some great athletes in it, but again, most players don't play more than half the game. And then only 7 seconds at a time with a 30 sec rest. Plus commercials, timeouts. But it does involve, speed, strength, jumping, quickness, durability. I'd agree CB's WR's, probably even LB's can be very athletic minus endurance.

Comparing football to rugby for instance. Rugby still needs the speed, strength, jumping, quickness, durability, but also throws in lot's of endurance. Most play all 80+ minutes of a game.

Gymnastics involve speed, jumping, strength (compared to body weight), agility, flexibility. Not a lot of endurance though. Not a lot of adjustments. I mean if you are good, you are doing the same exact thing over and over. The less variation, the better.

I'd consider cyclists, soccer players, basketball players, decathlon athletes as some of the more athletic. Speed, jumping, endurance, quickness, quick reactions. Decathlons with more upper body strength than cyclists or soccer players though. Tennis also.

Looking into some of this, one that surprised me a bit were race car drivers (NASCAR, F1). They can lose 5-7 lbs during a race. Also their hearts rates average around 140+ bpm for 3-4 hours. Also need quick reactions. And the cognitive drain is incredible. And if they make a mistake, they don't get scored on, they can die.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Boreifs]

Many years ago I went to college in Pittsburgh, and the school housed the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. There was a huge picture window looking onto their rehearsal stage. The students would walk by and be mesmerized by the strength ,stamina, grace, and precision of their routines. And I mean they went over and over things for hours at a time. I never worked so hard in football or baseball practice. To me they were truly amazing athletes. For that matter watch a rehearsal for a Broadway musical and it is impressive. Watching the USA soccer ladies I saw some fine displays too. And I would bet a UConn wbb practice is impressive also.

Another vote for Ballet dancers. Watching a male dancer effortlessly holding a female in the air who is 5’ 9” inches and 130 pounds with one arm is breathtaking.

 

[SVCBeercats]

First, limit the scope to the four major professional sports: baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.

"First, limit the scope to the four major professional sports: baseball, football, basketball, and hockey."
In what way are these four sports THE major sports? As I understand; the question refers to practitioners, not fans. Ranked by number of practitioners the 10 major sports are football (soccer), badminton, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, tennis, cricket, table tennis, baseball, and golf.

Top 10 Most Popular Sports In The World By Participation

Based on the number of players registered to clubs or leagues, we rank the most popular sports in the world by participation. Do you agree with our list?

www.pledgesports.org

Why just professional sports? There are amateur sports which have far greater athletic demands not to mention intestinal fortitude than these four such as free soloing (no ropes) ... El Capitan. Professional football players play maybe 30 minutes of a 60 minute game spread over 3 hours. Alex Honnold free soloed El Capitan in 3 hrs 56 mins. American Football is played on a level field. The face of El Capitan is vertical for 3,200 feet. That is a tad over 6/10 ths of a mile straight up with no timeouts or BR breaks! And God forbid a violent spontaneous sneeze! His route was not a straight line.

Tell me you watched the video below without your pulse increasing.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Cheese Rolling. Check it out on Netflix - We Are The Champions

 

[Glenn]

Long ago, I read a book on the science of sports, which discussed several distinct qualities:
1. Speed
2. Strength
3. Stamina
4. Skill
5. Suppleness
I think that using these to examine the best all-around athlete would be a good organizing framework. Basketball certainly is high on the list.

 

[connie]

 

[Wally East]

Why was decathlon discarded so quickly? Finding the best athlete is literally the point.

Beyond that, an Ironman triathlete. Swimming, biking, and running. No rest.

 

[Waquoit]

Why was decathlon discarded so quickly? Finding the best athlete is literally the point.

Any tests of eye/hand coordination in the sport? That's what has me leaning toward a WR/TE.

 

[Skeets]

A top flight baseball hitter has the best, hands down, eye-hand coordination. But that alone doesn't make them the "best athlete". It is the toughest thing to do in sports. Some baseball players i.e. Micky Mantle (name your favorite) were more than just hitters, but generally that is what they were remembered for. FYI, I don't think I've ever hit a really good curve ball. Thus the end of my baseball career (bah).

 

[Wally East]

Any tests of eye/hand coordination in the sport? That's what has me leaning toward a WR/TE.

Pole vault takes more hand-eye coordination than catching a ball

 

[Bigboote]

Any tests of eye/hand coordination in the sport? That's what has me leaning toward a WR/TE.

Pole vault, javelin, discus.

 

[Biff]

"First, limit the scope to the four major professional sports: baseball, football, basketball, and hockey."
In what way are these four sports THE major sports? As I understand; the question refers to practitioners, not fans. Ranked by number of practitioners the 10 major sports are football (soccer), badminton, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, tennis, cricket, table tennis, baseball, and golf.

Top 10 Most Popular Sports In The World By Participation

Based on the number of players registered to clubs or leagues, we rank the most popular sports in the world by participation. Do you agree with our list?

www.pledgesports.org

Why just professional sports? There are amateur sports which have far greater athletic demands not to mention intestinal fortitude than these four such as free soloing (no ropes) ... El Capitan. Professional football players play maybe 30 minutes of a 60 minute game spread over 3 hours. Alex Honnold free soloed El Capitan in 3 hrs 56 mins. American Football is played on a level field. The face of El Capitan is vertical for 3,200 feet. That is a tad over 6/10 ths of a mile straight up with no timeouts or BR breaks! And God forbid a violent spontaneous sneeze! His route was not a straight line.
View attachment 61974
Tell me you watched the video below without your pulse increasing.

Even Kirk couldn't master El Capitan.

 

[Carrot23]

Crossfit

 

[Aluminny69]

I have to admit I was impressed when I first saw college rowers. Amazing upper body strength, combined with endurance. Besides using their backs, their legs do a lot of the work. Check out some Olympic rowers some day. But also, Olympic swimmers are in incredible condition, so there's that.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Even Kirk couldn't master El Capitan.

The transporter was not functioning on that day. "Beam me upthere, Scotty!" didn't work.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Pole vault takes more hand-eye coordination than catching a ball

Pole vaulter versus Table Tennis player? Table tennis player requires far more hand-eye coordination not to mention amazing quickness.

 

[bluedevil]

Living in Florida I nominate shuffleboard. They won't even let you play unless yoou,ve had at least 3 beers...and not lite beer..

 

[Wally East]

Pole vaulter versus Table Tennis player? Table tennis player requires far more hand-eye coordination not to mention amazing quickness.

Are you trying to say playing table tennis requires more athleticism than being a decathlete?

 

[SVCBeercats]

Are you trying to say playing table tennis requires more athleticism than being a decathlete?

Pole vault takes more hand-eye coordination than catching a ball

I clearly said a table tennis player requires far more eye to hand coordination than a pole vaulter.

 

[Waquoit]

Pole vault, javelin, discus.

I can see pole vault a little. But unlike a ball, the box is stationary. The last two, no.

 

[Bigboote]

I can see pole vault a little. But unlike a ball, the box is stationary. The last two, no.

You’re correct on the latter two — I was thinking more hand-brain coordination, which would include most sports. But wrt the pole vault, yes the box is stationary, but the tip of the pole is moving relative to the hands, and the vaulter is running at a sprInt.

Of course, there’s foot-eye coordination, too, which is involved in the disc, javelin, hurdles, high jump, and broad jump as well as pole vault.

I was a tight end and did all the events I cited except for the pole vault, and to me there’s no comparison in the skill and athleticism involved.

 

[AgStatesman]

Up until the early 1980's, the winner of the Olympic Decathlon was considered the world's greatest athlete. Run for speed and endurance, jump far and high, throw heavy implements a long way. The event doesn't have the same cache, but it still takes a super well rounded athlete to do all 10 events.

 

[SVCBeercats]

I can see pole vault a little. But unlike a ball, the box is stationary. The last two, no.

You’re correct on the latter two — I was thinking more hand-brain coordination, which would include most sports. But wrt the pole vault, yes the box is stationary, but the tip of the pole is moving relative to the hands, and the vaulter is running at a sprInt.

There is a fair amount of agility and coordination required to be competitive in the shot and discus. Eddie 'The Beast' Hall tried to use his massive strength for the discus and shot. Only to learn there is more to these events then strength and power. See videos below. Note the real shot putters' technique early in the video. Notice the footwork required, timing of the release, and the speed of execution.
Mr. Hall is a British former professional strongman. He won the World's Strongest Man 2017 competition and is the former world record deadlift holder, lifting 500 kg under strongman rules.
First video

Second video
Olympic Discus Coach REACTS To Eddie Hall Discus Throws

 

[meyers7]

View attachment 61983

Well that's "Degree of Difficulty" not necessarily best athlete. And their Endurance is all messed up. And they don't include Quickness.

 

[Wally East]

I clearly said a table tennis player requires far more eye to hand coordination than a pole vaulter.

Okay, great. I'm just wondering about what point you're trying to make, especially since no one was talking about either one.

 

[meyers7]

Crossfit

How do you know you are in a room with someone who does crossfit?


They'll tell you.