Who is the fittest?

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
karatekid
Posts: 3129
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:22 pm
Been Liked: 1103 times
Has Liked: 316 times

Who is the fittest?

Post by karatekid » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:05 pm

Top rank international sports people. Footballers, rugby players, tennis, cyclists, marathon runners, darts players ;) , etc....

For me it would be cyclists. When you see those guys climbing mountains in the big tours like TDF and then still sprinting for the line, unbelievable. 3 weeks of hell.

boatshed bill
Posts: 15108
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:47 am
Been Liked: 3138 times
Has Liked: 6682 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by boatshed bill » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:07 pm

I've always thought the top tennis players had to be the fittest.
This user liked this post: Gordaleman

Chester Perry
Posts: 19169
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:06 am
Been Liked: 3115 times
Has Liked: 481 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Chester Perry » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:09 pm

boatshed bill wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:07 pm
I've always thought the top tennis players had to be the fittest.
That would be my first choice - but then again each requires a very different kind of fitness so that would definitely complicate any reasonable discussion

jdrobbo
Posts: 9205
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:01 pm
Been Liked: 4800 times
Has Liked: 943 times
Location: Leeds

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by jdrobbo » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:10 pm

Grand Tour Cyclists.
This user liked this post: karatekid

karatekid
Posts: 3129
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:22 pm
Been Liked: 1103 times
Has Liked: 316 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by karatekid » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:16 pm

Brownlee brothers and the like could be a consideration.
This user liked this post: Zlatan

Bosscat
Posts: 25364
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8429 times
Has Liked: 18098 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Bosscat » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:19 pm

Bring back 'Superstars' and we could find out...

Dark Cloud
Posts: 6586
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:03 am
Been Liked: 1981 times
Has Liked: 3299 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Dark Cloud » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:21 pm

Topless darts players.

karatekid
Posts: 3129
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:22 pm
Been Liked: 1103 times
Has Liked: 316 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by karatekid » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:21 pm

Dark Cloud wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:21 pm
Topless darts players.

Double Top anyone ? ;)
This user liked this post: Dark Cloud

Spiral
Posts: 5005
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 12:37 am
Been Liked: 2518 times
Has Liked: 333 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Spiral » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:26 pm

Pump me full of steroids and tell me to ride up a mountain and I reckon I'd be pretty fit, too.
These 2 users liked this post: BurnleyFC CJW

Zlatan
Posts: 5458
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2016 2:06 pm
Been Liked: 2229 times
Has Liked: 5739 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Zlatan » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:32 pm

Definitely triathletes like the Brownlee Bros

Burnley1989
Posts: 7346
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 2:19 am
Been Liked: 2275 times
Has Liked: 2154 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Burnley1989 » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:34 pm

Difficult to answer but I agree the Tour de France riders are absolute machines, even those on steroids. Yes Steroids give you an edge but you still have to train ridiculously hard.

Triathlon is another good shout

Top Claret
Posts: 5125
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 11:50 am
Been Liked: 1127 times
Has Liked: 1238 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Top Claret » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:35 pm

Got to be cyclist their physic says that

Dark Cloud
Posts: 6586
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:03 am
Been Liked: 1981 times
Has Liked: 3299 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Dark Cloud » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:41 pm

Ok, topless cycling then.

Devils_Advocate
Posts: 12345
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2016 2:43 pm
Been Liked: 5202 times
Has Liked: 920 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Devils_Advocate » Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:43 pm

whoever it is I reckon some of Jurgen Klopps players would run them close as they are the fittest football team I've seen by a country mile

Harrythomsonscap
Posts: 91
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2016 1:49 pm
Been Liked: 21 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Harrythomsonscap » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:01 pm

Only those on the grass, and Dyche fit

TheFamilyCat
Posts: 10843
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:56 pm
Been Liked: 5521 times
Has Liked: 208 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by TheFamilyCat » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:19 pm

Zlatan wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:32 pm
Definitely triathletes like the Brownlee Bros
Triathlon is clearly a tough event and they need to be fit as well as being able to swim, cycle and run well. But a triathlon is much shorter than a grand tour stage and not day after day after day.

tim_noone
Posts: 17108
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:12 pm
Been Liked: 4384 times
Has Liked: 15117 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by tim_noone » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:37 pm

Spiral wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:26 pm
Pump me full of steroids and tell me to ride up a mountain and I reckon I'd be pretty fit, too.
Miaow.....

tim_noone
Posts: 17108
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:12 pm
Been Liked: 4384 times
Has Liked: 15117 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by tim_noone » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:39 pm

Devils_Advocate wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:43 pm
whoever it is I reckon some of Jurgen Klopps players would run them close as they are the fittest football team I've seen by a country mile
:D

tarkys_ears
Posts: 4237
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:30 pm
Been Liked: 1016 times
Has Liked: 1484 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by tarkys_ears » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:44 pm

jdrobbo wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:10 pm
Grand Tour Cyclists.
Why do they all drop dead quicker than WWE westlers then?

Vegas Claret
Posts: 30275
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 4:00 am
Been Liked: 10917 times
Has Liked: 5594 times
Location: clue is in the title

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Vegas Claret » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:48 pm

I was hoping it was going to be Charlize Theron v Margot Robbie not cyclists v footballers !
These 2 users liked this post: Bosscat whiffa

SalisburyClaret
Posts: 4077
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:32 pm
Been Liked: 1104 times
Has Liked: 709 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by SalisburyClaret » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:51 pm

Sheff U

Gordaleman
Posts: 3981
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2020 3:04 pm
Been Liked: 853 times
Has Liked: 604 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Gordaleman » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:56 pm

Surely has to be tennis players? Chasing here there and everywhere. Massive amounts of energy, just to hit the ball and often keeping going for four of five hours.

Cyclists on the other hand are sat on their ars*s all day. ;)

Bosscat
Posts: 25364
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8429 times
Has Liked: 18098 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Bosscat » Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:58 pm

I'm with Vegas Margot Robbie definitely :lol:

groove
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:26 pm
Been Liked: 318 times
Has Liked: 544 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by groove » Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:24 pm

I'd have thought boxers. The strength, speed and stamina required at the top level is out of this world.

Clarets4me
Posts: 4948
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:31 pm
Been Liked: 2307 times
Has Liked: 1033 times
Location: Ightenhill,Burnley

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Clarets4me » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:26 am

Fatuous argument ... the argument is " Fitness to do what, exactly ? "
Put Jonny Brownlee in as a Tight-head Prop for one half of a Six-Nations game, then he'd be hospitalised ! Ask England 2nd Row Joe Launchbury to replace Max Whitlock on a Gymnastics " Pommel Horse " and he'd probably neuter himself ! Ask Harry Kane to ride " Tiger Roll " in the Grand National, he'd have a job to get to Becher's Brook without breaking his neck, Tom Daly would probably be killed in a Boxing ring, and Tyson Fury would empty the pool in an Olympic Diving event !
This user liked this post: BOYSIE31

IanMcL
Posts: 30126
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:27 pm
Been Liked: 6340 times
Has Liked: 8654 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by IanMcL » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:03 am

Tennis.

Cyclists are using legs primarily. Tennis players use everything.

Taffy on the wing
Posts: 4600
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2016 3:41 am
Been Liked: 1020 times
Has Liked: 3163 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Taffy on the wing » Thu Mar 12, 2020 4:46 am

I'll go for Decathletes!

IanMcL
Posts: 30126
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:27 pm
Been Liked: 6340 times
Has Liked: 8654 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by IanMcL » Thu Mar 12, 2020 5:47 am

Decathletes are mostly skill based.

Stanbill05
Posts: 550
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:48 pm
Been Liked: 140 times
Has Liked: 54 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Stanbill05 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:29 am

IanMcL wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 5:47 am
Decathletes are mostly skill based.
:D I think I know what you’re trying to say, but it’s not exactly darts! Each event requires different conditioning (and technique to be any good- which I think is what you mean). To prepare for all 10 is remarkable and requires fitness and physicality most elite athletes would struggle with. That’s why there are so many injuries. Very difficult to prepare the body for that range of activity.

Burnley1989
Posts: 7346
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 2:19 am
Been Liked: 2275 times
Has Liked: 2154 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Burnley1989 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:47 am

groove wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:24 pm
I'd have thought boxers. The strength, speed and stamina required at the top level is out of this world.
Nah, I did consider it but there’s far too many boxers that let themselves go between fights then do an 8 week training camp before a fight and hit peak fitness to win. There’s no way you could do that in some of the other sports and still make it to number 1.

Don’t get me wrong that’s not all boxers, although I did once best Anthony Crolla by about 7-8 minutes in the Manchester 10k whilst he was World Champion :lol: ;) :lol:

RMutt
Posts: 1066
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:08 pm
Been Liked: 373 times
Has Liked: 88 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by RMutt » Thu Mar 12, 2020 7:28 am

I saw a study years ago where they looked at something similar to this. They gave points for various aspects of fitness. speed, endurance, flexibility, coordination and so on and added them up. I forget which sport came top but I’m fairly sure that stage dancers beat them.

IanMcL
Posts: 30126
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:27 pm
Been Liked: 6340 times
Has Liked: 8654 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by IanMcL » Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:58 am

Stanbill05 wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:29 am
:D I think I know what you’re trying to say, but it’s not exactly darts! Each event requires different conditioning (and technique to be any good- which I think is what you mean). To prepare for all 10 is remarkable and requires fitness and physicality most elite athletes would struggle with. That’s why there are so many injuries. Very difficult to prepare the body for that range of activity.
That if Stanbill. It is that mix of conditioning and lots of different but short action, with rest in between, whereas tennis players are constant, with minimal breaks.

bobinho
Posts: 9248
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:48 pm
Been Liked: 4070 times
Has Liked: 6538 times
Location: Burnley

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by bobinho » Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:04 am

Gordaleman wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:56 pm
Surely has to be tennis players? Chasing here there and everywhere. Massive amounts of energy, just to hit the ball and often keeping going for four of five hours.
The men’s game, yeah.

And how about this for a left field selection... Eddie izzard. 28 marathons run in 28 days...

Or those athletes who take on the marathon de sables.

Oh. And it’d be Charlize Theron, without a doubt.

bobinho
Posts: 9248
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:48 pm
Been Liked: 4070 times
Has Liked: 6538 times
Location: Burnley

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by bobinho » Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:07 am

groove wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:24 pm
I'd have thought boxers. The strength, speed and stamina required at the top level is out of this world.
Not all boxers have stamina.... Aj v Ruiz 1 and Fury v wilder 2 are two that recently spring to mind.

NottsClaret
Posts: 3577
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:05 am
Been Liked: 2590 times
Has Liked: 1 time

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by NottsClaret » Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:13 am

Maybe too tricky to compare, you know what it's like when you rattle off a few 10K runs and feel super fit then 5 minutes sprinting into a 7-a-side you feel like you've got full blown Convid-19.

jollyjack
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:30 pm
Been Liked: 107 times
Has Liked: 20 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by jollyjack » Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:25 am

3 elements to fitness, strength, flexibility and endurance.

e.g. Rugby League Strength+++, flexibility++, endurance+

Triathlon Strength+, flexibility+, endurance+++

etc.

2 Bee Holed
Posts: 1856
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:37 am
Been Liked: 548 times
Has Liked: 31 times
Location: South Manchester

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by 2 Bee Holed » Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:31 am

Dark Cloud wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:21 pm
Topless darts players.
Male or female?

4:20
Posts: 2166
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:23 am
Been Liked: 1061 times
Has Liked: 1177 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by 4:20 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:47 am

I always thought swimmers had to be proper fit at elite level. Them and David Goggins

Inchy
Posts: 2828
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2016 5:32 pm
Been Liked: 1332 times
Has Liked: 95 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Inchy » Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:52 am

In terms of cardio grand your cyclist are up there but I still believe doping is the only way people can do what they do.

Tennis is up here as well

Quickenthetempo
Posts: 17916
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:35 am
Been Liked: 3841 times
Has Liked: 2065 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Quickenthetempo » Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:29 am

jollyjack wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:25 am
3 elements to fitness, strength, flexibility and endurance.

e.g. Rugby League Strength+++, flexibility++, endurance+

Triathlon Strength+, flexibility+, endurance+++

etc.
I was always taught to gage fitness on recovery levels. How quick you recover from a sprint, to sprint again etc..

jollyjack
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:30 pm
Been Liked: 107 times
Has Liked: 20 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by jollyjack » Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:39 am

Recovery rate is an accepted measurable, but still fairly specific to the type of activity. All round fitness I would say would be a mix of the best attributes of all different sports, so no one group can claim to be the fittest as another group has more endurance/strength/flexibility.

Anyway, this is certainly fit:

Image
This user liked this post: whiffa

Claret32yrs
Posts: 183
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:31 pm
Been Liked: 44 times
Has Liked: 31 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Claret32yrs » Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:46 am

Quick Google came up with Topendsports.com. Which has Water Polo at number 1. Rugby 7's at 2, Boxing 6th, Tennis at 10th. Football way down in 26 below Baseball at 21. Methinks. This a user poll rather than an exact science though.

CJW
Posts: 256
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:22 am
Been Liked: 144 times
Has Liked: 574 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by CJW » Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:56 am

F1 racing drivers.

houseboy
Posts: 7065
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2017 4:43 pm
Been Liked: 2238 times
Has Liked: 1617 times
Location: Baxenden

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by houseboy » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:54 pm

Spiral wrote:
Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:26 pm
Pump me full of steroids and tell me to ride up a mountain and I reckon I'd be pretty fit, too.
No you wouldn't. It takes more than that. Cycling is a very tough sport. People have died riding the mountains - and not just from accidents. Tom Simpson, the leading British cyclist at the time, died in 1967 ascending Mont Ventoux in the Tour. A supremely fit man, he died of a heart attack. A few steroids would not make you a pro cyclist mate. :lol: :lol:

houseboy
Posts: 7065
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2017 4:43 pm
Been Liked: 2238 times
Has Liked: 1617 times
Location: Baxenden

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by houseboy » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:57 pm

CJW wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:56 am
F1 racing drivers.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

AlargeClaret
Posts: 4428
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 8:55 pm
Been Liked: 1148 times
Has Liked: 180 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by AlargeClaret » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:01 pm

houseboy wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:54 pm
No you wouldn't. It takes more than that. Cycling is a very tough sport. People have died riding the mountains - and not just from accidents. Tom Simpson, the leading British cyclist at the time, died in 1967 ascending Mont Ventoux in the Tour. A supremely fit man, he died of a heart attack. A few steroids would not make you a pro cyclist mate. :lol: :lol:
It’s worth mentioning Simpson was off his tits on amphetamines of some sort and probs wouldn’t have died otherwise . Though yes indeed top cyclists are supremely fit and I’m pretty sure they train at higher heart Intervals rate than any other sport.

AlargeClaret
Posts: 4428
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 8:55 pm
Been Liked: 1148 times
Has Liked: 180 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by AlargeClaret » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:06 pm

bobinho wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:07 am
Not all boxers have stamina.... Aj v Ruiz 1 and Fury v wilder 2 are two that recently spring to mind.
Did you watch the Fury documentary where he did an 8 mile run up a mountain ? Boxers simply cannot fight without v v good stamina . You wouldn’t get through 2 x 3 min rounds unless fit never mind 12!

houseboy
Posts: 7065
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2017 4:43 pm
Been Liked: 2238 times
Has Liked: 1617 times
Location: Baxenden

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by houseboy » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:25 pm

AlargeClaret wrote:
Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:01 pm
It’s worth mentioning Simpson was off his tits on amphetamines of some sort and probs wouldn’t have died otherwise . Though yes indeed top cyclists are supremely fit and I’m pretty sure they train at higher heart Intervals rate than any other sport.
Yes he was on that day. Apparently he was actually ill on the morning of the race and probably shouldn't have ridden at all, it was a very hot day and he had had diarohea so he was also certainly dehydrated. He took a combination of amphetamines and alcohol, which combined with the effort of the climb and the heat caused a heart attack. His death ultimately lead to manditory drug testing, which of course is now practiced in all (I think) sports. The stage was 'won' by Barry Hoban after it was agreed that an Englishman should win it. Barry himself felt it was a hollow victory as he related it in his biography. Many thought that another Englishman (whose name escapes me) should have been allowed the win as he was in the same team as Simpson, but Hoban (I believe) was the second 'best' English cyclist at the time.

Incidentally Hoban's biography is a great read, I read it some years ago and it sheds some light on just how hard the sport is. He also mentions Eric Wilson, one time British Hill Climb champion, who I knew from him having a bike shop in Rawtenstall for many years, bought one or two bikes there and he was an absolute mine of help and info if you needed it.

jollyjack
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:30 pm
Been Liked: 107 times
Has Liked: 20 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by jollyjack » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:29 pm

Was a Club cyclist and have done lots of sportives/audax events and LEJOG. I hung up my cycling shoes a few years ago as its getting too tough to be enjoyable!

Kudos to anyone who works hard at their sport to achieve the best they can be.

Hipper
Posts: 5682
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:33 pm
Been Liked: 1175 times
Has Liked: 918 times

Re: Who is the fittest?

Post by Hipper » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:32 pm


Post Reply