• Britain's Greatest Ever Sportsperson

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:30 pm**

This has cropped up on both the Mark Cavendish and Andy Murray threads.

Probably deserves a thread of its own (and keeps it off threads recognising that pair's achievements.

Murray and Cag both mentioned.

Multiple Olympic gold medalists, Ainslie, Hoy, Kenny(s), Wiggins to name but a few.

Ronnie or Phil Taylor (do they play sports or pub games is a separate argument!).

Faldo, Hamilton, Froome. Our very own Jimmy.

Loads more that I've forgotten to mention.

Or do we all just agree that it's Glen Little and have done with it?

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:34 pm**

Roger Banister

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:35 pm**

Stanley Mathews.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:36 pm**

Ryan Giggs

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:45 pm**

I loved Daley Thompson when I was growing up.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:55 pm**

I think Daley Thompson is a very good shout as a double gold medal winning Olympian. To be very good over 10 disciplines is outstanding.

I think it also fair to mention that almost anybody could become an athlete if they were talented enough and willing to put in the hours of training to succeed.

Hamilton and Ainslie have absolutely no right to be included in this category. Although they were very skillful at what they did the opportunity for an average person to become a F 1 driver or a yachtsman are many thousands to one. Hamilton and Ainslie could have chosen to be an athlete when growing up. I very much doubt Thompson could have been an Olympic Sailor or F1 Driver. Those 2 sports are mainly reserved for the privileged class.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:02 pm**

Anonymous Claret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:55 pm

Hamilton and Ainslie have absolutely no right to be included in this category. Those 2 sports are mainly reserved for the privileged class.

Nah mate, Hamilton had a tough upbringing and broke away from his gang on the estates so he could better himself. Well, that's how he likes to portray himself anyway

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:03 pm**

Chris Hoy/Steve Redgrave

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:14 pm**

... was born in Burnley and his name is James 'Jimmy' Anderson.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:17 pm**

C B Fry

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:18 pm**

Glen Little for me

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:18 pm**

Vincent'sCap wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:03 pm
Chris Hoy/Steve Redgrave

Add Jason and Laura Kenny and you have it I reckon.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:21 pm**

Anonymous Claret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:55 pm
I think Daley Thompson is a very good shout as a double gold medal winning Olympian. To be very good over 10 disciplines is outstanding.

I think it also fair to mention that almost anybody could become an athlete if they were talented enough and willing to put in the hours of training to succeed.

Hamilton and Ainslie have absolutely no right to be included in this category. Although they were very skillful at what they did the opportunity for an average person to become a F 1 driver or a yachtsman are many thousands to one. Hamilton and Ainslie could have chosen to be an athlete when growing up. I very much doubt Thompson could have been an Olympic Sailor or F1 Driver. Those 2 sports are mainly reserved for the privileged class.

Don't know whether this is a wind up or not???

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:27 pm**

Tribesmen wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:34 pm
Roger Banister

Its not quite the same feat anymore although for the non existent sports science at the time it was unbelievable.

A lad from Burnley I know has run a sub 4 minute - https://worldathletics.org/athletes/gre ... n-14714944

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:31 pm**

Either Jimmy Anderson (cricketer not the dodgy plumber) or John Francis

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:32 pm**

Jon Walters, but for his bad luck with injury's I think he would be unanimously regarded as the worlds greatest sportsperson never mind Britain

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:34 pm**

Steve Redgave, Chris Hoy, Torville and Dean perhaps?
For sheer effort and spirit Eddie the Eagle.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:44 pm**

CaptainKirk wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:21 pm
Don't know whether this is a wind up or not???

The way I understand it is that to be Britain's greatest ever sportsman, the vast majority of the population should have the opportunity to compete and become the best in that sport.

The vast majority of the population does not have the opportunity to become a F1 driver or an Olympic Yachtsman.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:52 pm**

Eddie the eagle.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:05 pm**

Not going to Google people from before my era, so I'd probably think about Jimmy Anderson. Ronne O'Sullivan is probably the most ludicrously talented, but is it a game or sport? (isn't the general rule that if you need to change your shoes, it's a sport).

Jessica Ennis was the best in the world for a good while, doing loads of events.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:11 pm**

Tony McCoy

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:14 pm**

Phil Taylor all day long!

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:17 pm**

CB Fry played for England at cricket and football and held the world long jump record. Some going.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:43 pm**

A lot of folk naming people from sports they themselves participate in so I’ll go along with the same mantra and name Joss Naylor and Jasmin Paris….of the more famous/popular sportsmen/sports I’d say Jimmy Anderson, Mark Cavendish, Jason Kenny/Chris Hoy, Seb Coe/Steve Ovett, Steve Redgrave….i’m sure there’s plenty more worthy nominees as it’s all subjective

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:01 pm**

Scott Parker must be in with a shout.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:47 pm**

Fred Perry. Wimbledon Champ and world Table Tennis champ.

Lambos’ Seb Coe shout is a good one. Double Olympic 1500m champ denied his chance of the triple at Seoul by selectors. The Olympics then gave defending champs automatic entry to the next games.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 5:05 pm**

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:47 pm
Fred Perry. Wimbledon Champ and world Table Tennis champ.

Makes a nice polo too.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 5:43 pm**

Joss Naylor

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 6:23 pm**

Ian botham

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 6:49 pm**

Dame Sarah storey.

Good shouts for Murray, Hoy, Redgrave, Cav and of course Jimmy.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 6:50 pm**

John Surtees

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 6:55 pm**

In no particular, my top 3 Andy Murray, Lewis Hamilton, Lennox Lewis

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 7:04 pm**

George Best, might as well close thread now. Absolute brilliance.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 7:11 pm**

Max Woosnam all day

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 7:15 pm**

If this isn't restricted to the age of colour TV, W.G. Grace was "The Great Cricketer".

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 8:14 pm**

Cardclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:17 pm
CB Fry played for England at cricket and football and held the world long jump record. Some going.

Yep.

Of those around in my lifetime I'd pick Barry john. The rugby equivalent of George best but without being an alcoholic knob. And he didn't play for man United.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 8:18 pm**

The list would be dominated by footballers.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 8:27 pm**

Roger Bannister

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 8:30 pm**

either w.g. grace or ronnie o'sullivan.

and george best wasn't from britain.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 9:07 pm**

Geoff Capes

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 9:18 pm**

Cavendish, Hoy, Kenny, Trott, Taylor, Ronnie.

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 9:44 pm**

Cyclists are also a good shout although there will always be the suspicion that at least 1 of our medal winners were actually using banned substances.

I suppose we will never know unless Richard Freeman decides to expose the guilty rider. It wouldn't surprise me if quite a few of them were at it.

But as it stands at the moment they are all heroes

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:18 pm**

Wiggins for me.

Proper maverick

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:28 pm**

Francis Drake.

Decent Bowls player, gave the Spanish a lesson in gunnery and sailed round the world.

Posted: **Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:53 pm**

Stirling Moss

Because when I was young anyone who was quick at anything was asked, "Who do you think you are - Stirling Moss?"

Can't think of that being said about many - Stanley Mathew's perhaps, who played until he was 50 years old.

Posted: **Sat Jul 06, 2024 11:54 pm**

There are a lot of names cropping up that never won anything. Surely to be Britains GOAT you have to have been a world or Olympic Champion, with a sustained career?

Posted: **Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:51 am**

Anonymous Claret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:44 pm
The way I understand it is that to be Britain's greatest ever sportsman, the vast majority of the population should have the opportunity to compete and become the best in that sport.

The vast majority of the population does not have the opportunity to become a F1 driver or an Olympic Yachtsman.

And every single person does have that opportunity. They just have to go for it and take it, work hard at it, push yourself. It’s not a class thing.
But of course there are naturally talented people at their sports, and they excel.
Just has there are many many more who are handed the opportunity, and pushed by rich parents into something they are absolutely useless at.

Posted: **Sun Jul 07, 2024 8:34 am**

Sir Stephen Redgrave.
FIVE GOLD MEDALS IN FIVE CONSECUTIVE OLYMPICS!
Absolutely incredible achievement!!

Posted: **Sun Jul 07, 2024 9:06 am**

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑
Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:51 am
And every single person does have that opportunity. They just have to go for it and take it, work hard at it, push yourself. It’s not a class thing.

Couldn't be more wrong mate

Theres a reason children from poor backgrounds fall into football and boxing and not F1 and sailing

Posted: **Sun Jul 07, 2024 9:23 am**

aclaretinstevenage wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:18 pm
Add Jason and Laura Kenny and you have it I reckon.

Your probably right.

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