I say Torres, because of her age, she can inspire 35+ years old people to get serious about actively pursuing goals and records. (or just keep in shape)
Well, the thing with him is that after what he have done, what is his motive anymore? He holds now all kind of historical medal collecting records, so having a few more medals really doesn't do much. Once you are on the top or have been there for long, you can lose motivation quickly, at least I do...
Next Olympics Phelps will be an inspiration. Not to say being the greatest Olympian ever isn't Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I'd say Jim Thorpe was. Considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon, played American football collegiately and professionally, and also played professional baseball and basketball. Thorpe was of mixed Native American and white ancestry. He was raised as a Sac and Fox, and named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as "Bright Path". He struggled with racism throughout much of his life and his accomplishments were publicized with headlines describing him as a "Redskin" and "Indian athlete." He also played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.
no, I'm not going by count. But if you are stripped of your medals, how can you be considered an olympic medal winner? And Thorpe was a GREAT athlete and his medal loss was wrong. Shouldn't have happened. I wonder if they have been given back to him posthumously.
Sounds like my kind of sportsman - I always admired Daley Thompson - British Decathlete from the 80's. At his peak he was (and AFAIK still is) the only international athlete of any discipline to hold every title and every record that it was possible for him to hold similtaneously - i.e simultaneous holder of olympic title and record, world title and record, european title and record, commonwealth title and record, and national title and record - in the quintessential olympic event no less - the Decathlon. He was also a hair's breadth from being a world class sprinter in his own right and also had several international medals for the 4x100m relay - including an olympic bronze. After he retired from international athletics he became a professional footballer. If you are looking for a shortlister for the greatest all-rounder of all time, you'd have trouble arguing against him.
No matter, I'll still consider him the greatest of them all for all that he accomplished at the Olympics when he was there. Perhaps one day they will re-institute his medals but he did win them fair and square when he participated in the games.
In October 1982, the IOC Executive Committee approved Thorpe's reinstatement.In an unusual ruling, however, they declared that Thorpe was now co-champion with Bie and Wieslander, even though both athletes had always said they considered Thorpe to be the only champion. In a ceremony on January 18, 1983, two of Thorpe's children, Gale and Bill, were presented with commemorative medals;the original medals had both ended up in museums but were stolen and are still missing. Yep, he got them back after he died. Thorpe is a very good contender for best athlete, but I'm not sure about Olympian. But yeah, I'd consider him.
Agreed, and that advert with him in it cracks me up, the kid doing front crawl, turns to camera, and he has the 'tache! Priceless!
Thank you Oleander and synthesizer-Patel for setting the record straight. I never knew that he did get them back. Glad to see that he did but to bad it was after he died. He never knew he did, very regretful I'd think.
