When discussing who is the greatest athlete ever, there will be a lot of different names suggested. There are so many factors that must be considered in this discussion. Was injury a factor? Was the athlete constantly performing at a top level? Were there factors beyond the sport itself that would contribute to the athlete’s excellence? Because this topic is open to a lot of debate, I will share some names and thoughts about those people. I will also provide you with sources so you can consider more names.
When this topic is discussed, Michael Jordan’s name is sure to be mentioned. He led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles. He was the MVP of the league five times. During his playing days, he was considered the best basketball player.
Pele would be another name in the mix. He was a fantastic soccer player for Brazil. His teams won three World Cups, and he scored nearly 1300 goals. Soccer is such a popular sport throughout the world.
Muhammad Ali was a great boxer. He won the heavyweight boxing title three times. He had charisma and charm. His called himself “the greatest.” After his boxing days ended, he was held in very high esteem as he battled Parkinson’s disease. Few would disagree that his name should be in the mix.
Jim Thorpe was an excellent athlete in many sports. He was a great football player who played four positions. He is in both the College and the Pro Football Halls of Fame. He also won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and the decathlon. He was also a good baseball player and a lacrosse player.
There are other names to consider. Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth excelled in baseball. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus were excellent golfers. Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova starred in tennis. Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr were great hockey players. Michael Phelps is known for his 28 Olympic medals in swimming. Cheryl Miller was a star in women's basketball.
It is a tough choice. What do you think?
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