Who is the UK's Greatest ever Sportsman / Woman?

[webpunter]

Q - Who was the last 16 stone man to ride a Derby winner? 

A - Lester Piggott's cellmate 

   Giddy Up
I hope Lester had some nodders
Trying to work out if he was riding in the Durex Handicap
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D & C are quality 

[Blackpool Rock]

  Giddy Up
I hope Lester had some nodders
Trying to work out if he was riding in the Durex Handicap
External Link/Members Only
D & C are quality 

I 1st remember hearing that at school when some lad brought a D&C tape in and played it to the class during break time 

[jackdaw]

As much I love Ronnie O’Sullivan the fact that Snooker is not a truly Global Sport counts against him. For me he is the most talented at his chosen sport.

It has to be a real global sport so that leaves Football, Golf, Tennis, Athletics, Boxing, Motorsport and an Olympian from a minor global Sport.

So for me it was one of:

Bobby Charlton
Nick Faldo
Andy Murray
Daley Thompson
Lennox Lewis
Lewis Hamilton
Chris Hoy

I think on your own criteria I’d add Seb Coe to the list…2 gold medals in maybe the most prestigious running event. Running attracts far more competitors world wide than tennis or Grand Prix racing.

And on aesthetic grounds I think Seb had something memorable…a startling change of pace, and at times when on top form he seemed to float over the ground. It seemed to be magical effortless (obviously an illusion) and graceful…thoughts that never crossed my mind when I saw Murray (for example) perform.

[berksboy]

As much I love Ronnie O’Sullivan the fact that Snooker is not a truly Global Sport counts against him. For me he is the most talented at his chosen sport.

It has to be a real global sport so that leaves Football, Golf, Tennis, Athletics, Boxing, Motorsport and an Olympian from a minor global Sport.

So for me it was one of:

Bobby Charlton
Nick Faldo
Andy Murray
Daley Thompson
Lennox Lewis
Lewis Hamilton
Chris Hoy

Daley Thompson (who i had forgot about  ) and Lennox Lewis are great picks.But a golfer, car driver and a good but not great tennis player ?

[chrishornx]

Barry McGuigan - only Irish winner of sports personality of the year

Mary Peters?

[Denhamhoop]

For me surely the criterion must be are they best in the world at what they do
I would say Adam Peaty must be worth a shout but for me Daley Thompson still the only British  Athlete to have been European Commonwealth  World  and Olympic Champion at the same time and the World Record Holder as well

[I like natural boobs]

Sir Jackie Stewart deserves a mention because of his campaigning for safety in motor sport. He saved people's lives and risked his own life driving during an extremely dangerous era to win 3 World championships. These guys were a different breed. They got in those cars and drove at full speed after seeing team mates and people they cared about being killed.

[mr.bluesky]

Sir Jackie Stewart deserves a mention because of his campaigning for safety in motor sport. He saved people's lives and risked his own life driving during an extremely dangerous era to win 3 World championships. These guys were a different breed. They got in those cars and drove at full speed after seeing team mates and people they cared about being killed.

Yeah, I'd have to agree, driver fatalities were almost  a regular occurance back in the 70's .Sir Jackie fought hard to bring about many changes to improve safety in F1. He also went on to run his own team with some success.

[WelshMichael]

Yeah, I'd have to agree, driver fatalities were almost  a regular occurance back in the 70's .Sir Jackie fought hard to bring about many changes to improve safety in F1. He also went on to run his own team with some success.

And from the same era Jim Clark who many consider the greatest F1 driver of all.

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[I like natural boobs]

I've just thought of another who hasn't been mentioned. Triple jumper Jonathan Edwards. Wins include Olympic gold, twice World gold, European gold, European indoor gold, Commonwealth gold and holder of the world record since 1995. He jumped even further than the world record twice but both were above the legal wind limit. To hold a world record for 29 years and counting makes him one of Britain's greatest ever sportspeople in my opinion.

[webpunter]

Algeria's greatest is now that bloke 

[8MillionDollarMan]

I've just thought of another who hasn't been mentioned. Triple jumper Jonathan Edwards. Wins include Olympic gold, twice World gold, European gold, European indoor gold, Commonwealth gold and holder of the world record since 1995. He jumped even further than the world record twice but both were above the legal wind limit. To hold a world record for 29 years and counting makes him one of Britain's greatest ever sportspeople in my opinion.

Good shout his WR jump is the most perfect piece of athletics you'll ever see.

[welshwizard11]

My criteria:

A) Worldwide sport

B) The best at their chosen sport

C) Physical sport with peak in 20s, not likely to win post 35.

Which leaves me with only two answers:

1. Bobby Charlton.
World cup winner
European cup winner
World player of the year 1966
Definitely the greatest english footballer of all time.
And also a terrific and emotional journey to go with it all.

2. Joe Calzaghe.
An undefeated 46-0 super middleweight/light heavyweight two weight world champion who fought most and was avoided by the others.
Great story with his dad as his trainer fighting out of the welsh valleys.
Maybe the fact that he is welsh made him less of an attraction to the press etc or maybe as he was not a heavyweight less interest.

[Jomoore]

Also there’s Max Woosnam

After fighting in WWI on western front and at Gallipoli

- Won Tennis titles at Olympics and Wimbledon
- Captained the Davis Cup team
- Captained Man City and England at football.  City were runners-up that year
- Scored a Century at Lords
- made a 147 break
- was a scratch golfer

According to wiki he once defeated Charlie Chaplin at table tennis playing with a butter knife instead of a bat.

Having enjoyed this thread, which has suggested lots of great sportsmen, it seems to me that Woosnam was in a league of his own, no-one else could ever come close. Happy to endorse him for the title!

[berksboy]

C) Physical sport with peak in 20s, not likely to win post 35.

Yes i know hes not a Brit but Usyk is 37 .

[Ali Katt]

C) Physical sport with peak in 20s, not likely to win post 35.

Yes i know hes not a Brit but Usyk is 37 .

George Foreman was even older when he made a comeback. Tony Hawk did the 900 at 31. Lots of cricketers over 30 and still competing equally against people 10 years younger.

[berksboy]

Yes wa all thought it was a joke when "Big" George come back but he had the last laugh . But how things have change Big George was 6-4 tall and 217lbs when he become world champion and Usyk at 6-3 and 221lbs is considered a small heavyweight.

[chrishornx]

George Foreman was even older when he made a comeback. Tony Hawk did the 900 at 31. Lots of cricketers over 30 and still competing equally against people 10 years younger.

And Tom Watson was 59 when he nearly won the Open

why should age be a consideration?

[chrishornx]

I've just thought of another who hasn't been mentioned. Triple jumper Jonathan Edwards. Wins include Olympic gold, twice World gold, European gold, European indoor gold, Commonwealth gold and holder of the world record since 1995. He jumped even further than the world record twice but both were above the legal wind limit. To hold a world record for 29 years and counting makes him one of Britain's greatest ever sportspeople in my opinion.

record under threat this evening

[Ali Katt]

Yes wa all thought it was a joke when "Big" George come back but he had the last laugh . But how things have change Big George was 6-4 tall and 217lbs when he become world champion and Usyk at 6-3 and 221lbs is considered a small heavyweight.

I don't think boxers have the intimidation factor they used to. What doesn't help is novelty boxers like Ksi.

[syfodas]

Phil Taylor 🎯

[mills_and_bhuna]

And Tom Watson was 59 when he nearly won the Open

why should age be a consideration?

George Foreman didn't need a caddy to carry his gloves around.
Why do you think?
What a brainless take....

[maxQ]

Daley Thompson (who i had forgot about  ) and Lennox Lewis are great picks.But a golfer, car driver and a good but not great tennis player ?

Is F1 a sport, if it is, is Chess a sport ?

[berksboy]

Are they physically hard sports like the decathlon or boxing ? no they are not but F1 driving is physically hard for sure but still depends a lot on how good the car is.

[shaft10]

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Sir Chris Hoy's cancer is terminal, he has 2 to 4 years to live.

Sickened me when I read this, a true legend of sport and remains humble with it. Very sad.

[RandomGuy99]

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Sir Chris Hoy's cancer is terminal, he has 2 to 4 years to live.

Sickened me when I read this, a true legend of sport and remains humble with it. Very sad.

Prostate cancer with secondaries in a number of place.  I wonder if being on a bike saddle for hours and hours had any impact on his prostate?

[mr.bluesky]

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Sir Chris Hoy's cancer is terminal, he has 2 to 4 years to live.

Sickened me when I read this, a true legend of sport and remains humble with it. Very sad.

Yes very sad especially as his wife has also been diagnosed with MS.

[chrishornx]

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Sir Chris Hoy's cancer is terminal, he has 2 to 4 years to live.

Sickened me when I read this, a true legend of sport and remains humble with it. Very sad.

brave guy announcing his news to the world then putting himself on live tv for 3 hours