Famous English Athletes

Graham Hill?

Originally posted by Red Night
Babe Ruth

Do you mean most well known athlete or do you mean best?

I would think Beckham is the most well known simply for footballs world wide appeal and his wife. Though I would not rate him as the best.

I also think that best is very difficult because different disciplines need different attributes - but my list would include
Nick Faldo - he was No1 in gold for quite a while
Steve Redgrave - longevity of sporting excellence 2nd to none.
Johnny Wilkinson - had to throw a rugby player in

And if you are just looking at athletics
Daley Thompson
Cram/Coe/Ovett

All of whom have been said before - I will give it more thought but I think we need to be clear on the definition!

Originally posted by Mat Kelley

I would think Beckham is the most well known simply for footballs world wide appeal and his wife.

Originally posted by darvlay
Sebastien Coe?

Originally posted by Freddie2006
GTFO.

Originally posted by Mat Kelley
Do you mean most well known athlete or do you mean best?

I would think Beckham is the most well known simply for footballs world wide appeal and his wife. Though I would not rate him as the best.

I also think that best is very difficult because different disciplines need different attributes - but my list would include
Nick Faldo - he was No1 in go ...[text shortened]... een said before - I will give it more thought but I think we need to be clear on the definition!

Originally posted by Red Night
Most famous.

Right now I have the list as:

1. Roger Bannister
2. David Beckham
3. Daly Thompson
4. Graham Hill
5. Bobby Moore (He was in a Sylvester Stallone movie.)
5. Stanley Matthews
5. Nick Faldo

Three way tie for fifth.

So, I think we can say that Roger Bannister is the english Babe Ruth and David Beckham is the english Michael Jordan.

Originally posted by Palynka
Go to China and ask them about Roger Bannister. Heck, go to Spain or Italy. The vast majority of the people won't know who he is.

Originally posted by Red Night
Who?

W.G. Grace

Steve Bloomer

One upper class hero, one working class hero. Both adored by the fans of those sports at the time, only one remembered as the media of the day focused on that sport, not the other.

Same happens today.

Originally posted by rhb
Who what? You mean you recognise none of the names I posted? FFS.

"Someone".

I ought to smack you in the mouth for disrespecting me like that.

Originally posted by darvlay
"Someone".

I ought to smack you in the mouth for disrespecting me like that.

Originally posted by Red Night
Once someone said Sebastian Coe, I knew that you were talking about the "miler"

The rest I never heard of.