Britain's greatest ever sportsman/woman

[N'ZMAV]

After seeing Murray win Wimbledon again it lead me to think who people class as Britain's greatest ever sportsman/woman.

[PeterWithesShin]

C. B. Fry

[Exeter 77]

C. B. Fry

I was going to say after C B Fry it would Daley Thompson.

[Risso]

Andy Murray is a marvellous sportsman.  In an era with two players as good as Federer and Djokovic, to have three Grand Slam titles is very good indeed.  Other people worth a shout would be:
Seb Coe
Steve Redgrave
Mark Cavendish.

[four fornicholl]

Peter Withe

[paul_e]

Sticking to the current sportsmen Lewis Hamilton has to be in with a shout, as do Alistair Cook, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.

Greg Rutherford is worthy of discussion, to hold european, commonwealth, world and olympic titles as well as the diamond league is a pretty spectacular dominance of an event over a long period.

As an individual player Martin Johnson wasn't good enough to warrant a place but as a captain he has to worth a mention and from the same side Johnny Wilkinson has to be on the list.

Going forward I think there are a few youngsters in various sports who will additions to this in a few years time, Anthony Joshua, Adam Peaty, Joe Root, Anthony Watson and Maro Itoje all have the world at their feet right now and can be as good as they want to be.

[KevinGage]

Botham, Johnny Wilkinson or Gary Penrice.

[curiousorange]

There are loads you could make a case for. Gareth Edwards, Kevin Sinfield, Graham Hill, Phil Taylor, Paula Radcliffe, Steve Davis...in their own way and in their own field, dozens meet the criteria. Murray is certainly up there, no question. Tennis players are incredibly fit and have to perform at that level for three hours plus on a regular basis. To get three Slams in this era is no mean feat.

[wittonwarrior]

People automatically ignore his brother Jamie who is the world's no 1 double's player.

And dont forget the likes of Chester Barnes, Tom Daley, George Best, Botham (cricket only), Virginia Wade

[PeterWithesShin]

There are loads you can make a case for based on their ability in one sport, but it's why Fry strolls it for me. Played in an FA Cup final and for England in football, played for the Barbarians in rugby, scored a test century for England in cricket, held the world record for long jump and was also an accomplished sprinter, hurdler, javelin chucker, ice skater and golfer.

[Louzie0]

Jessica Ennis-Hill has to be in with a shout.
She's still going, though!

Ben Ainslie has won everything going in sailing and is current. (Sorry)

I always loved Jonathan Edwards, what more could you ask?
Likewise, Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins.

Jane Sixsmith. 4 Olympics. Not bad!

Depends what your definition is, because Ian Botham certainly fits the bill as well as Virginia Wade. As for the gymnasts...Beth Tweddle, Louis Smith in a sport GB doesn't usually dominate.

Torvill and Dean, of course.
Tanni Grey-Thompson.

And I haven't even started on the horses.

[thick_mike]

George Best?

[paul_e]

Different era though, no one could replicate that now because the level of dedication required to get chance to do those things makes it impossible.  If you want cross discipline then Vicky Pendleton has to come into the discussion, ridiculously good cycling career and now moving into a career as a jockey, still very early on but she's got a professional win under her belt a few weeks back so worth watching.

However my personal criteria is someone who has dominated a sport over of a period of years, that's why Greg Rutherford should be much higher profile than he is.  he's won 5 of the last 6 majors over 4 years with the blip being when he was only half fit and probably should've withdrawn from the event.  The dedication required for that is incredible and deserves recognition.  If he retains the olympic title he will be on a par with Jonathan Edwards for me as the best field athletes the UK has ever produced.  The one thing Rutherford is missing is a jump that is genuinely pushing the world record but I honestly believe that world record is the safest in athletics, it's a 25 year old record that replaced a 23 year old record and no one has got with 20cm of it since.

[wittonwarrior]

would you put the likes of Lewis  Hamilton in there?  I am no lover of F1 but it takes a special  talent and nerve.

Leonard  Lewis  in Boxing?   

Will Carling in Rugby Union or Martin Ofiah  in League? 

[thick_mike]

It's a bit chastening to think about this and realise how few truly great sportspeople we have produced from this country...similar to being American and trying to come up with a list of great American rock bands...