Britain's greatest ever sportsman/woman

[paul_e]

Some good names being offered, but one I haven't seen is Joe Calzaghe.  Retired 45-0, but I guess the one thing that could be labelled at him is the standard of opponents he fought.  Missed prime era Eubank, Benn, Watson and Collins and fought Hopkins and Roy Jones in the twilight of their respective careers.   

Yeah that's why i didn't name him, he was good but it's hard to know how good because he didn't fight anyone world class whilst they were in their prime.

[taylorsworkrate]

Some good names being offered, but one I haven't seen is Joe Calzaghe.  Retired 45-0, but I guess the one thing that could be labelled at him is the standard of opponents he fought.  Missed prime era Eubank, Benn, Watson and Collins and fought Hopkins and Roy Jones in the twilight of their respective careers.   

Yeah that's why i didn't name him, he was good but it's hard to know how good because he didn't fight anyone world class whilst they were in their prime.

Jeff Lacy was world class and in his prime when Calzaghe fought him. Calzaghe destroyed him

[tomd2103]

Some good names being offered, but one I haven't seen is Joe Calzaghe.  Retired 45-0, but I guess the one thing that could be labelled at him is the standard of opponents he fought.  Missed prime era Eubank, Benn, Watson and Collins and fought Hopkins and Roy Jones in the twilight of their respective careers.   

Yeah that's why i didn't name him, he was good but it's hard to know how good because he didn't fight anyone world class whilst they were in their prime.

Jeff Lacy was world class and in his prime when Calzaghe fought him. Calzaghe destroyed him

That was probably his career defining fight and Lacy was the clear favourite going into it.  I would also say that he fought Kessler at his peak who was also a good fighter.  I was a big fan of Calzaghe though and he was a terrific boxer, but I've heard him even admit that he considered pulling out of the fight with Lacy and basically had to be talked into it.  I think that reluctance to fight the very best (even though there weren't too many stellar names around in that division at the time) counts against him really.  Carl Froch deserves a nod, as he fought everyone in the division pretty much back-to-back and mostly away from home. 

[Risso]

No to Botham. If he was that good, England wouldn't have lost virtually any match they played against the West Indies.

Yeah, but we are talking the West Indies pace attack here. They were got me into watching cricket, such awesome. poetic brutality.

My sister worked in a shoe shop in Northampton when she was a teenager in the late 80s, and Curtly Ambrose went in one day.  He had something like size 15 feet, so was told they couldn't help him.

[dcdavecollett]

If overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles on your way to the top fits as one of the criteria, then Basil D'Oliveira's yer man!

[taylorsworkrate]

As Froome is on his way towards his 3rd Tour De France, then he has to enter the equation

[Louzie0]

I'd like to nominate Linford Christie.

He was so exciting to watch and won *that* race against Carl Lewis, then the fastest man in the world, at Gateshead in 1993.

I remember it because I was sharing a house with an American teacher, at the time. We were on the sofa, yelling, 'Christie!', 'USA, USA!', eating crisps and downing lager throughout the lead up to the race.
When Christie won, the crisps went everywhere!

I can't remember getting that excited about a sprinter until Usain Bolt, quite frankly.

[Gareth]

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

No, f1 is far too much about the car, that Mercedes is more the star than the driver & a dozen of them would be in the top two if they drove it

[RunRickyRun]

I'd place Max Woosnam and Lottie Dod comfortably ahead of CB Fry.

Sarah Storey is my personal shout.

[thick_mike]

In a niche sport admittedly...Ben Ainslie?

[tomd2103]

In a niche sport admittedly...Ben Ainslie?

Worth a shout.

[peter w]

CB Fry was born about 5 mins away from where I live. Blue plaque an everyfin.

[lovejoy]

The answer is Matthew Pinsent.

[cdbearsfan]

I'd need some convincing that Pinsent is better than Redgrave... though I don't claim to be any expert on rowing.

[luke95]

Mark Cavendish
Chris Froome