re: What athlete was far & away the best to ever play their position ?

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What athlete was far & away the best to ever play their position ?

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If “sprinter” is considered a position and you take into consideration the level of competition, it has to be Usain Bolt.

I would argue that the 100 m. dash is the most competitive athletic competition there is because running fast is central to so many games and sports that it’s nearly impossible for someone with a talent for it to go unnoticed. We all remember the fastest kid in the class or neighborhood growing up. A kid with the natural ability to mature into a sub 10.00 sprinter is going to be noticed somewhere.

But how many tall, lean athletes with a similar build to Phelps even think about competitive swimming (or even have convenient access to an Olympic-sized pool and good coaching)? Probably mostly the ones in urban areas who couldn’t hack it in football or basketball where there’s a hell of a lot more exposure and opportunity for a star athlete. And how many people around the world go a lifetime and never touch a hockey stick or put on a pair of ice skates like Gretzky?

If you took all the people in the world within five years of age of every great athlete listed on this thread (in their prime) and pushed all those people into their sport or position with equal resources, I think Bolt would have the best chance to remain on top of his sport.