There is potentially in an interesting debate here about what constitutes a sport, what equipment is used and who / what is making the effort. So, for example, I would find it very hard to compare Ronnie O'Sullivan to,say, Mo Farah. One is sauntering around a snooker table, albeit with consummate skill, while the other is busting his lungs in super-human effort. As a life long jogger, I used to turn my nose down at cyclists since they had the mechanical help of a bike. However, as a jogger now turning to cycling due to knees wearing out, I am astounded at the effort to climb even a small hill let alone the Alps at speeds that most of us can't run at. I think there is a different between skill sports - snooker and perhaps even F1 - and those where the human is making the enormous effort and ends up breathless, sweating and near collapse at the end. What do others think?
If you think F1 isn’t a physical sport take another look. The drivers are amongst the fittest sportsmen around, just coping with the G forces would be too much for most of us, let alone managing a car at speed at the same time. During a race (which tend to be in high summer temperatures) drivers lose an average of 4kg and 3 litres of fluid. They get out of the car with a hangover.
Very true. I think that Chris Froome would normally be up with the gods of cycling after winning 4 Tour de France and would almost certainly have had five in a row but for crashing out yet he has never had any real warmth from the British public, probably due to it's bad image with drugs etc. O'Sullivan is an absolute genius with a cue in either hand but it's not a proper physical sport other than being on your feet for hours on end. Where do you draw the line?...
I am not sure I really agree with that but then I concede that used to think that about cyclists and, not surprisingly, I've never drive an F1 car so perhaps it is unfair for me to comment.
Andy Murray Britain's Greatest Sportsman? I don't even think he's Scotland's No.1. People have short memories ... please log in to view this image
To put it in terms that you might find it harder to disagree with - an F1 driver will typically experience peak forces at 6.5G. Astronauts normally experience a maximum g-force of around 3gs during a rocket launch. You don't need to be a rocket scientist, doctor or sports scientist to understand that F1 drivers need to be very fit...
It's not a sport I've ever had any great love for but the fitness of those involved is amazing. Didn't racing drivers regularly do really well on superstars when it actually meant something - sort of?!
James Hunt was probably too busy quaffing champagne, smoking cigars and shagging birds to be counted as truly fit , but seem to remember Barry Sheen on Superstars?
Very easy to dismiss any sport in the U.K. as being not worthy... it’s part of the takeaway culture Generally we embrace U.K. sport as and when we see fit and generally UK sport is right up there currently. Right now many sacrifices are taking place by sports stars in pursuit of U.K. success Credit to them all away from the forthcoming corporate alignment marriages and sick media pressure that will soon come their way. Future stars setting off in their pursuit of fame where more times than most they will face ridicule from the public hunger ... their prize will be that their surnames will become extended nicknames Tufnell becomes Tuffers etc it’s the English way
It's the difference between an athlete and a sportsperson. Being fit is necessary for being an F1 driver but being fitter than they rest of the field doesn't automatically make them better. A good F1 driver is such because of their coordination, reflexes and judgement at high speeds. I have no problem calling anything a sport if it has a degree of physical skill, ability or coordination involved that even an average person could potentially do but a superior player could do better. Darts and snooker are sports, chess is a game. Athletes are a bit different - pushing the human body to it's limit. The racing element involves some skill. You could argue against time trials being Sports since they are hugely impressive endurance feats without skill. They all count for me. I'd say boxing would be the most impressive combination of skill, physique and psychology but I'd put the greatest category as those that push their sport forward. Daley Thompson, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Phil Taylor probably count for me.
Sir Lester Piggott (I know he was stripped of his knighthood but will remain a Knight of the realm to my old fella)
Just don't get F1.....an elitist sport if you're the son of a millionaire or I think the last two recruits were sons of billionaires. I remember every Tuesday afternoon at school being taken to the go kart circuit for practice!!!!!!!! lol...….I did enjoy it up to the 90s when the drivers were well paid because they could be killed at any time and the races were proper races. its all technical now and overtaking in the pits but I do understand if you have the bug then its hard to resist. Now, touring cars that's entertaining.....I would put Murray up there but has to be Ali.
