This may have been done before (possibly even by me), but Andy Murray's tearful pre-retirement interview has reignited a debate about Britain's greatest sportsman. Murray certainly has a good claim, but who would you go for? Of my era, I think I might go with Nick Faldo. Historically, CB Fry.
Their are a few stroller, Bobby charlton/Moore great players & ambassadors in there sport, at present Hamilton as no one can touch him, Phil Taylor darts, Ronnie O’Sullivan a magician on the table, Steve Redgrave or seb Coe
Like him or loathe him, Faldo was as tough as nails. That was one of his major strengths. The battles with Greg Norman on and off the field were enormous. If l remember correctly, Faldo and Norman were speeding in their 'Ferrari's' or alike cars, on the way to a tournament somewhere in Britain. Norman was leading, going all out along some back country roads. Faldo, not to be beaten, supposedly overtook Norman at ridiculous speed on a road, not suitable for their racing, yet, he was not to be outdone. As the story goes ....................... Norman knew Faldo had his measure from that day onwards, hence the Masters collapse. Faldo, as the story goes, was so tight with his money, his caddie had a large hole in his shoe. Upon seeing his caddie with such a sizeable hole in his shoe, took out his wallet. The caddie thought Faldo was going to buy him a new pair of shoes. Alas, Faldo took the rubber band off his notes of money in his wallet, gave it to the caddie, to help hold his shoe together for the remainder of the round. That's one tight-arrse but one hell of a golfer.
Graham Hill. Raced in a different era, double world champion, only man to win Monaco GP, Le Mans 24 hours, Indy 500, put his life on the line every race, for love of the thrill as the $ was comparatively low. I have a lot of respect for today’s drivers, they are incredibly skilful and it’s still very dangerous, but much safer than it was and they are very well rewarded.
I think you have to factor in that in Federer, Nadal and Djokovic you have three of the greatest ever players all competing in the same era and for Murray to win three Grand Slams, a Davis Cup and Olympic Gold whilst in direct competition with them is a truly outstanding feat. Add to that the incredible levels of skill and fitness to play 4 or 5 hour matches at the end of gruelling tournaments to win those titles and you have to say he must be in contention for best ever. Certainly our greatest ever tennis player. Others worth mentioning in what I would call physical sport are Daley Thompson and Ian Botham. One total all-round sportsman who is virtually unheard of is Max Woosnam but his list of achievements is unreal... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Woosnam
Ben Ainsley.... multiple gold medal winner, world champion and then successful America Cup captain Or Steve Redgrave, who won 5 gold medals and 9 world championship s even when his body was falling apart Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Daley Thompson for me. Remember being eight when he won the 1978 Commonwealth Gold and so began a 10 year adoration..... And like others on here I'm a big rugby fan. Hard to pick just one from those amazing Welsh teams but I'd probably say Gareth Edwards.
Sir Roger Bannister. The speed with which distance runners run is just amazing. Mo Farah runs 10k or more faster than most of us can cycle! Some day we will see a 1:59 marathon but likely an African.
Hamilton for me. Has managed to win 2 World Driver's Championships in an inferior car to the Ferrari, and had the best rookie season F1 has ever seen. Add that to his additional 3 WDCs and perhaps more to come, all achieved with a flair and style which can be breathtaking. Widely considered to be one of the greatest drivers of all time. To have achieved all of that from a working class background in a sport dominated by those who buy their way into the sport or who have the right Dad is all the more amazing in my opinion. [And huge credit to his Dad for giving him and platform and pushing him.] Disliked by many as he has interests outside his sport and isn't a perfect media spokesperson, but if those are the parameters we'd all end up voting for Tim Henman
I just dislike the sport he participates in. Seems a nice enough guy. Think it has to be an individual sport. Probably Ronnie if snooker counts.
Sir A.P.McCoy. Champion Jockey: 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015 Champion Conditional Jockey: 1994/95 Lester Awards: McCoy has been honoured with 20 Lester Awards during his riding career to date, the most of any jockey past or present. Conditional Jockey of the Year: 1995 Jump Jockey of the Year: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Jockey of the Year: 1997 (award discontinued after 1997) Jump Ride of the Year: 2009 (for the winning ride on Wichita Lineman in the William Hill Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival on 10 March 2009), 2012 (for the winning ride on Synchronised in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on 16 March 2012).
