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I think I need to be more positive this morning, so here’s an alternative thread to the one I started last night.
Choose one (if possible; two or three if necessary) and give reasons.
In fact, let’s give it some colour and provide a picture of them alongside the nomination.
Ken Dryden, goalie for the Montreal Canadiens back in the 1970s. He not only led his team to the championship a number of times, he also represented his country against the USSR, all while completing his law degree at McGill University (which is Canada’s equivalent to Oxford or Cambridge). He retired at the right time, and then went about trying to reform his province’s education system before running for office. He became the one politician that people didn’t hate, and never got tainted with scandal.
There used to be a thread like this with more photos and fewer words...
Ruben Lenten. One of the worlds greatest kitesurfers, crazy but never big-headed, came through lung cancer recently and currently recovering from a really bad ankle fracture, always positive no matter what bad things come his way.
Jess Ennis
Cav - always praises his teammates when he wins. Heart on sleeve when things go wrong.
Virat Kohli - elegance personified, told off his own fans for booing the opposition. Walked the other day when he wasn’t even out.
Glen Plake.
Because he’s a legend.
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Eliud Kipchoge, Outstanding runner, very humble and puts a lot back into the sport back home.
Emelie Forsberg, runs for the love of running and also happens to be an excellent mountain runner/racer (also ski racer) and has a great outlook on life.
Graeme Obree. Did it his way and was/still is bonkers in a good way !
Valentino Rossi - a ferocious, wily competitor, but also charismatic, has a sense of humour, and still up the sharp end at the age of forty. Top man.
IMO, there is a mythology in sport that you have to be a ruthless **** to succeed, I don't believe that is actually the case, but because it is so widely believed then many talented youths are trained for that behaviour, and many more talented youths get forced out for not showing those traits.
So you often get more interesting personalities and generally nicer people in niche sports such as climbing and ultra running. Mountain biking is kind of on the cusp between the two camps at the moment.
2 Names I will throw in the hat who I always find friendly, helpful to others in their sports and unassuming whenever I hear them interviewed.
Tracy Moseley
Alex Honnold
LeBron James
He's a supremely gifted athlete with natural talent, and an extremely high basketball intelligence. But he also works very hard and sets a good example in that way.
He does a lot for charities, he created a school for at risk students in the area where he grew up.
Federer, because he funds a lot of early education projects in southern Africa, particularly for the San bushmen of the Kalahari. Much needed and well-placed money.
Shaun Palmer. World class athlete in multiple sports despite all the drink / drugs and generally poor lifestyle and career choices.
David pocock mainly for his calling out of homophobia on the rugby pitch.
Ferocious on water, a laid back lad off..
Nick Diaz 🥊
Ricky burns. Despite being one of only 3 British three weight world champions he comes across as a really down to earth bloke. Use to work in sports direct whilst a boxing world champ I believe!
His boxing achievements on paper may slightly flatter his actual ability, however he has always come across as a top fella who you can't help but root for.
David pocock mainly for his calling out of homophobia on the rugby pitch.
Good shout that!
Mark Webber - met him at Le Mans (in fact literally bumped into him on the pit wall as we hopped on and off at the same time when I was marshalling the pits). Nice chap, good driver and general all round sporty person.
Sam Hill.
7 world titles in 2 disciplines is no mean feat. But done with real grace, good sportsmanship and a quiet but ruthless manner. Factor in just about every race he'll deliver a "what the hell just happened" moment of genius, plus of course seems a great family man too.
When we met him at Fort Bill a couple of years back, he really was just the same in real life. Quiet but very, very sharp with a real wry sense of humour.
This video really sums it up I reckon:
Greg Minnaar for most of the reasons above.
Nice bloke (I think ), very professional and focussed on track yet seems pretty down to earth outside racing.
Robert Millar probaby due to the fact he was both a great cyclist and a dour git a common trait up here in Scotland. We all know now why he was a tad grumpy but lots of women can be like that and before anyone says it I dont fancy him ok
Andy Murray he's dour sometimes and wears his heart on his sleeve oh i forgot he's Scottish too but I also grew to like Jenson Button seems like a good guy
Most of them as there's only one or two I don't like.
But over the years I have had several obsessive fascinations with a few which I guess must mean I like them....
Currently Lael Wilcox, a machine and seems to be eternally happy and smiling.
Lance Armstrong, just for his professionalism (by that I mean his determination and attention to detail) and for his racing style.
Mike Tyson, just because he beat most guys before they even got into the ring. He was the only heavyweight I know who was genuinely feared by his opponents.
I'm a (ahem - late...) middle-aged man who dislikes football mainly because of what I think of as "prima-Donna" footballers' behaviour and comportement.
Having seen three of them interviewed, I've changed my view of at least these three, so I'm going to say Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, who come across as sensible, thinking people in a sport where I still think it's probably difficult to choose to be that way...
Nice bloke, never took himself too seriously, cracking skier, never gave up.
Sadio Mane - school builder in is home town.
Bruce Anstey.
Modest, quiet, unbelievably brave and talented, pretty much universally loved.
Currently telling cancer to **** off for the second time.
A brave, brave man and an incredibly decent human being.
Roy Lee. My late father in law.
Took up running in his 40's for Middleton Harriers, a well loved and respected fixture on the fell running scene for a further 40 years.
Ran his last race a few weeks before he died of stomach cancer.
Carved out of teak, a gentleman of the old school and again, a wonderful person.
Jade Jones (TKD)
Lots of sports people, especially ones who are looking for a post-sport career get coached to give the impression they're not that competitive and how they just want everyone to do their best and have fun when they're on TV / Radio.
I first learned this wasn't the case with her when she went on 'The Jump' a few years ago, the usual line-up of Chelsea and TOWIE 'stars' were talking about hoping everyone would be okay... blah blah blah. Jade smiled and said was not only wanted to beat everyone, she wanted to metaphorically batter them all in the process.
She seems a perfectly nice person day-to-day, but given the chance to compete, she wants to destroy everything and everyone. I love that.
Troy Bayliss
Robbie Naish
And Sally Gunnell ... becuase she was the only person to stop and try and help me after I broke my shoulder at Steyning .... 🙂
I suppose I'd better include as an antithesis to what I put on the 'don't like'.. seems like a nice fella, and more than any other rugby player, seems like if he's in the team, they'll more likely win than lose - Beauden Barrett.
Unfortunately, there's no English player I feel similarly about! Oh except that lad in the v Barbarians squad - Alex Dombrandt... gonna be a massive star.
Chris Akabusi.
Orrwiiiiiiiight!
Oh, and Yoann Barelli. Funny, utter nutcase, and a huge talent.
Jill Homer. She's achieved a lot, overcome a lot and writes about it with inspiring grace and humanity. And another vote for Lael Wilcox, a remarkable athlete who's little known to the general public and utterly indifferent to the fact.
I will also vote for jade jones. She was having a late drink with what looked like family and coaches the night before a Grand Prix eventi a local non flashy hotel. My daughter and I butted in to say good luck and she stopped her conversation to talk to us for a few minutes - my daughter was so happy
Rodney Mullen - quietly invented 90% of skateboarding and is just a humble guy who never got any credit in the mainstream. Fair play to Tony Hawk for basically saying so in his biography.
Daewon Song - For expanding on what Rodney did.
Chris Akrigg - For being that good on a bike.
I don't follow a lot of football, but having met Micah Richards on a photoshoot (and after someone explained to me who he was), he was a very nice chap. Looked slightly embarrassed to turn up to the shoot in (I think) his brother's Golf GTi, even more so when he had to admit he was in that because his Bentley was in for repairs. Nice fella.
Mo Farah
Debbie Martin Consani
Joss Naylor
Allan Wells
Michael Johnson
Sally Gunnell
Ooo, tell you what - Peter Crouch, after discovering That Peter Crouch Podcast, he seems a really nice chsp. 🙂
There’s a lot, but I can’t see anyone having anything but nice things to say about Laura Trott/Kenny, or Jason for that matter.
Frank Bruno. Met him inadvertantly one lunch time many many years ago. Was in our usual sarnie shop and he came in behind us. Was a genuinly nice guy and had a chat with the few of us in the shop.
Cycling wise, Chris Hoy seems like a sound but competitive guy.
Daley Thompson.
Also whenever akabusi is mentioned :
"whispered "Awooga" in her ear and patted her on the fanny"
THAT ^^^ is a fantastic picture. 🙂
I'm with Ovett. "The Decathlon is 9 mickey mouse events and the 1500 metres"
Anyway to choose 3:
Ovett as he epitomised running for me, multiple world record holder and destroyed some of the best milers in the world at the top of their game and was still able to perform at the highest level on the road and cross country, while waving to the crowd, spontaneous with awesome speed, a self described fun runner.
Seb Coe for making the 80's great for young runners like me, being the only man to retain the Olympic 1500 metre title and for running 1:41 for 800 when it looked physically impossible. His battles with Ovett were some of my favourite memories and the battles between then created a golden age for british runners when you be the fastest in the world bu not the best in the UK.
Possibly my favourite athlete however, and the greatest athlete of the 20th C. Emil Zatopek. The only man to win 3 golds at 5000, 10000 and the Marathon at the same Olympics, a feat that will never be bettered. A pioneering runner who was a gentlemen and a hero in the true sense. If you ever want to read about a real athlete read about Zatopek.
Lots of athletes I like; but to keep it topical in a cycling forum:
Peter Sagan. Because besides being a once in a generation cycling superstar - he does it with a smile of someone enjoying themselves and not taking things too seriously.
Chris Froome. An unassuming guy who gets stick because he puts more effort into racing than PR exercises.
Yates brothers. Come across as two down to earth guys doing it for results not money ..
I recently bumped into Danny MacAskill in Glencoe when he was filming for his new Adidas video. We had a brief chat. He seems like a genuinely nice guy.
Scotty Cranmer. Unbelievable talent on a bmx until a huge crash nearly paralysed him. His drive to recover and his all round modesty is a lesson for everyone.
Debbie Martin Consani
Take it you met her at the weekend Nobeer?
2nd Joss Naylor - Highlight of my running career getting a handshake from him as 3rd v40 in the Teenager with Altitude!
In a similar vein - Finlay Wild definitely someone who does it for the love of it rather than reward or recognition.
+3 iron Joss for being so bloody hard!
Nicky spinks nails also. Billy Bland for holding the Bob Graham for so long (broken last year) too
I'm fascinated by top level fell running, ever since being sat on top of sca fell pike with my mates as a teenager, it was pissing it down, pea souper.
Some nutcase fell runner comes hammering very fast past us wearing only a pair of fluro short short running shorts and his fell shoes. He was also covered in blood. We were all astounded!
I'm no bloody good at it myself whatsoever, mind. Need to lose weight!
Peter Sagan. Because besides being a once in a generation cycling superstar – he does it with a smile of someone enjoying themselves and not taking things too seriously.
Chris Froome. An unassuming guy who gets stick because he puts more effort into racing than PR exercises.
Yates brothers. Come across as two down to earth guys doing it for results not money ..
I completely agree with all three of your choices, and your reasons, mooman.
Nick Craig is probably someone we could all agree on.
Just in MTB - T-Mo, Manon for their attitudes (and getting involved in advocacy). Hill & Pierron for their riding. And does anyone not like Bryceland?
Doug Scott. Went to see him lecture whilst living in NZ. Inspired me off climbing around the world for 10 years.
41 Times world champion ... never heard of him?
Mellow and wicked sense of humour, fearless on the water..
Bjorn Dunkerbeck.
I met Joss Naylor the weekend before last when I completed my Joss Naylor Challenge. I was ruined but it was a delight to talk to a legend of fellrunning. He must see dozens of people over the year completing the JNC but he made you feel special.
Alex Dowsett always comes across as a decent guy who does loads to help kids with haemophilia.
Nick Craig is just an ace guy. Full stop.
Rachel Atherton seems to be a good mix of talented and grounded.
Larry Kahn.
Never heard of him?
Fearless.
Glad other people have said Graeme Obree, so I'll say
Chris Boardman
Awesome competitor with respect for his challengers, and now completely focused on making life better for everyday people on foot and on bikes. to quote the foo fighters 'there goes my hero, he's ordinary'
I am crap with names/faces but all the members of the British whitewater slalom team I have come across have been lovely, friendly people. Well aside from when a couple ran the legacy course and accidentally demonstrated just how little talent I have.