Who do you think is the greatest athlete of all times : Carl Lewis or Jesse Owens?

Question

I can only think of these two guys when its comes to talking about being the GREATEST ever.

Carl Lewis was the one who being close to my generation of people and I wasn't there to witness Owens

When you talk about being greatest, its not just smashing world records but being good over a period of time

Mike Powell for example made a mark by smashing the WR for long jump but nobody has heard of him as much as Carl Lewis .

Its a tough pick, I'll go for Carl Lewis

Answer 1

If we're just talking athletics here (track and field), why does it always have to be a sprinter?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paavo_Nurmi



Paavo Nurmi, the Flying Finn, competed in 3 Olympics, winning 9 gold and 3 silver medals and breaking numerous world records, competing in conditions that would never be allowed today (such as less than a half hour between the 1500m and 5000m races).



His career spanned a decade, he won as many gold medals as Carl Lewis (they're tied for second with Spitz, behind Phelps), and was an icon of the sport of middle distance running in his day. All of this, 80 years ago in the days before sport and science were joined at the hip the way they are now.





Although I do have to agree with Murphy, anybody who p1ssed off Hitler was pretty cool.

Answer 2

They were both tremendous athletes, but usually when I think of the best ever I think of Michael Jordan(most dominant at a sport there's ever been imo) or the other MJ, Michael Johnson(his 200 and 400 were simply amazing and no one was even close).



Athletics is basically any sport btw...I think you meant track and field? Anyway you may disagree with Michael Jordan but as far as team sports go I think he is king.



If we go by individual sports, isn't it kind of tough to say only carl lewis or jesse owens? Because these guys were sprinters and jumpers, what about the other areas? We could put Roger Bannister in the same sentance as those guys, just in the 1600m distance category. Or if we're talking about fighting we could say Bruce Lee. Football Walter Payton. Swimming Michael Phelps. And there are lots of Kenyans who run something like 3 hours a day and just DEMOLISH in the distance events...



So you see it's really unfair to call anyone the best ever with all the different categories. Even if we try and say who is the best sprinter ever that's tough because we have new tracks now, better nutrition, better shoes....I think all we can do is look back and see who really had the determination, the spirit, and the class to dominate in their respective field.



PS. I think this video applies to your question. It was made by ESPN to celebrate the turn of the century...it shows all of the great moments in sports:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQwkO3Rxr4

Answer 3

Neither one! Not saying that they weren't great, but the greatest ; that's a stretch. I'd say maybe Jim Thorpe ; won both the Olympic decathlon & pentathlon , played semi-professional baseball, and pro football.

If you want to stick with running, how 'bout Edwin Moses who won 122

consecutive 400 M world class hurdle races (undefeated !) between 1977 - 1987.

And again, talking about being great over a period of time,

Al Oerter, Olympic gold : 1956,1960,1964 & 1968 (and just missed qualifying for the 1972 games )

Kid, do some sports research before you come up with statements like this.

Answer 4

i might say Jessie Owens. I visited the Jesse Owens museum this previous summer season in Oakville, AL. right close to Moulton, AL. I continuously heard tale's approximately him from previous timers yet this became into the 1st time I considered him. that they had a prior action picture from the 1936 olympics. He became into an incredible runner and gained 4 Gold medals He ran so easily it became into outstanding to confirm. I undergo in innovations seeing Carl Lewis and something yet when I considered that video pictures I say Jesse Owens.

Answer 5

Jim Thorpe, could do it all. The athlete of athletes.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe

Answer 6

Jesse Owens he didnt only stand up to hitler he was a kick as* runner

Answer 7

Jesse Owens. He pi$$ed off Hitler.