Which athlete is most impressive?

MinimalistShoeAddict

Which one of the following four athletes do you find most impressive and why?

1. Makoto Nagano
2. Rich Froning
3. Abebe Bikila
4. Takeru Kobayashi

The_Enginerd

Makoto Nagano because Sasuke.

MinimalistShoeAddict

Makoto Nagano because Sasuke.

Honestly I am torn on this, but I would probably rank Abebe Bikila slightly ahead of Makoto Nagano

1. Abebe Bikila (first and only person to win an Olympic gold medal running the marathon barefoot)
2. Makoto Nagano (because of his extraordinary Sasuke performance as you stated)

"Adidas, the shoe sponsor at the 1960 Summer Olympics, had few shoes left when Bikila went to try out shoes and he ended up with a pair that didn’t fit comfortably, so he couldn't use them. A couple of hours before the race, Bikila decided to run barefoot"

Rich Froning and Takeru Kobayashi are impressive as well!

ninerbuff

While Kobayashi is in shape, I wouldn't consider him an athlete.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

MinimalistShoeAddict

While Kobayashi is in shape, I wouldn't consider him an athlete.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Some would argue he is among the greatest athletes of the decade:
http://www.complex.com/sports/2012/04/the-100-greatest-athletes-of-the-complex-decade/takeru-kobayashi

"I've often heard people say he's the Michael Jordan of eating. But I think to associate Michael Jordan with Kobayashi is a slight against Kobayashi ... if you look at the margins with which this guy wins."
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/rovell/020705.html

"Kobayashi sustains an exacting focus on nutrition and a cutting-edge weight training regimen, and he watches game film to turn his body into the absolute perfect vessel for his sport."
http://the700level.com/interviews/takeru-kobayashi-epicurean-champion-worldclass-athlete/

ninerbuff

While Kobayashi is in shape, I wouldn't consider him an athlete.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Some would argue he is among the greatest athletes of the decade:
http://www.complex.com/sports/2012/04/the-100-greatest-athletes-of-the-complex-decade/takeru-kobayashi

http://the700level.com/interviews/takeru-kobayashi-epicurean-champion-worldclass-athlete/
"Kobayashi sustains an exacting focus on nutrition and a cutting-edge weight training regimen, and he watches game film to turn his body into the absolute perfect vessel for his sport."

So do professional and amateur body bodybuilders. I don't consider them athletes either. Competitors for the events they do, yes, but athletes, meh.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

vtmoon

Which one of the following four athletes do you find most impressive and why?

1. Makoto Nagano
2. Rich Froning
3. Abebe Bikila
4. Takeru Kobayashi

Being a ninja is just bad as$. But winning with no shoes on is very impressive.

Froning is up there and would probably be considered amazing in the future, the only reason I would not rank him over Nagano because Froning won by beating others while Nagano did it by mastering those ninja like skillz.

Kobayashi is a great competitor but not an athlete.

chrisdavey

Makoto Nagano because Sasuke.

agreed

MinimalistShoeAddict

Makoto Nagano because Sasuke.

agreed

Here is a clip of Makoto Nagano for those have not yet seen him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnSyQkZDBAI

MinimalistShoeAddict

Watch my favorite athlete win Gold in the Olympics (twice): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPj9YGgqJ64

MinimalistShoeAddict

Anyone see this movie about Abebe Bikila?

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

I really need to watch it

catrinaHwechanged

Who are these people?? :sad:

Trueray

Rich Froning his work capacity is unreal

thatonegirlwiththestuff

I hate sports, but I love watching Chargers football games just to see what kind of crazy tantrum Phillip Rivers is going to throw. That guy just doesn't give a phuck.

BoomslangUSAUK

You should check Jungyong Pak out, unbelievable conditioning.
http://ninja-fitness.com/junyong-pak-worlds-toughest-mudder-training-preparation/

Trueray

Rich Froning = Beast

matchbox_girl

None. The most impressive athletes I know are my fire fighting crew. Just saying.

Jonesingmucho

Rich Froning = Beast

x jaw drops to ground x

ahmadfahmy

Which one of the following four athletes do you find most impressive and why?

1. Makoto Nagano
2. Rich Froning
3. Abebe Bikila
4. Takeru Kobayashi

Dmitry Klokov

faceoff4

Real athletes play hockey!

Froning would get my vote for sure

Joreanasaurous

Jim Thorpe wins for me. He won the gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon during the 1912 Olympic Games. That's impressive in my book.

If I HAD to pick out of the four it would be Abebe Bikila though.