Just how fit are these guys?

dennisn

Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet but I seem to recall Ali talking about how the actual boxing match wasn't really the hard part. It was the training required. I'm tempted to believe this is true in most, if not all, sports. Anyone who wants to win at any sport at a pro level has to push himself as hard as possible and stay healthy. That would seem to be the hardest part for everyone. They mostly all push to the limit of what the body will tolerate whether they are cyclists, boxers, swimmers, whatever.

cycling5280

"Everyone has a plan until they've been hit." - Joe Louis

singleton

dennisn wrote:

Anyone who wants to win at any sport at a pro level has to push himself as hard as possible and stay healthy. That would seem to be the hardest part for everyone. They mostly all push to the limit of what the body will tolerate whether they are cyclists, boxers, swimmers, whatever.

^^^ Agreed. Just look at professional cricketers... er, well, okay maybe not, but I agree .

And then there's also the elements of skill to add in as well.

tailwindhome

dennisn wrote:

Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet but I seem to recall Ali talking about how the actual boxing match wasn't really the hard part. It was the training required.

'I run on the road long before I dance under the lights'

shinyhelmut

"the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare"

Tanzanian multiple marathon winner Juma Ikangaa.

shockedsoshocked

"Pass the Haagen Dazs" - Jan Ullrich, winter 97-06

Pross

Singleton wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Anyone who wants to win at any sport at a pro level has to push himself as hard as possible and stay healthy. That would seem to be the hardest part for everyone. They mostly all push to the limit of what the body will tolerate whether they are cyclists, boxers, swimmers, whatever.

^^^ Agreed. Just look at professional cricketers... er, well, okay maybe not, but I agree .

And then there's also the elements of skill to add in as well.

You haven't watched much cricket in the last 10 years have you? All sports are taking the physical aspects far more seriously than they did 10 - 20 years ago. Even most pro golfers now have physical training programmes after seeing how Tiger dominated the sport.

ocdupalais

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

"Pass the Haagen Dazs" - Jan Ullrich, winter 97-06

"...And that's definitely only Hundreds Und Thousands on the top, ja?" - Jan Ullrich, just before popping out to the Ritzy Nitenclub, June 2002

dennisn

cycling5280 wrote:

"Everyone has a plan until they've been hit." - Joe Louis

Good one.

mrc1

Pro tour cyclists are clearly highly gifted, well trained and at the top of their game but they only really have to possess one primary attribute which is ridiculous cardio fitness (this is a broad description but you know what I mean).

Taking nothing away from the cyclists I find the guys that have to mix attributes more impressive. Ie elite rowers and fighters (both boxing and MMA) as they have to be at the top of both the strength/power and cardio side of things. Trying to finely balance those two attributes is pretty impressive.

xscreamsuk

Or the sport watched by Mr Wiggins, Rugby League, some amazing athletes.

RowCycle

Fit enough to not even have to bother with 2 wheels