Who do you think is the greatest sportsman in history?

Please bear in mind that this person must have dominated  his particular sport in his generation, so your favorite professionial athlete is not necessarily the greatest athlete in history.

My favorite one without a doubt is Eddy Merckx. He dominated cycling when he was a professional cyclist. His nickname was the cannibal because he won pretty much everything there is to win multiple times.

He has won the tour de France 5  times, Giro d'Italia 5  times, Vuelta Espana 1 time, 32 international classics, 3 times world champion on the road, he had the world hour record for 12 years, 32 stage victories in tour de france(most ever),etc

The list is just too long to put it all on here... He had a total of 525 victories during his carreer... The most EVER in cycling. He would have won the tour de france a lot more, but he wasn't allowed to start in 1973 in the tour de France because he was TOO GOOD. And he got falcon punched in the kidney during the tour de france by a stranger during a stage in another tour de france. He would have won if it wasn't for that punch... He would have won 7 times normally, but because of bad luck it didn't happen...

Ps: Every sport counts and yes that includes chess.

Phelps.

Yeah, he's already the greatest Olympian winner :)
Swimming is not very popular here though.

I would say Phelps but he sets a shite example with him taking drugs and all that. Nobody else to me has outshone others by that great a margin.

FootballFan, you should google Merckx. He outshone others by an even greater margin then Phelps xD

For example, there is a list of 200 greatest cyclists in history. They give points to what you win(more points if what you win is more important)

1. Eddy Merckx- 5900 points
2. Bernard Hinault - 3300 points
etc

It wouldn't have been a big deal if he was a nobody. Trust me, more idols smoke pot than just him.

My personal favorite - Eddie Belfour. One of the reasons I played Hockey and was a goalie.

Ugh I knew people would say Phelps

O yes, i have no doubts lots take illegal drugs and stuff. But, it certainly doesn't make it right. He is suppose to lead by example and not undergo illegal drugs.

Never would someone who took drugs could ever be the greatest athlete in my eyes. Its more than just the sport its about his image. His has most certainly being damaged.

professional as in standard or conduct?

What do you mean by that? English isn't my native language.

Anyway...

Phelps took marihuana right? Alcohol is worse the marihuana, so it really isn't that bad...
Marihuana is soft drugs and alcohol is a hard drugs. I've used both and alcohol is more dangerous, believe me.