Which sport requires the most out of an athlete?

[sumo junkie]

Originally Posted by kask2_6.0

Definitely don't have to be in top physical condition for Moto GP. The rider needs to stay light but a road course is so smooth it doesn't require much physical effort (yes, I have done it). Mental strength and lots of talent, yes. But physical conditioning, no. IMO Motocross is one of the most physically demanding motorsports. 35 min motos that consists fighting a 230+ lb bike through nonstop bumps and ruts. I've done an hour in a kart and it doesn't compare to even 5-10 min on a bike.

x2


1. MMA
2. Dirt bike

Obviously mma is first, but unless you've ridden a dirt bike on rough ground you can't understand the amount of physical exhaustion coupled with 100% focus for 100% of the time. Any lapse in focus and you're thrown off, not to mention no breaks for the entire moto (if racing). It is one of the most fun though!

[jarviz]

Originally Posted by FRSFirestorm

I'm getting old. In my day I've done competitive football, baseball, basketball, tennis, shooting sports, trackday's on the sportbike. I rode offroad motorcycle for years and decided to give a motocross a try. Hands down, motocross was the most physically demanding thing I have ever done.

Not to bash you, but this also depends on what level of play you have competed in each one and how 'serious' you were about that particular sport and what kind of coaching and institution you competed for.

I haven't tried motocross but after practicing martial arts and actually trying to be proficient at it, I think it's the one sport where you have to on top on your physical game in every aspect. Footwork and the ability to move quickly in every in every direction, hand speed, body coordination, reaction time at its best because it's not a turn or a pothole you can see coming, the physical strength to do enough damage to your opponent, and the physical endurance/stamina to last more than 30 seconds. You pretty much need to train every single part of your body to be able to do anything.

I just find it hard to believe any professional motocross athlete would would put in more work than a pacquiao or mayweather.

[strat61caster]

Depends on what you mean by "requires the most", if you're talking about destroying a body and shortening the lifespan of the athlete than it's definitely some form of fighting or football/rugby (sorry hockey, but they definitely need more stamina).

In terms of physical AND mental fortitude? Rally racing.

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Motocross is more physical, so I guess my answer depends on your definition of the question.

Honorable mentions: NASCAR then Formula 1

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[PMPB]

IronMan Triathlon

2.4 mile swim (3.86km)
112 mile bike (180.25km)
Marathon 26.2mile (42.2km)

Must be completed within 17hrs (Starts at 7am, must be completed by midnight)

Any one of the above events is extremely physically demanding, and requires months of training.

With respect to all of you who have given examples.... All of the examples given above, are examining the cream of the crop, and saying "Nobody off the street couple compete with these guys" That's true, but take any group of regular people, or people who have the required skill (Driving a high performance car for example), and ask them to compete it COULD in theory be done. I mean, Richard Hammond from Top Gear UK did 2 laps.... no real training, he's just a pretty good driver, with some limited racing experience.

Ask me to go 12 rounds at 3min per round MMA with by best friend, I COULD do it, by the end, we might be on our knees throwing cheap shots, but we'll finish.

I've never ridden a dirt bike, but there many many people who can do it, with varying degrees of success.

I play Starcraft, (not Korean league though, those guys are dedicated), and I've done 4 (short length) triathlons. I could probably never bike 180km, nor run a marathon, I'm not built for it.

Ironman Triathlon? There are a very select portion of the global population who have the physique, mental endurance, and training to even finish.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by PMPB

IronMan Triathlon

2.4 mile swim (3.86km)
112 mile bike (180.25km)
Marathon 26.2mile (42.2km)

Must be completed within 17hrs (Starts at 7am, must be completed by midnight)

Any one of the above events is extremely physically demanding, and requires months of training.

With respect to all of you who have given examples.... All of the examples given above, are examining the cream of the crop, and saying "Nobody off the street couple compete with these guys" That's true, but take any group of regular people, or people who have the required skill (Driving a high performance car for example), and ask them to compete it COULD in theory be done. I mean, Richard Hammond from Top Gear UK did 2 laps.... no real training, he's just a pretty good driver, with some limited racing experience.

Ask me to go 12 rounds at 3min per round MMA with by best friend, I COULD do it, by the end, we might be on our knees throwing cheap shots, but we'll finish.

I've never ridden a dirt bike, but there many many people who can do it, with varying degrees of success.

I play Starcraft, (not Korean league though, those guys are dedicated), and I've done 4 (short length) triathlons. I could probably never bike 180km, nor run a marathon, I'm not built for it.

Ironman Triathlon? There are a very select portion of the global population who have the physique, mental endurance, and training to even finish.

Not really a sport though. More a feat of strength.

[Kelbyat07]

MMA and those powerlifting competitions

[jarviz]

Originally Posted by PMPB

Ask me to go 12 rounds at 3min per round MMA with by best friend, I COULD do it, by the end, we might be on our knees throwing cheap shots, but we'll finish.

That doesn't really support your argument though. The only way to compare apples to apples is the top athletes or professionals from each sport to the other, like a nascar driver vs an NBA player vs an MLB player. Otherwise this whole argument would be moo.

I just don't see the physical demand (workouts) required from a driver or a motocross biker when compared to other sports, but I'd love to see what kind of physical training drivers go through just so I can gain some knowledge.

[TRD_86]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

MMA/Boxing

1 minute of intense physical confrontation will utterly exhaust 99.9% of the population

now imagine those athletes going for 12 rounds of 3 minutes or 5 rounds of 5 minutes or whatever

it is absolutely ridiculous.

MMA ultimate fighting - No doubt this is the most crucial to bring it out all for any athletes !

[Fluxx]

Originally Posted by jarviz

That doesn't really support your argument though. The only way to compare apples to apples is the top athletes or professionals from each sport to the other, like a nascar driver vs an NBA player vs an MLB player. Otherwise this whole argument would be moo.

I just don't see the physical demand (workouts) required from a driver or a motocross biker when compared to other sports, but I'd love to see what kind of physical training drivers go through just so I can gain some knowledge.

You need to get on a dirtbike and push it through a course, it has to easily be the most physically demanding motorsport, and even for someone in shape it will leave you sore. Pushing a dirtbike for a few hours is probably the best core workout you can get. Fighting would have to take the cake though, having to keep it together physically and mentally while someone is doing their level best to either knock you out or break your will.

[fatoni]

any sport where you are in direct competition with another person is going to be equally challenging since you are playing to the level of competition.

[PMPB]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Not really a sport though. More a feat of strength.

Eh? Not a sport... how do you figure competing in a triathlon is not a sport? It's the definition of an endurance sport. Is swimming a sport...yes, competitive cycling a sport? yes. Marathon, is that a sport? yes. Triathlon? NOT A SPORT? Ironman is a sport, and Triathlon in general is in the Olympics.

Originally Posted by fatoni

any sport where you are in direct competition with another person is going to be equally challenging since you are playing to the level of competition.

I agree. Comparing the cream of the crop of any sport, compared to any other sport, I'd say they take the same out of you, but in different ways. Each athlete is dedicated to that activity, and the majority of their waking hours is dedicated to training for the next competition.

F1 = Neck strengthening + general fitness + a couple hours of driving practice most days + massive skill.
MMA = Lots of physical training (weights) + martial arts, every day
Starcraft = playing starcraft 18hrs/day
Motocross = Motocross a couple hours a day <- Least demanding practice regimen in my opinion
IronMan Triathlon - The only way to train for it is to practice each event, and actually do several ironman's before the event (albeit at a slower pace) and the world record time for this even is still close to 8hrs. So expect many training days were you are going at it for more than 8hrs at 80% level of effort! None of the other examples given above require the competitor to eat more calories during the event, just so they have a prayer of finishing. A triathlete will have to eat at least 5000 calories over the course of the day.

Put an F1 driver driver in MMA ring, TKO 1 second, assuming he's got 0 training. If he's got some MMA as an extra curricular, he may last a round? Put MMA driver in F1 car and ask him to compete at the level of an F1 driver, he'd probably die at the first corner.

Remember, in an F1 car, there is almost no margin for error. Too fast, you die, too slow, the car slides off the track and you die. Judging when and how hard to hit those brakes is a critical skill that is developed from years of practice.

The fact that many of you here have successfully complete Motocross events proves that it's NOT the most physically challenging 'sport' in the world. I'm not saying it's not hard. What I am saying, is that there are sports (sanctioned by international sporting bodies) that you couldn't even finish part of it, and highly trained athletes who dedicate their lives have difficulty finishing.

[coyote]

No-one has heard of the Tour de France?

I don't know how anyone completes that without drugs, let alone win.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by PMPB

Put an F1 driver driver in MMA ring, TKO 1 second, assuming he's got 0 training. If he's got some MMA as an extra curricular, he may last a round? Put MMA driver in F1 car and ask him to compete at the level of an F1 driver, he'd probably die at the first corner.

you're confusing talent (what we're not talking about) with physical conditioning (what we are talking about)

and in light of this, there is without a doubt a large number of sports where their respective athletes are in better physical condition than an F1 driver.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by coyote

No-one has heard of the Tour de France?

I don't know how anyone completes that without drugs, let alone win.

pure indurance,

cycling is all about proper diet, building your legs, and breathing like a monk who's into his 3rd month of un-interrupted meditation.

a very niche physical development