Shillzz Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Senna's a difficult one. Had he been in his prime for a longer period of time, then he could undoubtedly be considered. But bearing in mind he wasn't exactly young when he got killed, I don't think he can really be considered as the greatest Formula one driver, never mind greatest sportsman of all time. Edit - just done a bit of reading on the subject, and people who know far more than me seem to be pointing to Senna as the greatest ever, so what do I know. Edited October 30, 2013 by Shillzz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnbull Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Same applies to Jim Clark, another totally naturally gifted driver, he too wasn't around long enough, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 The manner of Senna's demise boosted his reputation somewhat (see Princess Diana and Heath Ledger). If he'd survived til retirement I don't think we'd be looking much past Fangio or Schumacher, as far as F1 goes anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Senna is supposed to make some kind of an appearance in the new Gran Turismo game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted October 30, 2013 Moderator Share Posted October 30, 2013 The manner of Senna's demise boosted his reputation somewhat (see Princess Diana and Heath Ledger). If he'd survived til retirement I don't think we'd be looking much past Fangio or Schumacher, as far as F1 goes anyway. Respectfully disagree. It is true that death can sometimes enhance someone's reputation through some misty-eyed sentiment. But Senna was already at that level before his accident, which made it all the worse when it happened. Schumacher is more often than not outside the top 3 in any all-time lists anyway, so he wouldn't be top 2 with Senna excluded. All that being said, even as a big F1 fan I would never hold an F1 driver up as the greatest sportsman of all time anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Because F1 isn't really a sport? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted October 30, 2013 Moderator Share Posted October 30, 2013 Despite them being some of the fittest sportsmen on the planet and enduring stresses that most others don't experience and doing it at 200mph I think the car adds a level of equipment that makes it hard to judge them objectively, that's why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parisvilla Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Good shout PV Can anyone think of comparable feat to this? Edited October 30, 2013 by 8pints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Good shout PV Can anyone think of comparable feat to this? I thought this happened to Torres, aliens stole his ability... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Schumacher is more often than not outside the top 3 in any all-time lists anyway... Schumacher was so good, he was boring - and he also didn't seem like a very nice chap (though tbf his Wiki page says he's very generous to charity). I stopped watching F1 during his reign, it was just too dull - and we'd been well into it until then, all nighters for the distant races, camping at Silverstone for race weekend and all that jazz. He was brilliant though, he shouldn't have had a sniff in the Benetton against the Williams cars of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Netball isn't really on the same level though, is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted October 30, 2013 Moderator Share Posted October 30, 2013 Schumacher was so good, he was boring - and he also didn't seem like a very nice chap (though tbf his Wiki page says he's very generous to charity). I stopped watching F1 during his reign, it was just too dull - and we'd been well into it until then, all nighters for the distant races, camping at Silverstone for race weekend and all that jazz. He was brilliant though, he shouldn't have had a sniff in the Benetton against the Williams cars of the time.I agree with all of that. He is an all-time great. No doubt about it. It's just when talking about the greatest ever, he tends to be top 5, not top 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I thought this happened to Torres, aliens stole his ability... Ah yes I forgot about your love for Fernando. Don't forget, I've seen your shooting in GTA now, you have the same accuracy percentage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted October 30, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted October 30, 2013 To be the all-time world's greatest sportsman (or woman?), I think there need to be some conditions. I suggest these: (1) International success (no sports which are limited to one country, for example) (2) A long career (3) Significant number of trophies/titles won, world records, etc. and the tie-breaker: (4) All of the above, but in MORE THAN ONE SPORT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) I thought this happened to Torres, aliens stole his ability... Ah yes I forgot about your love for Fernando. Don't forget, I've seen your shooting in GTA now, you have the same accuracy percentage. Edited October 30, 2013 by AVFCforever1991 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I thought this happened to Torres, aliens stole his ability... Ah yes I forgot about your love for Fernando. Don't forget, I've seen your shooting in GTA now, you have the same accuracy percentage. Leave '91 alone, I've seen him shoot and I've never once seen him harm anyone! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponky Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Jesse Owens - won four Olympic golds at Berlin to stick it up Hitler's master race arse - all while (according to the bastion of truth that is Wikipedia) being a pack-a-day smoker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) I thought this happened to Torres, aliens stole his ability... Ah yes I forgot about your love for Fernando. Don't forget, I've seen your shooting in GTA now, you have the same accuracy percentage. Leave '91 alone, I've seen him shoot and I've never once seen him harm anyone! Where is your adder again? oh that's right, I went there... Edited October 30, 2013 by AVFCforever1991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Is that a euphemism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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