Former England women’s rugby captain Sarah Hunter. Englands most capped rugby player of either gender, World Cup winner, god knows how many grand slams and six nation and as importantly a really top quality person.
I read about Althea Gibson the greatest black women’s tennis player of all time, broke into tennis back in the 50’s became a grand slam champion mid 1950’s despite the obvious barriers Some achievement that!
Too many to choose from…. My sporting focus is only deep for the last couple of decades, so I can’t go back to the “good old days” F1 is Button for me, football may be Kane in the current era. Not one for boxing. Stokes could be on the verge of greatness in cricket but he need to surpass Root…. there’s probably a few more in the locker
As I was born in 1965, the sporting folk before my birth were a tad unknown to me (apart from Jesse Owens whose results at the olympics in 1936 impressed my parents so much that they told me about him). I grew up when Mohammed Ali was a hero as was Daley Thompson, but I'm not a fan of what sportsman get paid now, when (IMHO) normal folk do a more needed role but get a pittance in comparison. My favourite 'sporting hero' at present is Guy Martin, as I find him grounded and not up his own bottom full of his own self importance.
He was complimentary about everyone he shared a ring with but seeing as it was his wife who was translating it got a bit drawn out. He mentioned being drunk when he punched the horse. Not one of his finest moments.
I knew it right away I’ve seen the statue. It was quite an achievement Sunderland beating high flying Leeds and being in the second division. I watched it on tele and cheered them on the same as most of the country other than the Leeds fans obviously.
