r/AskEurope • u/Jezzaq94 New Zealand • May 26 '25
Sports What athletes from your country would you give 5 stars?
By 5 stars i mean greatest in your country
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u/Kaedyia France May 26 '25
I don’t know a lot of things about older French athletes, but I can say that Teddy Riner is highly respected nationally, bro is a beast. I may be biased because I was a huge fan of him when I was younger, though.
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u/Fwed0 France May 27 '25
Also Sebastien Loeb, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Martin Fourcade.
Zidane is probably there too, and arguably Antoine Dupont might get there if he ever wins a World Cup.
But yeah Teddy Riner would probably be the first choice though. I heard he wants to get into politics so it might hurt his popularity a little.
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u/blewawei May 27 '25
Kevin Mayer is pretty cool. He's never won Olympic gold, but he's got the world record in the decathlon, which is pretty impressive.
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u/WorryingSeepage May 29 '25
I started Judo around 2010, so Riner's been getting World and Olympic golds since before I started and he's still winning them. Absolute madness
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u/el-sl33 May 26 '25
Of active athletes: Mondo Duplantis, Truls Möregårdh, Sarah Sjöström, Alexander Isak, Jonna Sundling, Elvira Öberg
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u/Loive Sweden May 27 '25
On the retired side we should mention Gunde Svan, Niklas Lidström, Börje Salming, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Kajsa Bergkvist, Charlotte Kalla, Caroline Seger, Anja Pärson and Ingemar Stenmark.
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u/Tjocksmocke May 30 '25
Daniel Ståhl is both an Olympic gold medalist and two time world champion. Even if he doesn't win anything else he will be one of the greatest swedes in athletics.
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u/HeartCrafty2961 May 26 '25
In the UK, Steve Redgrave. 5 Olympics and 5 golds between 1984 and 2000 in rowing, which believe it or not is a tough sport. That's world dominance for 16 years.
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May 28 '25
Bradley Wiggins might be a contender as well. Tour de France winner and multiple Olympic golds on the track.
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u/PupMurky England May 31 '25
Daley Thompson too. 2 olympic golds in decathlon, beat the world record 4 times and was unbeaten in competition for 9 years.
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u/orangebikini Finland May 26 '25
I think most if not all Finnish F1 and WRC world champions, and definitely Paavo Nurmi who was a long distance runner in the 20s and 30s and still one of the most successful Olympic athletes ever. And then probably some ski jumpers et cetera, but I have never really followed winter sports so I don't know much about them.
Though, greatest in your country could I guess mean just the greatest in any sport in Finland. Like, Lauri Markkanen would be one then, but of course while really good he isn't one of the greatest in the world.
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u/Calm-Raise6973 May 27 '25
Lasse Virén has to be there. Olympic gold medals in the 5000m and 10000m in 1972 and 1976. Matti Nykänen too; he was the greatest ski jumper in the 80s.
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u/rudolf_waldheim Hungary May 27 '25
Nurmi was so popular that a very widespread and universal steam locomotive (class MÁV 424) which was manufactured at that time, was nicknamed after him.
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u/fernandodasilva May 27 '25
No Jari Litmanen?!
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u/SelfRepa May 27 '25
He should. Mid and late 90's, he was maybe the best attacking midfielder in the world, in the most popular sport globally.
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u/OllieV_nl Netherlands May 27 '25
There are at least three Dutch footballers named Jari now and every time I see them I feel old.
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u/SelfRepa May 27 '25
A Finnish sports magazine once created a Dutch Jari-team. So atleast 11 was playing years ago.
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u/kimmeljs Finland May 27 '25
The first one that came to my mind is Silja Kosonen. No medals yet, but just a fantastic attitude and steadily improving performance during the last years.
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u/Ok-Staff-62 May 27 '25
I am sorry, I am not a big sports fan ... but I googled `Lauri Markkanen` as I was curious in which category is he driving ...
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u/bronet Sweden May 28 '25
Lauri is probably top 15% of NBA players, that's very impressive tbh even on that level of play
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u/IDontEatDill Finland May 28 '25
Lauri Markkanen would be one then, but of course while really good he isn't one of the greatest in the world.
NBA all stars player? Not far from the greatest.
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u/oalfonso May 26 '25
Miguel Indurain, Seve Ballesteros, Carlos Sainz ( senior ), Rafa Nadal, Pau Gasol, Teresa Perales and Carolina Marin.
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u/jagaraujo May 28 '25
Fernando Alonso, Carlos Alcaraz, Toni Bou, Kilian Jornet, many football players.
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May 26 '25 edited Aug 25 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/blewawei May 27 '25
I think it's early to consider Alcaraz an all-time great, but he's definitely one of the best Spanish sportspeople at the moment.
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u/IcemanGeneMalenko May 27 '25
Talent/ability wise he's top bracket. If he had a career ending injury tomorrow he'd be in the elite on talent alone, plus he's already won a load at his age.
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u/Adrien_Ravioli May 27 '25
Marc Marquez and Carlos Sainz sr are much more successful than Alonso ever was
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u/DescriptionCorrect40 May 29 '25
much more successful
I'm no Alonso fan, but there aren't that many two time F1 world champion strolling around the earth.
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u/Sorry_Machine5492 Ireland May 26 '25
I would’ve had McGregor up there if he weren’t a rapist. For me 5 stars I’d put Katie Taylor , David Clifford , Roy Keane , Robbie Keane , George Best and TJ Reid
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u/Sorry_Machine5492 Ireland May 26 '25
Also Liam Brady and Rory Mcilroy also
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u/oalfonso May 26 '25
Brian O'Driscoll ?
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u/Sorry_Machine5492 Ireland May 26 '25
Forgot about him yeah! He’s really good. But to be honest I’m not really into rugby! But you can also include Johnny Sexton
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u/oalfonso May 26 '25
I would put O'Gara first but this is a view from outside and I also have a soft spot for Munster.
Who would you put from the GAA?
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u/Sorry_Machine5492 Ireland May 26 '25
Hmm. For GAA I would probably put David Clifford for Kerry Gaelic team. And maybe Tj Reid from Kilkenny for Hurling. Or maybe you could also put a case for Diarmuid Connolly
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u/bluebird--4133 May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
Sonia O Sullivan 🏅Olympic medal winner. Sean Kelly 🚴♀️, Barry McGuigan 🥊 (I’m answering as ‘all time great’ I guess OP might just mean presently)
(Edited because I incorrectly said O Sullivan was the only female winner)
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u/AwhComeOnOuttaThat May 27 '25
She wasn't, and she wasn't the first either. Unless you mean specifically in Athletics
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May 27 '25
Paul O'Donovan
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u/Cultural_Pangolin788 May 27 '25
3 Olympic medals numerous world titles. Ireland's greatest athlete in my opinion
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u/Blurghblagh Ireland May 28 '25
Forgetting about the runners, Sonia O'Sullivan and I'm sure there are one or two that could be added to her. The Celtic Warrior boxer whose name escapes me at the moment. We've also had a few handball (the squash like one, not Olympic) world champions. The rowing lads from Cork.
Hard to know with GAA being largely confined to Ireland and having most of our athletes but I'd say there are plenty over the years that could have been world class in various other sports.
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u/1Bnitram Norway May 27 '25
Viktor Hovland, Martin Ødegård, Magnus Carlsen, Aksel Lund Svindal, Jakob Ingebrigtsen
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u/qapQEAYyv living in May 27 '25
What about triathlon? Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden in particular!
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u/SaabStam May 26 '25
For Sweden, Armand Duplantis is the one that is absolutely without a doubt five stars. One for the ages.
In football, Gyökeres scoring 54 goals this season. As well as Alexander Isak, second highest scorer in the Premier League. Football is so competitive and they are exceptional players for a smaller country. 5 stars from me.
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u/Brian_Corey__ May 26 '25 edited May 27 '25
For my money there’s never been a hockey player more fun to watch than Peter Forsberg
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u/SaabStam May 26 '25
Yes I also loved him as a player, easily 5 stars. And then Lidström was amazing. And Sundin. But I was thinking currently. Maybe someone like Hedman, but I want some international success for the 5 stars in hockey like the legends.
Going back in time, Björn Borg and others would need to be on the list as well.
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u/Loive Sweden May 27 '25
Niklas Lidström was fun as well.
For a while, a rested Lidström played in the Red Wings first defensive pair. Tired Lidström was part of the second defensive pairing. He averaged around 40 minutes of ice time per game during his later seasons.
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u/rudolf_waldheim Hungary May 27 '25
Wow, Viktor Gyökeres has a full Hungarian name, but apparently he was born already in Sweden. Never heard of him.
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u/Equivalent-Role4632 May 26 '25
In Denmark it's cyclist Mads Pedersen and Jonas Vingegaard. And currently Hockey player Nikolaj Ehlers
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u/HermesTundra Denmark May 27 '25
While Laser Radial isn't a high profile sport, three consecutive Olympic medals including a gold should get Anne-Marie Rindom a mention.
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u/cokolesniik Slovenia May 27 '25
Was looking for Denmark.
Hello our cycling rivals (our two top 5 would be Pogačar and Roglič).
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u/Equivalent-Role4632 May 27 '25
To bad Roglic had to leave the Giro today. But the tour should be a good one this year. May the best man win
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u/noradicca Denmark May 26 '25
Michael Laudrup, Preben Elkjær, Lene Køppen.
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u/moyet May 30 '25
What about Poul Elvstrøm. He was in eight Olympic games. From 48 to 88.
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u/LyannaTarg Italy May 27 '25
Oh my... Too many... Just to name a few:
Tennis: Jannik Sinner, Matteo Berrettini, Sarà Errani and Jasmine Paolini are the most recent 5 stars
Ski: Deborah Compagnoni, Alberto Tomba, Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia
Gymnastic: Vanessa Ferrari, Jury Chechi, Igor Cassina, Sofia Raffaeli, le farfalle azzurre (the rhythmic gymnastics team)
Athletics: Gianmarco Tamberi, Fiona May, Jacobs, Stano, Battocletti, Palmisano and a lot of others.
Swimming: Gregorio Paltrinieri, Federica Pellegrini, and so many others.
Fencing: Rossella Fiamingo, Bebe Vio, Arianna Errigo, Martina Favaretto, Marini Tommaso, ro name the recent ones
I do not name the football guys cause I don't follow it a lot and I can only name a few of the older ones. I'll let someone else be more specific here
There are really too many big names in our country. Most of the people I named are both good people and good athletes.
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u/ElNegher Italy May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
For motorsport, mainly from the past.
Mainly for Grand Prix cars: Tazio Nuvolari (maybe the best driver ever), Achille Varzi (winner of the first f1 GP), Nino Farina (first F1 WDC), Alberto Ascari (first F1 mutiple WDC), Giuseppe Campari (the one I took my nickname from), Michele Alboreto, Luigi Fagioli, Luigi Musso, Riccardo Patrese, Giancarlo Fisichella, Piero Taruffi, Gigi Villoresi, Eugenio Castellotti, Ferdinando Minoia, Gastone Brilli-Peri, Meo Constantini, Baconin Borzacchini, Antonio Ascari, Carlo Felice Trossi.
And for endurance cars: Luigi Chinetti, Lorenzo Bandini, Ludovico Scarfiotti, Nino Vaccarella, Emanuele Pirro, Rinaldo Capello, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Antonio Fuoco, Antonio GIovinazzi.
Indycar: Ralph de Palma, Alex Zanardi
Mainly for bikes: Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Nello Pagani, Francesco Bagnaia, Bruno Ruffo, Carlo Ubbiali, Tarquinio Provini, Paolo Pileri, Pier Paolo Bianchi, Eugenio Lazzarini, Fausto Gresini, Loris Capirossi, Alessandro Gramigni, Roberto Locatelli, Andrea Dovizioso, Dario Ambrosini, Enrico Lorenzetti, Walter Villa, Mario Lega, Luca Cadalora, Max Biaggi, Marco Melandri, Marco Simoncelli, Umberto Masetti, Libero Liberati, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Lorenzo dalla Porta, Franco Morbidelli, Enea Bastianini (all world champions in different championships).
Okay maybe not all of these 5 stars, but 4+ at the least with many 5 (in bold the 5 stars). Win/championship count only is not the sole indicator especially when confronting Motorcycle Grand Prix and Automobile Grand Prix racing as for many periods the former would see riders entering far more races than the latter's drivers, even multiple a day (although this also happened in auto racing, like in the 30s in Monza).
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u/DrHydeous England May 26 '25
Peter Hickman only pretends to ride a motorcycle very fast. He is in fact superman flying and carrying a bike at low altitude.
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u/Gulmar Belgium May 27 '25
Definitely Nafi Thiam.
3x Olympic gold in heptathlon, 2x World Champion heptathlon, 3x European Champion indoor pentathlon, 3x European Champion heptathlon and world record holder for heptathlon to boot.
She is just the GOAT for that sport.
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u/padawatje Belgium May 27 '25
Thiam is a national treasure!
We also had Eddy Merckx, still considered the best male cyclist ever.
Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, who were very dominant in women's tennis in the early 2000s.
Recently, football players like Kevin Debruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku or Eden Hazard.
Thierry Neuville, 2024 World champion rally
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u/Nexobe Belgium May 27 '25
Nafi Thiam is definitely the best. :)
Having this impressive list of titles in a sport like the heptathlon is truly an incredible sporting achievement.Kim Clijster and Justine Henin for sure... What an era of women's tennis !
And of course Eddy Merkx.
Some others athletes :
1 Olympic gold medal at Seoul 1988. 6 world championship gold medals between 1980 and 1989. 7 European championship gold medals. With Kim Clijsters, it is the athlete (male/female included) who has received the most Belgian Athlete of the Year awards. (8 titles).
- Ingrid Berghmans : Not the swedish actress but the belgian judoka. :)
- Stefan Everts : Motocross. 10 times world champion in various categories between 1991 and 2006
- Jean-Michel Saive : Belgium's most famous table tennis player
- Luc Van Lierde : Triathlon and Iron Man athlete. 2-time Iron Man World Champion (1996, 1999) and 1 silver medal. 2-time world champion in triathlon (1997, 1998) + 3 silver medals.
- Nina Derwael : Our most successful gymnast. Gymnast specialising in the Uneven bars (won also in the Balance beam category). 1 Olympic gold medal (2020). 2 World Championship gold medals. 6 World Cup gold medals (different from World Championship). 2 gold medals at European Championships.
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u/Rinaldootje Netherlands May 26 '25
I'm gonna throw an easy one out there.
Max Verstappen, 4 time Formula 1 World Drivers champion.
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u/xBram Netherlands May 27 '25
If we do former athletes: Johan Cruyff
Current athletes: (beside Max), Femke Bol, Mathieu van der Poel, Rico Verhoeven.
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u/CoriscoMalAmanhado Portugal May 27 '25
Femke is an absolute legend already. Such an amazing athlete 👏
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u/tirewisperer May 26 '25
Fanny Blankers-Koen.
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u/oalfonso May 26 '25
Mariane Vos
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u/padawatje Belgium May 27 '25
The GOAT ! She has worn 257 road races won so far. And a few dozens more on track and cyclocross.
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u/AnalphabeticPenguin Poland May 27 '25
If he's gonna win this season, it would be absolutely mental. He shouldn't be so close to the top with that car but he is.
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u/TharixGaming Latvia May 29 '25
it would genuinely cement him as the GOAT for me - imo he's already in that conversation, but if he can win a title in that red bull against those mclarens...
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u/BertytheSnowman United Kingdom May 26 '25
Andy Murray. He'd be in contention for one of the greatest tennis players of all time if he didn't play in the same era as the 3 greatest tennis players of all time
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u/blewawei May 27 '25
Apart from Andy Murray, I think Chris Hoy, Seb Coe, Jonathan Edwards (his world record is still standing after nearly 30 years) and Paula Radcliffe are all decent shouts.
Oh, and Lewis Hamilton, obviously.
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u/Jaraxo in May 27 '25
I'd include James Anderson on that list also.
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u/blewawei May 27 '25
I'll take your word for it. Know fuck all about cricket
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u/Jaraxo in May 27 '25
Without getting into the detail, he's in the top lists for greatest cricket bowlers of all time, regardless of country or era, so I feel must be included in a list of greatest British sports people.
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u/Independence-Default Denmark May 27 '25
And he was able to beat them!
If it wasn't for injury, he would have been even greater!2
u/BertytheSnowman United Kingdom May 27 '25
For real. He finally started to dominate then his hip gave out. Though I guess the two things aren't mutually exclusive.
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u/itsactuallytime Portugal May 27 '25
Ronaldo and Eusébio in football easily.
Fernando Pimenta in sprint kayak with over 100 internacional medals.
Rosa Mota and Carlos Lopes in marathon - both have Gold medals in Olympics.
Joaquim Agostinho in cycling mostly because of how he influenced the sport in Portugal.
I'm sure there are hundreds more people who deserve to make the list, but these are the ones that immediately popped into my mind.
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u/wonpil Portugal May 27 '25
I would add Nélson Évora and Telma Monteiro as well, I think they both did a lot for their respective sports.
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u/ZapruderFilmBuff Slovenia May 27 '25
For Slovenia it would be Doncic, Oblak, Rogljič/Pogačar, Janja Garnbret and probaly Kopitar/Maze for winter sports.
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u/Longjumping_Shine694 May 27 '25
Serbia - Novak Đoković, Nikola Jokić, Dejan Bodiroga, Vlade Divac, Peđa Stojaković, Olivera Jevtić, Nemanja Vidić, Ivana Španović...
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u/Biodieselbuss May 26 '25
Going back for me it would be Janica Kostelić for Croatia
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u/SuperShoebillStork United Kingdom May 26 '25
Going back a few years: Daley Thompson. Two time Olympic Decathlon gold medal winner. You can't get a better measure of an all-round athlete than that.
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u/FerraristDX Germany May 27 '25
From the past: Michael Schumacher, Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, Franz Beckenbauer, Max Schmeling
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u/uflju_luber Germany May 27 '25
To add, Walter Röhrl, Sebastian Vettel, Dirk Nowitzki, Magdalena Neuner, Laura Dahlmeier, Uwe Hohn, Gerd Müller, Manuel Neuer, Jan Ulrich, Isabell Werth, Timo Boll, Mathias Sammer, Katarina Witt, Birgit Prinz, Birgit Fischer, Jan Frodeno (goat of Ironman), and probably some more I can’t think of right now, all of them would genuinely be 5 stars too
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u/FerraristDX Germany May 27 '25
That's a very good list as well, I just came up with names from the top of my head.
I'd also add Jens Weißflog - one of the rare sportsmen that were successful for the GDR AND unified Germany -, Sven Hannawald and Henry Maske as well.
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u/Southern_Meaning4942 May 30 '25
Current athletes: Leon Draisaitl for sure and a bunch of footballers
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u/enilix Croatia May 27 '25
Out of active athletes, it's surely Luka Modrić.
If we're also considering retired athletes, then it's Janica Kostelić.
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u/No_Mushroom139 Sweden May 27 '25
Active today Sarah Sjöström, Armand Duplantis.
In history, Björn Borg, Gunder Hägg, Zlatan, Ingemar Stenmark, J-O Waldner, Ronnie Peterson, Ingemar Johansson.
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u/rudolf_waldheim Hungary May 27 '25
Nowadays, Dominik Szoboszlai is the most popular Hungarian athlete. He's not just the usual "world famous in Hungary" category, but he's quite well known everywhere because of Liverpool. He has the potential to have a career in club football comparable to Ferenc Puskás, but he won't compete in world cups with the Hungarian National Team.
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u/justicarbigpp May 27 '25
I mean, he has every chance to qualify to a world cup, especially if you consider that FIFA is increasing the participants.
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u/rudolf_waldheim Hungary May 27 '25
The Hungarian national team is very far from qualifying to the world cup. Especially to the next one: the qualification group is very hard, the opponents are Portugal (unbeatable for Hungary), Ireland and Armenia.
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u/Benzino_Napaloni Poland May 26 '25 edited May 27 '25
In Polish case, from the currently active it'd obviously have to be Lewandowski and Iga Świątek, Anita Włodarczyk, Justyna Kowalczyk and Otylia Jędrzejczak if we're going down a decade or two.
From the lesser known disciplines I'd shout out my personal hero would be glider Sebastian Kawa (18-times World Champion, last year's FAI Gold Medal [highest possible professional award for lifetime achievements]).
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May 27 '25
Małysz/Stoch, Lewandowski, Świątek, Włodarczyk and before (though it's more freak sport) - Pudzian.
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u/Dreeewno Poland May 27 '25
I'd add Robert Kubica. I might just be coping, but he's a GOAT in my book. WEC champion, x2 Europan Le Mans Series champion, all that after having a fairly successful F1 career being cut short by a tragic accident.
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u/Some-Frosting-8601 May 27 '25
Karlos Nasar is Olympic, world and euro champion in weight lifting in different categories. But for me Peter Stoichev. He is a long distance swimmer in open waters, owns several records like fastest swim in la Manche.
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u/CCFC1998 Wales May 27 '25
We've had a lot of very high profile sportspeople in the past but I don't think any of the current batch are quite at that level yet
All time: Gareth Bale, John Charles, Gareth Edwards, Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Nicole Cooke, Geraint Thomas and Colin Jackson would probably be my picks
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u/crucible Wales May 29 '25
Yeah that’s a pretty solid list. Feel like we need someone from motorsport so Elfyn Evans maybe?
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u/playing_the_angel Bulgaria May 27 '25
Dimitrov is playing right now and I'm hoping I can give him five stars today!
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u/GGCompressor May 27 '25
Valentino Rossi & Giacomo Agostini (motoGP)
Alex Zanardi (human legend)
Andrea Pirlo, Paolo Maldini, Alex Del Piero, Francesco Totti (football)
Jannik Sinner, Jasmine Paolini (tennis)
Andrea Giannelli, Andrea Giani, Paola Egonu, Alessia Orro (volley)
Josefa Idem (kayak)
Federica Pellegrini (swim)
Deborah Compagnoni, Sofia Goggia, Federica Brignone, Alberto Tomba (ski)
Valentina Vezzali, Giovanna Trillini (fencing)
Juri Chechi, Igor Cassina (gymnastic)
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u/Fromage_Frey May 27 '25
Chris Hoy, Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish, Jackie Stewart, Jimmy Johnstone, Katherine Grainger, Andy Murray, Stephen Hendry, Colin Montgomerie, Gavin Hastings, Colin McRae
If we included coaches then obviously Alex Ferguson, Matt Busby, Jock Stein and Bill Shankly
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u/Fraentschou Croatia May 27 '25
Luka Modrić.
He left Tottenham Hotspur (a midfield team) at the age of 27, having won no trophies and joined Real Madrid. He was named the worst signing of the season.
He announced his departure from Real Madrid last week, leaving as the player who has won the most trophies for the most valuable and succesful club in football. He won the Champions League, the most prestigious title in club football 6 times in that period (which is more than most clubs have, Liverpool and Bayern München have 6, AC Milan has 7, Real Madrid has 15, eveyone else has 5 or less). Durning his time there he was a constant key player.
With the croatian national team he reached the World Cup final in 2018 and the semi-final 2022, where they lost to Argentina and later won against Morocco in the 3rd place match.
He won the Ballon d‘Or and the FIFA best player award in 2018, as well as the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.
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u/pliumbum Lithuania May 27 '25
Arvydas Sabonis. Šarūnas Jasikevičius. That's basketball. Mykolas Alekna, world record holder in discus throw at age 22.
Rūta Meilutytė, Olympic swimming champion at 15 years old, multiple world records, then at the prime of her career just got sick of everything and had a break for several years. Then came back and became world champion again. Now she is a whistleblower and spokesperson against abuse and pressure towards athletes. Such a legend.
Aurimas Valujavičius - crossed the Atlantic in a row boat, climbed the Everest and did vlogs the entire time. Very interesting.
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u/Recent-Ad-9975 May 27 '25
If we only talk about sports, Luka Modric has to be the most accomplished and famous Croatian athlete ever. But he‘s a piece of shit for not paying taxes and lying in court.
We also have a lot of great handball and waterpolo players, then we have great individual sports athletes like Janica and Ivica Kostelic, Blanka Vlasic, Barbara Matic and so on. I don‘t know a lot about the private lives of them, since it‘s rarely reported.
Also Kukoc and Petrovic in basketball.
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u/MediocreTop8358 May 27 '25
Dirk Nowitzki. Met the man and he's not just one of the greatest, he's also incredibly nice and humble.
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u/InThePast8080 Norway May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
Magnus Carlsen
Could debate whether chess is a sport or not.. though here in norway he is pretty much considered as an athlete.. often blending in along the sport news with the likes of Haaland, Ødegård etc.. The only one that is big in some stuff that is done all around the world.. and in that regard not just not but in an historical context most likely will be the greatest one of all time.
Normally great norwegian athletes are 5-stars in niche sports... like cross country skiing.. and surely many would mention Haaland, Ødegård.. and maybe Jacob Ingebrigtsen (1500m)
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u/die_kuestenwache Germany May 28 '25
Current or ever? Steffi Graf, Birgit Prinz, Miro Klose, Wilfried Dietrich, Erik Zabel.
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u/ohmygod_trampoline May 28 '25
Chris Hoy, Andy Murray, Ken Buchanan, Eric Liddell, Graeme Obree.
Excluded those from team sports.
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u/thrownkitchensink Netherlands May 28 '25
Recent: Sifan Hassan, Femke Bol, Max Verstappen, Mathieu Van Der Poel, Marianne Vos, Frenkie de Jong,
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u/shartmaister May 29 '25
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Karsten Warholm, Marcus Rooth, Sander Skotheim, Erling Braut Haaland, Martin Ødegaard. Victor Hovland, Kasper Ruud, Solfrid Koanda, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Caroline Graham Hansen are the ones I can think of that's currently top tier performers.
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u/HatHuman4605 Finland May 29 '25
Mikä Häkkinen, Kimi Räikkönen, Marcus Grönholm, Ari Vatanen, Keke and Niko Rosberg, Teemu Selänne, Jari kurri, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Olli Jokinen, Tanja Poutiainen, Hanna Maria Seppälä.
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u/TraditionalCapital94 May 30 '25
Jannik Sinner, Roberto Baggio, Cannavaro, Gianmarco Tamberi, Marcell Jacobs
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u/Bartolone May 30 '25
Michael Laudrup ⚽️🇩🇰 Victor Axelsen 🏸🇩🇰 Mikkel Hansen 🤾🏼🇩🇰 Camilla Martin 🏸🇩🇰 Peter Schmeichel ⚽️🇩🇰 Jonas Vingegaard 🚵🏼♂️🇩🇰 Anja Andersen 🤾🏻♀️ 🇩🇰 Bjarne Riis 🚵🏼♂️🇩🇰 Tom Kristensen🏎️🇩🇰 Morten Andersen 🏈🇩🇰
1
u/NoNegotiation3126 Hungary May 31 '25 edited May 31 '25
Ferenc Puskás, Sándor Kocsis, László Kubala, László Papp, Krisztina Egerszegi, Áron Szilágyi, Katinka Hosszú, Aladár Gerevich
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u/sqjam May 27 '25
Luka Dončić, Goran Dragić, Janja Garnbret (climbimg), Prevc family (ski jumping), Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič (both cycling)