The Best Athlete on the Planet

WSJ panel picks Czech decathlete Sebrle to represent Earth at Intergalactic Games
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 20, 2008 12:40 PM CDT
The Best Athlete on the Planet
Perhaps a bit undersized, welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr. was rated the third-greatest athlete in the world by a panel assembled by the Wall Street Journal.   (AP Photo)

If Earth could only send one guy to a galactic Olympics, who would it be? The Wall Street Journal had a panel of sports experts hash it out, and its top 10 might surprise:

  1. Roman Sebrle: Czech decathlon champion wins on versatility.
  2. LeBron James: What can’t the NBA star do?
  3. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Boxing's demands make its top dog a lock for this list.

  1. LaDainian Tomlinson: Running back has unparalleled strength/speed combo.
  2. Roger Federer: Tennis champ possesses sprinter’s speed, acrobat’s coordination.
  3. Sidney Crosby: NHL MVP can shoot, skate, and take a hit.
  4. Liu Xiang: Chinese star held world’s 110-meter hurdles record until last week.
  5. Jeremy Wariner: American may soon hold world’s 400-meter dash record.
  6. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira: Better known to soccer fans as Ronaldinho.
  7. Alex Rodriguez: Yankees star barely makes the list, because baseball is slow.
(More athlete stories.)

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