The greatest active athletes right now are Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, LeBron James, Adrian Peterson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Miguel Cabrera, Kevin Durant, Shaun White, Missy Franklin, Novak Djokovich and Lionel Messi.
There are however still great athletes alive that are inactive, like Muhammad Ali, Pele, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Franz Beckenbauer, Mike Tyson, Diego Maradona, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, Jim Brown, Pete Sampras, Lance Armstrong(before we knew he cheated;D), Bj?rn Borg, Bobby Orr and Martina Navratilova.
And then there are those former great athletes that are still active, but out of prime. Like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or John Brzenk(pulling John is still on).
When I had to pick someone out of these as "The greatest athlete alive", it would be Michael Jordan. Jordan isn't just the greatest basketball player ever, he is also the only out of these who s*** on physics and made impossible things for a human being possible.
If you asked me that question a few years ago I would have definitely said Lance Armstrong, but not anymore. I mean winning 7 consecutive Tour De France is even superior to Phelps winning 22 medals. Tour De France is said to be the most daring physical challenge from all sports. Only the Ironman Triathlon series can be considered harder. Unfortunately he cheated his way to these victories. I think the greatest athlete alive is probably Michael Phelps, with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning being close. Peyton is the greatest football player alive for sure.I mean he broke the record for the most MVP wins in the history of NFL with 4.
Greatest Athletes that are active:
Cycling: Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Jason Kenny.
Athletics: Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Ashton Eaton
Tennis: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafeal Nadal, Rodger Federer and serena williams.
Football: Lionel Messi, Robin Van Persie and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Swimmong: Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
Boxing: Floyd Mayweather Jr, Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Ward, Gulleemo Rigondeaux, Vasyl Lomachenko and Zou Shimming.
Gymnastics: Gabby Douglas.
Golf: Rory Mcllroy and Tiger woods.
MMA: Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey
Edit:
the greatest all-round athlete: Daley Thompson - two time Olympics decathlon gold medalist.
Too many. I can't pick only one, there are so many great athletes, mate.
Soccer: Christiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney
Basketball: Lebron James
Rugby: Dan Carter, big time
MMA: George St. Pierre
Boxing: Wladimir Klitschko
Tennis: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
Olympics: Michael Phelps, Ussain Bolt, Chris Hoy and Bohdan Bondarenko
MLB: Mike Trout
NFL: Tom Brady
NHL: Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin
X Games: Tony Hawk and Kelly Slater
Auto Sports: Sebastian Vettel and Jimmie Johnson
There are more but I am getting bored now.
Athletics: Usain Bolt
Boxing: Wlad Klitschko
MMA: Georges St Pierre
Basketball: Lebron James
Tennis: Novak Djokovich
Overall I would have to say GSP he is freakishly good at everything he does gymnastics, athletics, MMA the guy never wrestled untill his early 20's and was good enough to Qualify for the Olympics
Michael Phelps, of course. Let's be realistic: Jordan, Ali, L. James and Bolt combined have 10 Olympic medals while Phelps alone he has 22. There are countries with less medals than him. Plus his sport is easily the hardest one if we had to compare him with a boxer, ball player or runner. Everyone can punch, throw hoops or run, but how many can swim like a shark inside water? Phelps for the win! He's the most decorated Olympian of all time for a reason.
Easy; Ashton Eaton
1. Floyd
2. Lebron
3. Carmelo
4. Vick
5. RGIII
Maybe Usain Bolt ,Lebron James or someone that no one knows much about.
