Author Topic: What makes an "elite" athlete" (Read 6974 times)

horton · « **on:** August 18, 2011, 05:42:02 pm »

at what point can somebody consider them-self to be an elite athlete?

for example, I am 5'8 and my vertical is right around 40+ right now. I can cockback with 1 arm, catch dunks off the backboard, and just got my first 2 handed dunk off the dribble yesterday. I expect in the next 3-4 months to start throwing down some crazy dunks, for example 360 which I am very close to at the moment, just cant get it down.

Anyways, being 5'8 with my vertical and being able to do all that, does that make me an elite athlete? Now i am not crazy strong or fast, so does that put me out of contention for what somebody would consider to be an "elite athlete".

I'd just like to hear you guys thoughts on what you would consider a person with elite athletic abilities to be. Is somebody like a Lebron James who is incredibly strong, built like a tank, and extremely explosive with a 40+ inch vertical a good example of what somebody of the highest athleticism ranks would be? I think so. Other examples I can think of are Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Nate Robinson, etc.

Another question I have is can somebody excel in 1 area of athleticism and be considered "elite". For example T-Dub. he jumps ridiculously high, but what if he was weak and slow? I dont think that would make him an average athlete just because he only excels in 1 area. Another example is NFL running back Chris Johnson. CRAZY fast, but what if he couldnt lift a lot and had a low vertical?

just curious to hear your thoughts everyone. My goals are to have a running vertical of at least 45 inches, be able to throw down 360s and tomahawks, and bench 200+ pounds all at 5'8 and 155lbs w/single digit body fat. Would that make me an "elite athlete"?

LBSS · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2011, 05:52:22 pm »

AN ELITE ATHLETE IS SOMEONE WHO COMPETES IN ATHLETIC COMPETITION AT AN ELITE LEVEL. THE END.

horton · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2011, 06:06:28 pm »

Quote from: LBSS on August 18, 2011, 05:52:22 pm

AN ELITE ATHLETE IS SOMEONE WHO COMPETES IN ATHLETIC COMPETITION AT AN ELITE LEVEL. THE END.

I GUESS THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY TO PUT IT

D4 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2011, 06:27:18 pm »

I would say you are elite in the vertical department. 40"+ is part of a VERY small percentage of athletes. I don't know how fast you are though, but if you aren't, with some practice sprinting, you should be fairly fast since vertical and sprinting have similar correlations.

Now Lebron might be one of the most athletic people ever. 6'8" 250+ with a ~44" vertical and is very strong.

Everyone will have different criteria though when it comes to categorizing someone as "elite".

I personally think you can say t-dub is an elite athlete even if he turned out to be weak as hell and slow (which I'm sure is not the case at all), because he's a jumper and in that sense it doesn't get any more 'elite' than him.

But yeah, if I would categorize you as an "elite" athlete for a BASKETBALL player, I wouldn't put you there yet, because although you have the vertical, from what I've seen in your bball videos, you aren't 'elite' explosive on your drives and stuff. But remember the post I put in your journal? If you keep practicing bball specifc moves, you have the potential to be elite in those as well. (I do realize those videos may not be going 100% and it was a small sample but still)

Carmelo comes to mind, someone who is very explosive off the dribble, but doesn't have "elite" vertical.
Someone like Jordan Farmar who has a 44" vertical doesnt really have the quickness/explosiveness of someone with a 44" vertical. (like you)

Derrick Rose is an example of both. He is explosive and quick as his vertical indicates. I think his vert is 45" I saw him get his head on rim before.

LanceSTS · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2011, 09:20:26 pm »

Quote from: LBSS on August 18, 2011, 05:52:22 pm

AN ELITE ATHLETE IS SOMEONE WHO COMPETES IN ATHLETIC COMPETITION AT AN ELITE LEVEL. THE END.

^^ thats the bottom line. People can consider themselves "elite" because of things they did in training/ etc., but to be elite you have to beat the majority of other athletes on the planet, in your sport, in your event, in competition.

JelloPuddinPup · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2011, 10:04:31 pm »

Being an elite athlete, in my opinion, means doing something better than 99.9% of everyone else trying to do the same thing.

99.8% = not elite. Just my opinion though.

LBSS · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2011, 10:56:24 pm »

Quote from: JelloPuddinPup on August 18, 2011, 10:04:31 pm

Being an elite athlete, in my opinion, means doing something better than 99.9% of everyone else trying to do the same thing.

99.8% = not elite. Just my opinion though.

meaningless arbitrary number is meaningless and arbitrary. see my response for the correct answer.

JelloPuddinPup · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2011, 11:02:37 pm »

Quote from: LBSS on August 18, 2011, 10:56:24 pm

Quote from: JelloPuddinPup on August 18, 2011, 10:04:31 pm
Being an elite athlete, in my opinion, means doing something better than 99.9% of everyone else trying to do the same thing.

99.8% = not elite. Just my opinion though.

meaningless arbitrary number is meaningless and arbitrary. see my response for the correct answer.

Never said you were wrong. We both stated our opinions. Just so you know, you don't have to agree with mine; that's what opinions are all about.

steven-miller · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2011, 07:55:06 am »

Quote from: LanceSTS on August 18, 2011, 09:20:26 pm

Quote from: LBSS on August 18, 2011, 05:52:22 pm
AN ELITE ATHLETE IS SOMEONE WHO COMPETES IN ATHLETIC COMPETITION AT AN ELITE LEVEL. THE END.

^^ thats the bottom line. People can consider themselves "elite" because of things they did in training/ etc., but to be elite you have to beat the majority of other athletes on the planet, in your sport, in your event, in competition.

+1 and +1

$ick3nin.v3nd3tta · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2011, 05:23:21 pm »

For me the elite athlete is the one person who dominates there event/competition during there era. It's only a very select group. Just turning pro like thousands of other athletes/sportsmen isn't enough to be considered elite IMO. Michael Jordon, Michael Johnson, Michael Phelps etc enter the elite bracket but not every NBA player, track athlete or swimmer for example.

T-DUB is elite for his event/speciality.

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Author Topic: What makes an "elite" athlete" (Read 6974 times)

horton

What makes an "elite" athlete"

LBSS

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

horton

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

D4

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

LanceSTS

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

JelloPuddinPup

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

LBSS

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

JelloPuddinPup

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

steven-miller

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"

$ick3nin.v3nd3tta

Re: What makes an "elite" athlete"