Is he one of the greatest sportsmen ever?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-2487027/Tony-McCoy-wins-4-000th-race-Mountain-Tunes-Towcester.html

Or......THE greatest ever?

I don't really know that much about Racing but it's certainly a great achievement, so yes, i guess you'd have to say he's one of the greatest sportsmen.

Not too sure about The greatest blue, but definitely one of.

I don't know if a jockey can ever be the greatest ever sportsman, in the same sense a racing driver can't; all the hard graft is done by something else and all you're doing is prove you can keep focus and control.  It's not quite in the same league as pushing the boundaries of your own strength like runners, swimmers and other athletic types do.  Even cyclists, because although the bike can gear up effort, the rider is the engine.

That said, it's a hugely impressive feat and he definitely deserves praise for being so successful for such a long period of time.  I remember all the fuss being made of Frankie Dettori and he's a total novice compared to McCoy.  On that basis he deserves to be named as one of the greatest sportsmen.  I think that would be fair.

He is so far clear of anyone else, he is in another league. It's long been said that he can squeeze an extra bit of energy from a horse and that's worth it weight in gold at the business end of a race.

Some interesting stats: he is 1500 or so winners ahead of the next man. he has broken many bones in his body. he has won 18 jockey titles. he is 2 stone below his 'natural weight'. He's pushed his own body to it's limits and still comes back for more.

Topdawg wrote:He is so far clear of anyone else, he is in another league. It's long been said that he can squeeze an extra bit of energy from a horse and that's worth it weight in gold at the business end of a race.

Some interesting stats: he is 1500 or so winners ahead of the next man. he has broken many bones in his body. he has won 18 jockey titles. he is 2 stone below his 'natural weight'. He's pushed his own body to it's limits and still comes back for more.

When you think of what he achieved, what does nearly everyday of the year, the fact that he ad others in this sport, ride with fractures, cracked ribs etc and the miles they put in travelling to these race tracks...McCoy especially is an incredible sportsman.

His wife says he goes out riding with broken bones - even a broken collarbone. He was in intensive care a few months back and didn't want anyone to know. He's a machine.

Topdawg wrote:His wife says he goes out riding with broken bones - even a broken collarbone. He was in intensive care a few months back and didn't want anyone to know. He's a machine.