I think the term "greatest athlete" implies that the person can do multiple athletic activities really well. That would kind of point toward decathletes, though their sports are a bit concentrated, too.

If I had to pick one athlete to represent the United States in a decathlon that included sprinting, weightlifting, floor gymnastics, boxing, the high jump, the marathon, the hammer throw, rock climbing, running the ball on 4th and 5, and maybe the javelin, who would it be?

With those criteria, I have to go with Wilt Chamberlain.

This brought a tear to my eye I'm laffin' so hard.

Pete chilcutt.

Nathan Peterman

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You didn’t see Wilt.

Saw him in a 3 way at mile high with russel Wilson.

Clutch City!

Jim Brown and Bobby Bell come to mind..

Stop reading the Steele dossier.

Jim Brown ain't off my table.

I'm sitting here watching NHL, and it reminds me Gretzky deserves mention.

Thought about listing him, but doubted anyone in KC watched hockey in the 80s.

Rich garces

Wilt Chamberlain. I'm not even joking. 7 foot tall. Freak athlete. How is Jordan ahead of Wilt? Look at Wilt's seasons. They are absurd. He had a 51 ppg, 26 rpg season. They changed the rules because of him.

No golfer can ever get it. I played golf in college. Golf is barely a sport. It doesn't require much athleticism to be good at, despite what you guys are going to try to tell me.