Sport's boundaries blurred by sheer prowess of all-round athletes

ALL-round athlete. There's three words that grate like no other to those of us of a sporting mind, but for whom the binding signals between brain, arm and legs are nothing but a complex mix of loose wiring that results in a tangled mess of limbs whenever we attempt to engage in sporting activity.

What then are we to make of the CB Frys of this world – a true English cricketing great who amassed 94 first-class centuries, including an unprecedented six consecutive centuries in 1901? This would be fine if not for the fact Fry is also fondly remembered for setting the world long-jump record in 1893, being capped by the English national football team in 1901 and playing in an FA Cup final for Sheffield United in 1902. Finished? Sadly, no. Fry also represented the Barbarians at rugby union.

Turns the stomach.

If, however, you're one to heartily congratulate sporting achievement then there are plenty more multi-talented sports men and women to coo over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A most recent example, of course, is Beijing Olympics gold-medallist Rebecca Romero. In winning the individual pursuit, rower-turned-cyclist Romero became the first British woman to compete in two different sports at the Olympics and only the second woman of any country (after Roswitha Krause of East Germany) to win a medal in two different sports at summer Games.

Scotland can call on examples, too.

Hall of Fame inductee Leslie M Balfour-Melville earned his place among the pantheon of greats by representing Scotland at rugby and cricket – a sport in which he captained the Scots to victory over Australia in 1882 – as well as winning the Scottish Lawn Tennis Championship and also the British Amateur Golf Championship.

More recently there was Andy Goram who, in the late Eighties and early Nineties, twinned being part of Rangers all-conquering nine-in-a-row side with turning out for the Scottish cricket team four times as a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler.

Across Britain there is a rich history of talent crisscrossing betwixt the football pitch and the oval. In addition to the aforementioned Fry, Dennis Compton played in 78 Test matches for England in addition to turning out for Arsenal in 60 official games, earning 12 unofficial (ie war-time) appearances for England's football side. Geoff Hurst, England's World Cup-winning hero of 1966 turned out for Essex, while, in more modern times, England all-rounder Ian Botham made 11 appearances for Scunthorpe United between 1979 and 1984.

Golf too, has lured many a professional footballer to the links on their day off. Some, like former QPR, Blackburn and Coventry striker Roy Wegerle have made it as far the European Tour. Others, such as eight-time tennis Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl have made it on to the pro circuit via a different sporting route.

But enough of these sporting greats. There are those out there who may think their lack of physical ability is made up for by their finely honed mental skills, such as those employed by current chess grandmaster Simen Agdestein. His other achievements include nine caps for Norway's national football side before injury forced his retirement in 1992.

Related topics: