Name an athlete you don't like, no matter how good s/he is, and give your reasons.
Please don't choose anyone who has been disgraced (e.g. Lance Armstrong). We all know he, and other disgraced athletes are twonks. Stick with someone current or retired who remains in good standing with their sport.
For me, it's got to be Fernando Alonso. I just read that he won LeMans (or something), and I am sure he is an incredible driver. But man, oh man, can that guy whinge!
I can probably think of others, but I think that Alonso takes the cake for me.
Nigel Mansell. Ronaldo.
Never understood him, don’t like his links to the whole drug scandals that have been mooted, never warmed to him... MoBot?
Whateva.
Lewis Hamilton. Can't listen to that stupid accent.
Any rugby players or cricketers. Because rugby and cricket are both total shite. Rugby in particular is played by toffs or wools.
2nd Mo Farah. For so many reasons.
Andy Murray. Cry baby mummy's boy.
Ben Stokes. A drunken thug who got away with it.
I don't particularly like/trust ultra-competitive people, so I suppose most athletes would fall into that bracket. I think cheating is endemic across professional sports.
The same goes for most of the people we are told to admire - "great" entrepreneurs, great politicians etc - I prefer the little people, the last shall be first etc.
But I retain a particular animus for bully boys like Boycott, and flash harrys like Lewis Hamilton.
I'd share a beer with Valentino Rossi and Freddie Flintoff.
^^ totally get that, cant stand him.
Kelly Holmes, one decent season of running and get made a Dame.
Lewis Hamilton.
Itoje he is definitely a monster and very good at his job. Probably a world leader.
And as such I just don't get why he has to be such a dick, it's the cheating I just don't get, mind you you could apply that to all professional sports people.
+1 for Andy Murray, makes Morrisey seem vibrant and don't get me started on the Uruguay thing.
muhammed ali i would have to say as one choice.
no doubt he was a great boxer but watching a doc where joe frazier was talking about how ali would constantly berate him before the fight (calling him an uncle tom amongst other things as well as insulting joe's wife) definitely cooled some respect for the man.
i can definitely think of other choices eg thuggish footballers,cheats e.t.c
Tahnee Seagrave. She's loads better than I'll ever be, but a couple of years back every interview seemed to have various shades of whinging about how "winny" Rachel Atherton was and how it was all so unfair on Tahnee or something.
Athlete's Foot. Never met in person, I've heard he's a fun guy in an infectious sort of way, but doesn't seem likeable and he has a tinea pedis.
Tyson fury
Sure.. He can move but the man is a walking contradiction. Can't warm to him and just hear lies every time he speaks.
Marc Marquez , unbelievably talented.
Why? 2015.
Paul Pogba, only tries when he's winning. If I were one of these billionaire owners I'd make his every waking moment a misery until he did what he's paid to do. Every miserable F1 driver, non of them seem to want to speak to one another.
Eddie Irvine "I was a better driver than Schumacher, he was just better at setting up the car".
Aye, right.
Joey Barton.
Peter Sagan.
Great rider, great bike handler, probably the best all-rounder at this moment in time. Still manages to come across as an arrogant little snotbag.
Schumacher - cheat.
Alonso - see above.
Will Carling - unbearably smug.
Chris Sutton - have you heard 606 recently? He's more annoying than Robbie Savage.
Mansell, Hamilton, Mo and Murray seem like basically good eggs.
Pheidippides, alright mate you ran a marathon, let it go.
Not really an athlete but Ronnie O Sullivan. He never seems to get beaten by a better player, he's just playing badly that day.
Federer, same reason as Ronnie above, and the white pimp suit.
Denise Lewis. It’s like BBC just gave her a platform to talk about endlessly about herself 😴.
Years ago would have said Cav but have warmed to him a lot as he’s got older. It’s hard to judge young athletes as it seems to take them a while to find themselves-much like anyone else, just more in view.
Everything about Hamilton's public image makes me prepared to dislike him, but he actually seems like a decent guy.
Totally agree Sagan comes across a bit arrogant, but he also comes over totally authentic to himself and he doesn't make excuses when he's just not strong enough (I know he used to moan about being marked out of races, but it was true!). Usually I don't like to see dominant riders keep winning, but don't mind with Sagan as he's such a force of nature.
Taking the thread title literally, I don't like Froome, but I don't really dislike him either.
Tahnee Seagrave. She’s loads better than I’ll ever be, but a couple of years back every interview seemed to have various shades of whinging about how “winny” Rachel Atherton was and how it was all so unfair on Tahnee or something.
Understandable - and I know others feel the same. Personally I struggle to warm to Rachel and feel she masks her ruthless competitiveness behind a facade of supportiveness for the other girls. I prefer Tahnee's riding style too.
Years ago would have said Cav but have warmed to him a lot as he’s got older.
Ditto, respect him for being an open book (albeit one about anger management) and enjoy listening to his analysis of racing. Hope he goes into DSing or punditry. He;d be cycling's version of McEnroe.
Kelly Holmes, one decent season of running and get made a Dame.
I would have thought that two Olympic gold medals was a bit more than one decent season of running but if that's not enough for you have a look below .
Competition record
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing Great Britain and England
1993 World Championships Stuttgart, Germany 5th (sf) 800m 1:58.64
1994 Commonwealth Games Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 1st 1500m 4:08.86
European Championships Helsinki, Finland 2nd 1500m 4:19.30
IAAF World Cup London, England 3rd 1500m 4:10.81
European Cup Birmingham, England 2nd 1500m 4:06.48
1995 World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 3rd 800m 1:56.95
2nd 1500m 4:03.04
European Cup Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France 1st 1500m 4:07.02
1996 European Cup Madrid, Spain 2nd 800m 1:58.20
Olympic Games Atlanta, Georgia, United States 4th 800m 1:58.81
11th 1500m 4:07.46
1997 European Cup Munich, Germany 1st 1500m 4:04.79
1998 Commonwealth Games Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2nd 1500m 4:06.10
1999 World Championships Seville, Spain 4th (sf) 800m 2:00.77
2000 Summer Olympics Sydney, Australia 3rd 800m 1:56.80
7th 1500m 4:08.02
2001 World Championships Edmonton, Canada 6th 800m 1:59.76
2002 European Championships Munich, Germany 3rd 800m 1:59.83
11th (h) 1500m 4:08.11
Commonwealth Games Manchester, England 1st 1500m 4:05.99
2003 World Championships Paris, France 2nd 800m 2:00.18
World Indoor Championships Birmingham, England 2nd 1500m 4:02.66
IAAF World Athletics Final Monte Carlo, Monaco 2nd 800m 1:59.92
2004 Summer Olympics Athens, Greece 1st 800m 1:56.38
1st 1500m 3:57.90
IAAF World Athletics Final Monte Carlo, Monaco 1st 1500m 4:04.55
Andy Murray
I'm a fan Ronnie O'Sullivan, loved that 146 two fingers up (albeit appreciate if others don't given it was him saying the prize money was nothing).
Chris Sutton like Robbie Savage have been bought in by FiveLive to feed the ratings - the Jeremy Kyle idea that you need conflict to garner interest in a information overload world.
It's a great shame as I used to love FiveLive, now it is like listening to a group of obnoxious idiots in a pub spending more time point scoring than developing an interesting discussion. The same goes increasingly for Waddle I'm afraid, who was a very under-rated player, but seems to have developed an anger problem.
And I have disliked Richie Porte since he took Dan Martin out of the GC running in the Tour the other year.
Yeah I know anyone could crash, but it wasn't a surprise it was him - was it?
Pheidippides, alright mate you ran a marathon, let it go.
He paid for it though.
Iwan Thomas. Never a great but " ...look at me I'm on Tv... again."
Chris Sutton is a great shout, not a huge fan of lawreson just seems knackered all the time.
I admire Wiggo's achievements but he is a bit of a fud isn't he?
Brian Moore.
gary lineker
mark lawrenson
cocks.
I don't know any athletes well enough to actually dislike them.
You can generally dislike humanity without having met every person that's ever lived too.
Athlete’s Foot. Never met in person, I’ve heard he’s a fun guy in an infectious sort of way, but doesn’t seem likeable and he has a tinea pedis.
👏 This did not go unnoticed!!
I don’t know any athletes well enough to actually dislike them.
what you doing in the thread caller?
Serena Williams
Pepe
Lewis Hamilton
Nairo Quintana
Seb Coe
Not sure if id say lewis hamilton is an athlete. In fact.. hes definitely not.
Dean Karnazes. Read his book, rather annoying guy. Likes to promote himself as the greatest ultramarathon runner ever, but seems he is fairly average.
Tom Simpson. Drugs cheat.
Lewis Hamilton - it's the diamond earrings. Ugh.
Serena Williams - vile
Novak Djokovic - total a++e
Seb Coe - arrogant
Jeremy Guscott - arrogant
Freddie Flintoff - the death of Top Gear
Ronaldo - Cheat. Although he is hardly alone in this.
Not sure why Andy Murray gets so much stick. I think he is a quite a humorous good-natured character. When he isn't actually playing of course.
Lewis Hamilton - someone above said not fit??? Jesus. Obviously never tried car racing then.
Will Carling – unbearably smug.
I heard an anecdote about a Leicester vs Harlequins match where Will Carling had made a comment to a Leicester supporter from the field. The supporter in question waited around after the game had finished and punched Will Carling in the face. A witness to this, commented “ that’s the first time I have seen a fan hit the shit!”
I hope it is true.
Not sure I’m keen on these threads. They can get a bit unpleasant. However, I’m here now... 😀
I’ve always liked listening to David Walsh being interviewed (one of the journos that went after Lance) about professional sports people. And given his reputation for sports writing, he probably has a better insight into this group of people than nearly all of us here. He always says (and I paraphrase) that he’s always told his kids that when they look for role-models, that professional sportsmen and sportswomen are amongst the last groups to which they should look, because they’re nearly all arseholes anyway. For me, it’s often easier to judge a sportsperson on how they live their life post-career and if they make an attempt to “put/give something back”. To this extent, I have a lot of time for, say, Didier Drogba (Who I really didn’t like as a player) but had gone on to do good things with his fame and fortune. Sure they’re entitled to a private life too of course.
I had no idea what arseholes Chris Sutton and Robbie Savage were until they got jobs on 5Live.
Seems to be a lot of animosity towards motorsportists - not s fan of the genre but have watched all the good quality documentaries about the various different ones that have come out in the last few years. They all seem pretty unpleasant but I guess you don’t win F1 races by being a nice chap.
Ian Botham because he's a spokesperson for the grouse shooting lobby and bullies anyone who actually quotes scientific evidence of it's environmental impact.
Chris Froome
Never seen any pro look so bad on a bike. He has such bad style. And when he was complaining about being attacked on a decent a few years back didn't do him any favours in my book.
Not sure I understand this - they’re athletes, not tv presenters (apart from those that now are) or someone I spend time with down the pub. They can be complete narcissists for all I care, if they’re awesome at their chosen sport then what does it matter?
Wouldn’t say I don’t like them, but there are a few rugby players I can’t understand why they’re so rated. They do one or 2 quite skilful things in a season, but most of what i see is them doing stuff that ruins their team. Both are no. 10s - Quade Cooper and Elton Jantjies
They’re about as near as get to disliking someone.
James DeGale comes across as a bit of a knobber, but mostly I don’t like his boxing style, so I don’t like him.
Don’t like any golfers but thats because I don’t like golf.
Neymar.
I used to love playing football. I still like it.
I used to love watching football. I hate watching it now.
Neymar's cheating and diving antics typify the aspect of the game that has ruined my love of it - the need to "win" a free-kick or a penalty and the player behaviour that breeds.
And when he was complaining about being attacked on a decent a few years back didn’t do him any favours in my book.
He rose to that challenge though didn't he?
Harry Kane.
What flange says. They're not supposed to be likeable.
Steve Smith and David Warner
And I used to hate Michael Clarke as a player but I'm warming to him slightly as a pundit.
Serena Williams is the worst. An awful person. Vettel, Hamilton, Pogba, Neymar, Schumacher, Kyrgios, Warner the Aussie cricketer...all chumps!
Glenn Hoddle - his dislike of Raheem Sterling is so transparent and ridiculous. Never gives the lad any credit and homes in on the most trivial incidents to criticise him whilst other players in the England team play poorly without getting flask.
Seeing him almost bursting into tears after the Champions League final was (very small) consolation for seeing the trophy go to Anfield
Lawrenson should have been pensioned off about twenty years ago. He’s like Marvin the paranoid android. And Chris Sutton could start an argument in an empty room
But nothing makes me want to kick the telly in more than the dulcet scouse tones of Steve McManomanomman, who spent most of career sat on the bench and somewhat inexpli Inez still has a career as a commentator
He talks utter shite!
Neymar ruins football, but he's not alone.
No one mentioned Suarez yet. There's one to get your teeth into.
And before such cynicism became so common, I absolutely hated Steve McMahon. Nasty, horrible footballer.
Joey Barton comes across as an utterly reprehensible human being as well, both on and off the pitch.
John Terry, Paolo Di Canio etc.....
Cav, can't bear to watch his attitude in interviews.
What flange says. They’re not supposed to be likeable.
See, I disagree with this. Well, maybe they don't have to be likeable per se, but sportsmanship - which I would at least in part interpret as being a decent human being - is part of the appeal of a good athlete. I mean, who are you going to respect more: the athlete who you hear in the news helped some old lady who broke her hip on the street, or the athlete you hear in the news was complaining that life isn't fair because some opponent knocked him, and his paycheque isn't big enough?
Maybe it's not the best example/analogy, but you know what I mean. It's only about the results the individual produces in his/her own sport; it's also about how they go about achieving those results, as well as what they do in the meantime.
Andy Murray.
.
Kimi Raikenen. Although not sure how much of his persona is playing to the audience and how much is genuine but seems to have far too many 'can't be arsed' races, although fewer of these last year.
Chris Froome
Never seen any pro look so bad on a bike. He has such bad style.
Whereas I really like him, races hard but off the bike seems a nice guy. I have never warmed to G however, dont dislike him as such just a bit mleh.
Surprised at all the dislike if Andy Murray. Alright, he does not interview well but in the more candid things I've seen of him he comes across well.
Graham Swann is my nomination. likes to be see as the joker but is really a no it all bully.
Not sure I understand this – they’re athletes, not tv presenters (apart from those that now are) or someone I spend time with down the pub. They can be complete narcissists for all I care, if they’re awesome at their chosen sport then what does it matter?
+1 grown ups going on about people they don't know and have probably never even met. Discussing how dislikable they are often for the most trivial of reasons 🙁🙁
I've worked in anti doping for the last 14 years. This means I've met athletes I've wanted too and athletes I've no interest in. All I'll say is I've learnt to have no preconceptions!
TV does not give an accurate picture of some people.
Saying that. I've met some complete nobs!
Andy Murray is great.
His put down of the journalist regarding female players is perfect example of someone who doesn't have his head up is own arse.
Are all these ;dislikes' based on media interviews? Has anyone actually met these really unpleasant people? It's similar to basing likes and dislikes on what people write on the internet.
Over the years I’ve actually really warmed to Froome as a racer. He actually illuminates races. Getting into a break with Sagan, riding on the top tube in a solo attack and the attack in last years Giro, showed real determination. Not many other GC contenders attack like he does. Especially Quintana. Contador was similar in his attacking to Froome and he is a Demi God in the Latin countries.
He also shows his vulnerabilities, he is not the autobot people perceive and when he is in difficulty it’s written all over his face.
Tiger Woods is probably the only sports person I’d say I don’t want to win. Possibly Paula Radcliffe back in the day as well, not sure I trust her anti PED stance.
Is anyone who sits down for a living (drivers) really an athlete?!
I can't stand the pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw. She's a dour-faced grump who can't even decide for herself if it's too windy to jump (looks at her coach away in the stand to tell her when to jump between gusts).
Froome, took British money to develop his talent, then pissed off to tax exile in Monaco when he should have been paying back into the system (along with every other sportsman who does the same).
Is anyone who sits down for a living (drivers) really an athlete?!
Don't ever watch the papalympics, you'll have a meltdown!
I don't know why it is that I like some unstoppable winners (e.g. Sagan in his prime) but not others (especially when they're reputed to be super nice guys) but for some reason I've not warmed to Mathieu van der Poel. I think he is the definition of 'playstation cycling' as he just wins by being soooo much better than everyone else, which seems weirdly unsportsmanlink 😆
Which is why I much prefer Wout van Aert who seems to play by the rules a bit more, loved his (almost) Strade Bianchi comeback when he just time trialled up to the two leaders then steam trained past them (only to be quickly caught and relegated to third) but also felt genuinely delighted at his sprint win in CdD.
Also: Have I missed something?? How have we got this far into the thread without anyone mentioned Sergio Ramos?
Don’t ever watch the papalympics, you’ll have a meltdown!
Yeah, that mobility scooter racing really get's on my tits.
along with every other sportsman who does the same
+1 Very much this, Lewis moaning about Stevenage and then off shoring his private jet purchase
Sol Campbell
Two faced weasel, I don't think that there's a Spurs fan that doesn't detest him.
I so hope we draw Macclesfield in a cup competition!
he’s always told his kids that when they look for role-models, that professional sportsmen and sportswomen are amongst the last groups to which they should look, because they’re nearly all arseholes anyway.
I've always been bemused that athletes are 'supposed' to be role models. These are men and women who are paid - often - lots of money for essentially useless skills like being able to ride a bicycle very fast, kick a ball very hard, jump very high etc. Why on earth have we created a culture which also expects them to be articulate, intelligent, morally upright, inspirational etc?
Even if you do have a 'right' to 'like' or 'dislike' someone you don't even know, you should maybe question where that tendency takes you in the light of the villification of, say, Raheem Sterling in the media or the borderline racism directed at Tyson Fury or numerous others. They're just people displaying the full range of character traits that people have. Some of them less obviously sympathetic than others. Turning them into cartoon cutout objects of derision or adoration may be understandable, but the process is arguably a pretty negative one for us as a society. Hello tabloid culture.
In really simple terms we're teaching young people that it's acceptable and normal to dislike - and often 'hate' - people we don't really know on the basis of superficial appearances and behaviour.
I'm not saying you shouldn't deplore unpleasant actions - someone like Joey Barton appears to be a violent thug for example, but you could even argue that he's partly the product of mixing someone with what appear to be mental health issues, with a culture of sports celebrity that prizes athletic ability over all else.
So no, I don't dislike athletes. It seems like a borderline ridiculous thing to do and one that says more about us and our culture than about them.
I was going to add a comment on what a load of judgemental cockwombles you are claiming to know enough about a person who has worked hard to become outstanding in their chosen field of endeavour.
But...
Yeah, Lewis Hamilton
and Serena Williams
and basically any Liverpool player ever.
I was all set to dislike Tom Dumoulin on account of his being Dutch, but he seems like a decent guy.
Always kind of liked Peter Sagan, though. Plus he did a great astronomy series.
Froome, took British money to develop his talent, then pissed off to tax exile in Monaco
When did he take British money then to develop his talents? He raced as an amateur for Kenya and then turned pro
So in summary, the over entitled, tax exiles and footballers?
Sounds about right.
What's gets my goat more than anything is that these arses are earning shedloads of money and not paying taxes whilst living the best life, doing what they have always wanted to do.
And I'm not!
goes in phases, but many that I'd have wanted to win in the past, I'd actively unsupport now for being childish and unsportsmanlike.
Vettel's the new top of the list, but I was glad he beat Alonso, just like Alonso beat Schumacher
Schumacher was on the list for being a sore loser, but got the benefit of the doubt after such life changing injuries
Always "never liked" Pete Sampras for some reason
Sharapova never liked and then she gave good reason
Liverpool and Spurs - well I totally loathe football anyway, but those are the ones where friends go on and on and on and on and ariston about those teams, when they don't come from either the North West nor London, but do call them "we". So I happily cheer when they lose.
Tiger Woods definitely on the list, but it's hard to tell how much was due to prescription drug addiction and the US healthcare system where money buys whatever you want, and your doc pockets a commission for complying with your request to overrule their medical expertise.
Armstrong ... utter T**T