Germany's greatest athlete

[arthur d]

As voted by ZDF viewers. Comments? No football player in the top three, is this surprising?

1. Michael Schumacher (Formel 1)
2. Birgit Fischer (Kanu)
3. Steffi Graf (Tennis)
4. Franz Beckenbauer (Fußball)
5. Boris Becker (Tennis)
6. Max Schmeling (Boxen)
7. Jan Ullrich (Rad)
8. Franziska van Almsick (Schwimmen)
9. Gerd Müller (Fußball)
10. Oliver Kahn (Fußball)
11. Michael Ballack (Fußball)
12. Dirk Nowitzki (Basketball)
13. Rudi Völler (Fußball)
14. Stefan Krtezschmar (Handball)
15. Fritz Walter (Fussball)
16. Juergen Klinsmann (Fussball)
17. Ludger Beerbaum (Reiten)
18. Sven Hannawald (Skispringen)
19. Katharina Witt (Eiskunstlauf)
20. Erich Zabel (Rad)

More football players:
21. Uwe Seeler
27. Helmut Rahn
28. Birgit Prinz
29. Sepp Maier
47. Nia Kuenzer

[PileD]

As voted by ZDF viewers. Comments? No football player in the top three, is this surprising?

1. Michael Schumacher (Formel 1)
2. Birgit Fischer (Kanu)
3. Steffi Graf (Tennis)
4. Franz Beckenbauer (Fußball)
5. Boris Becker (Tennis)
6. Max Schmeling (Boxen)
7. Jan Ullrich (Rad)
8. Franziska van Almsick (Schwimmen)
9. Gerd Müller (Fußball)
10. Oliver Kahn (Fußball)
11. Michael Ballack (Fußball)
12. Dirk Nowitzki (Basketball)
13. Rudi Völler (Fußball)
14. Stefan Krtezschmar (Handball)
15. Fritz Walter (Fussball)
16. Juergen Klinsmann (Fussball)
17. Ludger Beerbaum (Reiten)
18. Sven Hannawald (Skispringen)
19. Katharina Witt (Eiskunstlauf)
20. Erich Zabel (Rad)

More football players:
21. Uwe Seeler
27. Helmut Rahn
28. Birgit Prinz
29. Sepp Maier
47. Nia Kuenzer

They are all great, make in their sports the best they could or can do.
Difficould to pick one

[Stogey23]

Where is Lothar, of the Hill People?

[rivellino1]

How in the hell an effing race car driver ended up as the #1 athlete? What happened to you Germans? Can't produce an athlete without steroids?

[Mattbro]

Good question. I can sit in a car for three hours every Sunday too. Where's my award?

[Mattbro]

How in the hell an effing race car driver ended up as the #1 athlete? What happened to you Germans? Can't produce an athlete without steroids?

Of course they can. How about Nina Kraft who just won the Iron Man? Oh wait....

[herewego]

Mathematics / Statistics is the reason.

There are 7 Footballers under the first 20. That shows how popular football is and it shows, how many footballers are big stars. But as a teamsport with 11 winners for every great success for every generation, it divides the decision of the football supporters in a public poll like this.

[arthur d]

Where is Lothar, of the Hill People?

Yes, I was also surprised. Between 50th and 100th I think. The vote was also about personality apparently (err that's why Schumacher won). :rolleyes:

[arthur d]

Good question. I can sit in a car for three hours every Sunday too. Where's my award?

Maybe you shoud let one of the Formula one teams know, you might miss out on a lot of money here....

[arthur d]

Mathematics / Statistics is the reason.

There are 7 Footballers under the first 20. That shows how popular football is and it shows, how many footballers are big stars. But as a teamsport with 11 winners for every great success for every generation, it divides the decision of the football supporters in a public poll like this.

Good point. Still Birgit Fischer was a bit of a (positive *) surprise.

* even more positive when she was still competing for East Germany. Sorry, bad joke.

[herewego]

Birgit Fischer is unique. She is obviously the most successful german athlet witht 8 Olympic Gold Medals, uncountable Worldchampionships, participation in 6 Olympic Games. Got gold at the age of 42?. So she earns to get much respect, even if her sport isn´t so mass media compatible.

And she is the last famous GDR sportster who is still active so I think she got a lot of votes from the east.

[lamcam]

Is this list in present or in the past or all time? Rumenigge shoud be on the list!

[Dead Fingers]

Netzer not on the list?

[arthur d]

Is this list in present or in the past or all time? Rumenigge shoud be on the list!

I think he's also between 50 and 100, and so is Netzer. It's supposed to be all time best.

[Dead Fingers]

I think he's also between 50 and 100, and so is Netzer. It's supposed to be all time best.

Thanks arthur

[jonam]

Netzer is exactly Number 100. Here are the top 100 picks:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/download/0,1896,2001754,00.pdf

[arthur d]

Netzer is exactly Number 100. Here are the top 100 picks:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/download/0,1896,2001754,00.pdf

Thanks, I only saw the first 50. Sparwasser before Netzer? Bloody Ossis!

[arthur d]

Netzer is exactly Number 100. Here are the top 100 picks:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/download/0,1896,2001754,00.pdf

Where is Rummenigge? I thought he was in there as well, but I seem to have gone blind.

Ah well, that's democracy for you. Like we saw when the Dutch voted Pim Fortuijn, a right wing politician, 2nd greatest Dutch person ever, in front of Erasmus, Rembrandt etc.

[Dead Fingers]

Where is Rummenigge? I thought he was in there as well, but I seem to have gone blind.

Ah well, that's democracy for you. Like we saw when the Dutch voted Pim Fortuijn, a right wing politician, 2nd greatest Dutch person ever, in front of Erasmus, Rembrandt etc.

People have no concept of "historical context" do they?

[Dead Fingers]

Netzer is exactly Number 100. Here are the top 100 picks:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/download/0,1896,2001754,00.pdf

I am off the mark here in saying that Lothar Mattheus should be ranked a little bit higher (disregarding his personality :eek: )

Now there is a list for you --The top Worst (German) Football Personalities of all time. Add your suggestions ;)