With every passing decade, elite athletes appear to develop into sooner, stronger and, dare we are saying it, higher. Efficiency improves and, consequently, information tumble.
However some information appear otherworldly. It doesn’t matter what future technological or scientific developments could also be made, they really feel out of attain and unbreakable. Though that’s what many considered Wayne Gretzky’s NHL’s objectives document, after which got here alongside Alexander Ovechkin.
For 31 years, Gretzky reigned because the all-time goalscorer within the NHL with 894 objectives. That was earlier than 39-year-old Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals overtook that landmark on April 7. Gretzky nonetheless holds a couple of information broadly thought to be untouchable — his ridiculous 1,963 profession assists, as an example.
All of this has led us to think about another information in sport which are considered unlikely to be damaged. May they, too, in the future be overwhelmed, or are there some information that may ceaselessly stay within the historical past books?
Soccer
Furthest objective: 96.01 meters (104.9 yards)
Whether or not intentional or not, in January 2021, Newport County goalkeeper Tom King — with the advantage of a bounce and wind help — scored from a objective kick.
It set the world document after topping former Stoke Metropolis goalkeeper Asmir Begovic’s 91.9-meter objective (100.5 yards) in November 2013. It might take plenty of chutzpah (and assist from the weather) to beat King’s long-distance strike.
Shortest time between two objectives: 9 seconds
One, two, three, 4, 5, six, seven, eight, 9. It takes no time in any respect to rattle off these numbers. Unimaginable, then, that it took simply 9 seconds for Wycombe Wanderers to attain twice in opposition to Peterborough United in September 2000.
The primary got here from a free kick, and the second, following the half-time interval, was an outstanding solo effort by Jermaine McSporran, who scored from kick-off. Peterborough United didn’t contact the ball from one objective to the opposite, which have been 9 seconds aside in recreation time – setting a brand new world document.
Highest scoreline: 149-0
Reigning champions of the Madagascan first-tier Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne (SOE) got here to their recreation in opposition to bitter rivals AS Adema salty in November 2002.
Of their earlier recreation, SOE felt a penalty determination had gone in opposition to them, denying them the chance to retain their title as the required win was not secured. To compound issues, AS Adema have been topped champions.
In retaliation, SOE threw the subsequent recreation in opposition to Adema as a deliberate protest in opposition to the refereeing they felt had denied them the title. After profitable the ball, they proceeded to attain 149 personal objectives at a fee of 1 each 36 seconds, the kind of drama actuality tv can be happy with.
Olympics
Gold medals: 23
Michael Phelps may injure his neck if he wore all 23 of his Olympic gold medals. Six athletes have 9 gold medals, together with energetic American swimmers Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel, however they nonetheless don’t come near Phelps, who received eight gold medals on the 2008 Beijing Olympics alone.
It helps that swimmers can compete throughout totally different disciplines and at various distances, however no swimmer in historical past has come near having the breadth of Phelps within the pool, each by way of the occasions by which he excelled and the time frame he was at his peak — dominating at 4 Video games in a number of disciplines.
As good a swimmer Ledecky is, she excels solely in long-distance freestyle. Equally, Dressel is a dash specialist. Frenchman Leon Marchand, 22, who received 4 golds in Paris final yr, has time on his facet and the expertise. However even with 50m dash swimming occasions added to the Olympics schedule in Los Angeles, for any athlete to get near Phelps’ document can be an outstanding achievement.
Ladies’s 100 metre document: 10.49 seconds
Florence Griffith Joyner, generally known as ‘Flo-Jo, ’ had skilled glory within the 200m, profitable Olympic silver in 1984 and silver once more on the 1987 World Championships. However it was in 1988 that she grew to become a worldwide star, breaking the 100m world document and smashing her private greatest on the U.S. Olympic trials.
Griffith-Joyner celebrates profitable 100m Olympic gold on the 1988 Seoul Olympics (Russell Cheyne/Allsport/Getty Photos)
There was controversy over the wind pace, which on the monitor learn 0.0 however on close by triple bounce tools was recorded at 4.3 miles per second, however the document stood and nobody has come near the Californian’s time, her world information within the 100m and 200m (21.34) nonetheless standing to this present day.
Elaine Thompson-Herah is the athlete to have come closest to the 100m world document, the Jamaican clocking 10.54 in 2021.
Tennis
Steffi Graff, proper, together with her gold medal on the 1988 Olympics, which she received beating Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini within the last (Chris Wilkins/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
The Calendar Golden Grand Slam
In 1988, Steffi Graf, then aged 19, had one of the best yr doable in tennis. The German achieved the Calendar Golden Grand Slam, profitable all 4 main tournaments — the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open — and Olympic gold in the identical yr.
She is the one singles participant to have achieved this feat, and her document is made even harder to beat provided that the Olympics are held each 4 years.
NBA & NFL
Most factors in a recreation: 100 factors
One of the iconic pictures in NBA historical past is a black-and-white shot of Wilt Chamberlain posing with a bit of paper with 100 scribbled on it after his historic night time in March 1962.
There is no such thing as a TV footage of Chamberlain’s 100-point recreation for the Philadelphia Warriors in opposition to the New York Knicks as many video games NBA video games weren’t televised then. Lately, some have questioned whether or not it occurred in any respect, which The Athletic examined on this 2024 article.
Chamberlain set the document with no three-point line, one thing the NBA later launched within the 1979-1980 season. He shot 36-for-63 from the sphere and 28-for-32 from the foul line. That yr, he additionally averaged 50.4 factors per recreation, serving to to vastly improve the recognition of the NBA.
All-time scorer: 42,170+ factors
LeBron James is in his twenty second NBA season. The 40-year-old has spent greater than half of his life within the league — and his longevity means he has even performed alongside his son, Bronny James.
Over these 22 seasons, he has been one of many league’s greatest gamers — a 21-time All-Star and scoring chief in 2008.
LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time main scorer (Harry How/Getty Photos)
His unbelievable sturdiness and skill led him to develop into the NBA’s all-time scorer on February 7, 2023, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held the document for 39 years. Together with playoffs, James is the primary NBA participant to attain over 50,000 factors.
His longevity is akin to that of vast receiver Jerry Rice. Rice, who performed 20 seasons within the NFL, profitable three Tremendous Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, holds the information for receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), and landing receptions (197).
Formulation 1
Most races with no podium end: 231+
Having raced in 231 grands prix to this point, Nico Hülkenberg is likely one of the most skilled drivers in Formulation One historical past. But, he has by no means had a top-three end.
Since making his F1 debut in 2010, the 37-year-old has picked up factors in the midst of the pack for Williams, Drive India, Renault, Racing Level, Aston Martin, Haas and his present staff, Sauber.
Over his lengthy profession, the ‘Hulk’s’ capacity to gather factors has made him a worthwhile driver for mid-table groups, however the closest he has come to a podium is three fourth-place finishes.
Youngest driver to attain factors: 17 years, 180 days
Somebody who is aware of a factor or two about podium finishes is Max Verstappen. On the time of publication, the four-time world champion has received 64 F1 grands prix races and is the youngest driver, youngest factors scorer and youngest race winner in F1 historical past.
Max Verstappen made his F1 debut at 17 (Mark Thompson/Getty Photos)
The Dutchman earned his first factors on the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, ending in seventh for Toro Rosso on his debut aged 17 years, 180 days.
It will likely be a troublesome document to beat. In 2016, motorsport’s governing physique, the Federation Internationale de l’Vehicle (FIA), launched a minimal age of 18 in F1, although the principles have since been adjusted, permitting 17-year-olds to use for an FIA Tremendous Licence, which the FIA will situation at its discretion.
(Prime photograph: Adam Fairly/Getty Photos)
