Barry Bonds, LeBron James or Simone Biles. Athletes all at the top of their sport who hold records thought almost impossible to break, but with athletes improving every generation, it’s unknown how long these “unbreakable” records will last.
No record can be definitively determined to be unbreakable, because the future is a mystery, but some are close. Whether they are mathematically improbable or feats of athletic expertise, some sports records are commonly considered unbeatable.
“It’s longevity, these people have been in their prime for so long,” said Carter May, a freshman philosophy major. “They have been in the game so long, they have so many records and improve as they go on.”
In recent generations, athletes have gotten bigger, stronger and faster. According to an article published by UCLA Health’s Chayil Champion, athletes of the new generation can improve through new training methods and further developments in nutrition.
Athletes are also getting more specialized coaching earlier in their careers. According to Champion, athletes are forming diets and workout routines at earlier ages that they take into their adult lives and sports careers.
Due to athletes physically improving on most levels, records that come from feats of athleticism may have a shelf life; records that stand as a large number could be beaten by an athlete who adds one to that already high number.
“I think all of them can be broken at some point,” said Issac Summers, sophomore history major.
Even with the physical advancements of new generation players, there are some records that are almost mathematically impossible to beat. Whether it be because the human body can not physically go any further or an unlikely circumstance that probably won’t happen again, these athletes set a challenge for all who try to break their records.
Wilt Chamberlain averaged 48.5 minutes a game in a season, a number higher than the minutes in a regular basketball game. Because he played every minute of every game, including all the overtime, he played more than anyone else in a single season.
There are also the records of players who endure longer than many others, staying in their sport of choice for longer than most other athletes could.
“LeBron James’ [record] in points, just because he is still going and he has already beat it, and Tom [Brady] in championships, just because he stayed so long [are close to impossible to break],” May said.
No matter how the records were set or the circumstances for achieving them, the athletes who set the records planted their names in the history of their sport. They hold a title that proves them the best of the best and at the top of their sport.
People look up to these players, seeing them as inspiring figures. Whether they are athletes themselves or just appreciate the work they do, many people appreciate the work athletes do in the name of entertainment and competition.
“It can be really inspiring to people to see someone play at that level; it’s honestly really impressive,” said Mateo Olivia, a junior exercise science major.