How do you define tough? To play hurt and still play well? To play with grit and determination? How about the ability to overcome serious personal setbacks, and return to the highest level of performance?

Well, the writers at Sports Illustrated tackled the question and came up with  a list. Of the  25 athletes they chose, only two are women. Of course, the picks are debatable and ours would be vastly different. Because being tough isn’t enough, we’re going to put together a list of  the top “Pretty Tough” athletes!

First on the SI list?  Golfer Tiger Woods based on his determination and focus in dominating the world of golf. The list also included six National Football League players, three National Basketball Association players, two Major League Baseball players, two boxers and two ultimate fighters. Rounding out the 25 were a sled dog racer, a bull rider, a tennis player, a NASCAR driver and a hot dog eating champion.

#10 Chrissie Wellington
What makes her tough: The gritty Wellington, 31, won the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in her Kona debut. She’s the first British athlete to take the event. The month before, she made her Ironman pro debut and won in Korea. Stunningly, she’s admitted that she never used a heart-rate monitor or had a V02 max test, both required parts of any tri-athlete’s training manual.

Defining moment: At Kona, Wellington ran a 2:59:57 marathon for a 9:08:45 winning time. “If it was a sauna on the bike, it was an oven on the run,” she says.

Old school match: Paula Newby-Fraser, the eight-time Queen of Kona.

#20 Hayley Wickenheiser
What makes her tough: No player in women’s hockey drives to the net with such purpose and fury. Wisenheimer has grown from teen phenom to grande dame of Canadian hockey, carrying the weight of her country and game every time on the ice. Sadly, she isn’t allowed to body check.

Defining moment: She played pro hockey against men in Finland as a way of challenging herself. Sure, Kirkkonummi Salamat was a second-division club, but in 23 games, Wickenheiser acquitted herself well.

Old school match: Angela James, a forward who starred for Canada in the ’90s, or possibly tennis legend Billie Jean King. Wickenheiser is really new school

Who would be on your list?

Filed under: Athletics, General, Ice Hockey by jane

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