With each passing decade, elite athletes seem to become faster, stronger and, dare we say it, better. Performance improves and, consequently, records tumble.
But some records seem otherworldly. No matter what future technological or scientific advancements may be made, they feel out of reach and unbreakable. Although that is what many thought of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL’s goals record, and then came along Alexander Ovechkin.
For 31 years, Gretzky reigned as the all-time goalscorer in the NHL with 894 goals. That was before 39-year-old Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals overtook that landmark on April 7. Gretzky still holds a few records widely regarded as untouchable — his ridiculous 1,963 career assists, for instance.
All of this has led us to consider some other records in sport that are thought of as unlikely to be broken. Could they, too, one day be beaten, or are there some records that will forever remain in the history books?
Soccer
Furthest goal: 96.01 meters (104.9 yards)
Whether intentional or not, in January 2021, Newport County goalkeeper Tom King — with the benefit of a bounce and wind assistance — scored from a goal kick.
It set the world record after topping former Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic’s 91.9-meter goal (100.5 yards) in November 2013. It would take a lot of chutzpah (and help from the elements) to beat King’s long-distance strike.
Shortest time between two goals: Nine seconds
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. It takes no time at all to rattle off those numbers. Incredible, then, that it took just nine seconds for Wycombe Wanderers to score twice against Peterborough United in September 2000.
The first came from a free kick, and the second, following the half-time interval, was a superb solo effort by Jermaine McSporran, who scored from kick-off. Peterborough United didn’t touch the ball from one goal to the other, which were nine seconds apart in game time – setting a new world record.
Highest scoreline: 149-0
Reigning champions of the Madagascan first-tier Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne (SOE) came to their game against bitter rivals AS Adema salty in November 2002.
In their previous game, SOE felt a penalty decision had gone against them, denying them the opportunity to retain their title as the necessary win was not secured. To compound matters, AS Adema were crowned champions.
In retaliation, SOE threw the next game against Adema as a planned protest against the refereeing they felt had denied them the title. After winning the ball, they proceeded to score 149 own goals at a rate of one every 36 seconds, the sort of drama reality television would be proud of.
Olympics
Gold medals: 23
Michael Phelps might injure his neck if he wore all 23 of his Olympic gold medals. Six athletes have nine gold medals, including active American swimmers Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel, but they still don’t come close to Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics alone.
It helps that swimmers can compete across different disciplines and at varying distances, but no swimmer in history has come close to having the breadth of Phelps in the pool, both in terms of the events in which he excelled and the period of time he was at his peak — dominating at four Games in multiple disciplines.
As brilliant a swimmer Ledecky is, she excels only in long-distance freestyle. Similarly, Dressel is a sprint specialist. Frenchman Leon Marchand, 22, who won four golds in Paris last year, has time on his side and the talent. But even with 50m sprint swimming events added to the Olympics schedule in Los Angeles, for any athlete to get close to Phelps’ record would be a phenomenal achievement.
Women’s 100 metre record: 10.49 seconds
Florence Griffith Joyner, known as ‘Flo-Jo, ’ had experienced glory in the 200m, winning Olympic silver in 1984 and silver again at the 1987 World Championships. But it was in 1988 that she became a global star, breaking the 100m world record and smashing her personal best at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Griffith-Joyner celebrates winning 100m Olympic gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics (Russell Cheyne/Allsport/Getty Images)
There was controversy over the wind speed, which on the track read 0.0 but on nearby triple jump equipment was recorded at 4.3 miles per second, but the record stood and no one has come close to the Californian’s time, her world records in the 100m and 200m (21.34) still standing to this day.
Elaine Thompson-Herah is the athlete to have come closest to the 100m world record, the Jamaican clocking 10.54 in 2021.
Tennis
Steffi Graff, right, with her gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, which she won beating Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini in the final (Chris Wilkins/AFP via Getty Images)
The Calendar Golden Grand Slam
In 1988, Steffi Graf, then aged 19, had the best year possible in tennis. The German achieved the Calendar Golden Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments — the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open — and Olympic gold in the same year.
She is the only singles player to have achieved this feat, and her record is made even tougher to beat given that the Olympics are held every four years.
NBA & NFL
Most points in a game: 100 points
One of the most iconic photos in NBA history is a black-and-white shot of Wilt Chamberlain posing with a piece of paper with 100 scribbled on it after his historic night in March 1962.
There is no TV footage of Chamberlain’s 100-point game for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks as many games NBA games weren’t televised then. In recent years, some have questioned whether it happened at all, which The Athletic examined in this 2024 article.
Chamberlain set the record without a three-point line, something the NBA later introduced in the 1979-1980 season. He shot 36-for-63 from the field and 28-for-32 from the foul line. That year, he also averaged 50.4 points per game, helping to hugely increase the popularity of the NBA.
All-time scorer: 42,170+ points
LeBron James is in his 22nd NBA season. The 40-year-old has spent more than half of his life in the league — and his longevity means he has even played alongside his son, Bronny James.
Over those 22 seasons, he has been one of the league’s best players — a 21-time All-Star and scoring leader in 2008.
LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (Harry How/Getty Images)
His incredible durability and ability led him to become the NBA’s all-time scorer on February 7, 2023, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held the record for 39 years. Including playoffs, James is the first NBA player to score over 50,000 points.
His longevity is comparable to that of wide receiver Jerry Rice. Rice, who played 20 seasons in the NFL, winning three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, holds the records for receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), and touchdown receptions (197).
Formula 1
Most races without a podium finish: 231+
Having raced in 231 grands prix to date, Nico Hülkenberg is one of the most experienced drivers in Formula One history. Yet, he has never had a top-three finish.
Since making his F1 debut in 2010, the 37-year-old has picked up points in the middle of the pack for Williams, Force India, Renault, Racing Point, Aston Martin, Haas and his current team, Sauber.
Over his long career, the ‘Hulk’s’ ability to collect points has made him a valuable driver for mid-table teams, but the closest he has come to a podium is three fourth-place finishes.
Youngest driver to score points: 17 years, 180 days
Someone who knows a thing or two about podium finishes is Max Verstappen. At the time of publication, the four-time world champion has won 64 F1 grands prix races and is the youngest driver, youngest points scorer and youngest race winner in F1 history.
Max Verstappen made his F1 debut at 17 (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The Dutchman earned his first points at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, finishing in seventh for Toro Rosso on his debut aged 17 years, 180 days.
It will be a tough record to beat. In 2016, motorsport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), introduced a minimum age of 18 in F1, though the rules have since been adjusted, allowing 17-year-olds to apply for an FIA Super Licence, which the FIA will issue at its discretion.
(Top photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
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