Professional athletes doing a 2k

[Cyclingman1]

His aerobic and anerobic capacities combined with his size would propel Phelps to somewhere in the 6:20s.

Lance has enormous power genererating capability. HIs climb up Alp d'Huez in something around 37 min is a feat that would rank with what only the top few rowers in the world could do. Lance is definitely smaller than Phelps which hurts. I think that Lance would be right with him.

Bolt is capable of prodigious power for 20 secs or so. I can point to numerous 500m rowers with super times who fade badly in 2K. I can see him dying at the 1500m mark.

Federer does have good endurance up to a point, but he is absolutely not used to a sustained push for 6-plus minutes. He would be last.

[quickstepper]

One can't underestimate the training, discipline and intensity that atheletes at the top of their sports. It wouldn't take much for any of these individuals to pull incredible times for their respective size. A clip from youtube shows a top kettlebell athelete trying a concept 2 and getting a "decent" result for his first time out. Although I'm not familiar with kettlebell as a sport but from what I've read its a combination of power and endurance. Ideal match for concept 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAfkk2AsUNM

Bolt and phelps have a complete height advantage. Those 4+ inches and arm spans are huge advantages. If bolt has the coordination and control for it I'd rank him first, phelps seccond, armstrong then federer.

Cross country skiers are also a great match for this. Someone posted some info on the UK boards about one of the members on his university rowing team who just switched from xc skiing and in his 3rd month was pulling a 5:48. He's 6'4, 220lbs and is part of the row to podium program in Canada. Gotta love those insane heart rates and vo2 max levels that xc skiers can hit.

[sharp_rower]

I've always wondered what Lance Armstrong would score on a 2k. As far as I know, he does not use it for cycling training. Assuming he's never touched an erg before, if you gave him an erg and asked him to do a 2k, what would he score on his first try?

What about these other athletes: Usain Bolt? Michael Phelps? Roger Federer?

Rafael Nadal? Novak Djokovic? LeBron James? David Ortiz? Alex Honnold (rock-climber)? Cristiano Ronaldo? Lionel Messi? Tiger Woods? Ashton Eaton (decathlon world-record holder)? LaShawn Merritt and/or Kirani James (400-meters track beasts)? NFL quarterback? NFL wide receiver? NFL running back? Formula One driver?

Remember: the person has never touched an erg before; you show them a technique video, they can take some sample strokes and warm up, but this is their first ever formal piece on the erg. Also, you give them an idea of what different scores are, i.e.: world record is 5:36.6, Olympic rowers all do it in less than 6 minutes, heavyweight male rowers 18-35 worldwide 90th percentile around 6:20 (not on their first attempt though) etc.