Sports

Larger-Than-Life Sports Stars Who Towered Over Competition

Darren - December 5, 2019

Sports

Larger-Than-Life Sports Stars Who Towered Over Competition

Darren - December 5, 2019

6. Bob Sapp

Sapp is the ultimate reminder that bigger doesn’t always mean better. At 6′ 5″ and 350lbs, this is one seriously big man. Originally, he wanted to play in the NFL, but it didn’t work out for him. So he turned to martial arts. Sapp has fought in MMA and kickboxing, mostly competing in Japan.

The US fighter had some early success in kickboxing, most notably beating Ernesto Hoost twice. But unfortunately, he has become a parody figure. After a ridiculous 12-fight losing streak stretching seven years, he finally won an MMA fight in 2018. To sum it up, this super heavyweight typically gasses out very quickly.

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5. Steve McNulty

Now playing for York City, McNulty just doesn’t look like a soccer player. With his hefty frame, broad shoulders, and silver head of hair, you’d guess that he works on a construction site. Although opposition fans love to sing ‘who ate all the pies,’ McNulty is actually a great defender.

In short, he’s a cult hero in the lower echelons of English soccer. McNulty has led six promotions, including a back-to-back pair with Tranmere Rovers. Although he doesn’t look like a lean, mean athlete, he’s actually a very commanding presence at the heart of his team’s defense.

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4. Loek Van Mil

Van Mil was a Dutch professional baseball player. Despite never making it to the major leagues, he still had a decent career. But he’s on this list because he was outrageously tall. Standing at about 7′ 1″, he is one of the tallest players in the history of baseball. First of all, he played as a catcher. But then he actually got too tall for the position and became a pitcher instead.

On the Netherlands national baseball team, he served as the team’s closer in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and the 2015 Premier 12 and appeared in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. We didn’t even know the Netherlands had a national baseball team, but they do. However, he died in 2019 after a fatal hiking accident.

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3. Peter Crouch

The former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs star is one of the most recognizable soccer players in the UK. First of all, his height is ludicrous. Standing at 6′ 7″ tall, he looks more like a basketball player than a Premier League striker. But he’s actually surprisingly mobile. Also, Crouch is famous for his bicycle kicks and robot dance celebrations. A larger-than-life personality, he also has a successful podcast.

Crouch is a former England international and played at two World Cups. Furthermore, he has a very decent scoring record. The FA Cup winner has scored more headed goals than any other player in Premier League history. To be honest, that probably shouldn’t come as a surprise.

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2. Nikolai Valuev

Former WBA Boxing champion Valuev is an outrageously big man. The Russian fought at heavyweight and was one of the most difficult opponents to face in a boxing ring. Standing at seven feet and weighing up to 328 lbs, he was ludicrously imposing. 34 of his wins came by KO. This is a very powerful man.

Valuev was more than just a big man, however. He went 50-2 in his career, including a victory over former undisputed champion Evander Holyfield. However, that was a much older version of the former four-time champion. Valuev’s final loss came against Britain’s David Haye. He struggled with the mobility of the smaller man.

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1. Haftor Julius Bjornssen

This Icelandic strongman has become a cultural icon because of his role in the hit TV series Game of Thrones. After starring as Gregor Clegane AKA ‘The Mountain,’ his fame reached new heights. This enormous man has carried that nickname into the real world. But he is first and foremost a professional strongman.

First, he played basketball, but injuries ended his career. Then, he turned to strongman competitions. In short, it was a brilliant decision. Furthermore, he is the first person to have won the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man, and World’s Strongest Man in the same calendar year. At 441 lbs, this man is a behemoth.

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