Is peak speed the only stat that earns the #1 rank?
The speed data says one thing. Career breadth says another. Pick your metric and live with the consequences.
0 arguments filed this week
Debate Zone
Argue
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No neutral takes accepted. Five combustible questions, one place to settle them, and a shareable card that puts your reputation on the line — because armchair analysis only counts if you sign your name to it.
Week 24, 2025
With Friends.
Or Enemies.
The rankings are live on Global Power Rankings. The arguments start here.
This Week's Hot Debates
Edition 24 — Active NowShould the female and male power rankings ever share a single list?
Check both sides of the debate at /female-athletes and /male-athletes. The metrics don't care about tradition.
0 arguments filed this week
Mental fortitude is the most underweighted metric in every ranking system ever built.
The mental toughness deep dive lays out the case. Agree or burn it down.
0 arguments filed this week
Who wins: the athlete who never breaks, or the one who explodes in a single moment?
See Endurance and Strength head to head. Pick your poison.
0 arguments filed this week
The Athletic Power Index is broken. Competitive record should be the only input.
Read our methodology first — then tell us it's wrong. Uninformed takes are still accepted but noted.
0 arguments filed this week
Hall of Arguments
Most Contested — All TimeIssue 19 — Feb 2025
Simone Biles vs. Eliud Kipchoge: Whose Dominance Is More Absolute?
See Current RankingsBring A Friend.
Start A War.
Rankings only get interesting when someone else disagrees with them. Every metric we publish across the Deep Dives exists to give your argument a spine — use it, abuse it, and come back when you're wrong, because the data updates every week and so does the argument.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Debate Zone on Athletic Players?
The Debate Zone is a section of the Athletic Players website where users can argue over athlete rankings. Each week it presents a set of hot-button questions — such as speed vs. longevity or endurance vs. power — lets users vote for a side, and tracks how many arguments have been filed. Users can also generate a shareable rankings card to challenge friends or rivals.
How many debate topics are available in the current edition?
Edition 24 of the Debate Zone, active during Week 24 of 2025, features five debate topics: Speed vs. Longevity, Female vs. Male Rankings on a single list, Mental Toughness as a metric, Endurance vs. Power, and whether the Athletic Power Index methodology is broken.
What is the most contested debate in Debate Zone history?
The most contested debate in Debate Zone history was from Issue 19 (February 2025): 'Simone Biles vs. Eliud Kipchoge — Whose Dominance Is More Absolute?' It received 4,200 votes and ended in an extremely close 51/49 split, making it officially the tightest result the site has recorded.
What sparked the creation of the Athletic Players methodology page?
The methodology page was created in direct response to Issue 23 (May 2025), a debate titled 'Top 10 Lists Are Propaganda Unless You Show Your Data,' which received 2,900 votes. User demand for transparency in how rankings are produced led the site to publish its methodology.
How does the shareable rankings card work?
Users can generate a personal top-10 rankings card within the Debate Zone, using data drawn from the Global Power Rankings. Once generated, the card produces a copyable link that can be shared — including on X — allowing users to put their rankings publicly on record and invite disagreement from others.