Throwing darts is not the most physical sport in the world. Therefore, old-school professional darts players would usually spend more time at the bar drinking and practicing their throws than at the gym training. Andy Fordham, one of the world’s best darts players, is such an example.
He is known for his speed and accuracy but does not look like a typical athlete. Fordham, known as “The Viking”, for his size and beard, used to weigh 445lbs but decided to make a change and has lost over 200 lbs. He says he wants to be around for a long time for his grandchildren.
Sharran Alexander – 448 lb
A late bloomer, Sharran Alexander only discovered her love of sumo wrestling at the age of 41. London-born Alexander was working as a proper English nanny before she went out and made a tremendous impact on the sumo world. She was named the heaviest sportswoman in the 2013 Guinness World Record.
Alexander is one of only a few women recognized as a professional sumo wrestler by the British Sumo Federation and has an amazing international career, winning four gold medals in tournaments around the globe. Recently, she went on television to find love on a British dating show and said that some men were intimidated by her weight.
John Daly – 216 lb
Golfers are not usually thought of as the most physically fit of athletes and many people consider the “sport of gold” as more of a hobby or a way to get out of the house on Sunday. This, however, is a misconception, and most golfers are, in fact, quite fit. John Daly, weighing in at 216bs, is the exception to the rule.
Daly is well known in professional golf for his driving distance off the tee and has even earned the nickname “Long John” for his consistent 300-yard drives. He is also known for his free-wheeling attitude, inability to fit in with the country club set, and his charitable work.
Eric “Butterbean” Esch – 425 lb
This superheavyweight fighter was a UFC star even before it took the world by storm. Eric Esch, known as “Butterbean”, was a household name with boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts skills. He had great moves and a very long reach but was often hindered by his size. His greatest strength was not only knowing how to dish out punishment (if he was fast enough) but also how to take it.
His larger-than-life personality helped him to branch out from fighting and landed him acting roles, including a stint in “Jackass: The Movie” with Johnny Knoxville.
The Tree Man – 6’7″
The next athlete on our list is not a famous sportsman by regular standards. Southern California-based personal trainer Danny Jones is 6ft 7in tall and achieved inadvertent fame after a Twitter user saw a photo of him and decided he looked more like a tree than a man.
“This [is] not a man, this [is] a tree.” reads the now infamous tweet from the man who dubbed Jones Tree Man. Jones, who woke up to thousands of new followers, didn’t understand the tree reference at first, but he took it with a smile and seemed happy with his new-found social media fame.