What does GOAT mean in sports?

If you call someone a goat they might probably take offense thinking you are referring to the animal.

A sports enthusiast may still react negatively because players who blunder during a game are sometimes referred to as ‘goats’.

Also Read: Quick facts about Eliud Kipchoge

However, GOAT has taken on a different meaning particularly on social media. It is an acronym that stands for Greatest Of All Time.

A report in the Washington Post says one has to set a number of world records or win several global championships to be recognized as GOAT.

On Saturday, Eliud Kipchoge proved that he is indeed the the Greatest Of All Time: he became the first man to run a marathon in less than 2 hours.

Messages poured in from across the globe as fans celebrated the historic feat that took place in Vienna, Austria.

Sir David John Brailsford, the INEOS Team Manager, summed up Kipchoge’s achievement saying:

“Eliud is a once in a generation athlete and if anybody deserves to break the two-hour barrier it is him. It was an incredible performance and a privilege to be here.

“It was a great lesson in a very evenly paced run. He was very calm and conservative and the pacemakers took Eliud to the last kilometre for him to bring it home.”

There are many other sports personalities who have earned the GOAT title: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

USA Today reports that the National Basketball Association is the home of GOATs.

Goal.com adds Roger Federer (tennis), Usain Bolt (athletics), Tom Brady, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (football) to the list.