It's known that some records were made by different athletes and seemed impossible to others, but with qualities, or changes in the sport, or sheer endurance, the records just sat there, test of time. Here are seven sports records that may never be broken.
Perhaps no game in the history of any sport has ever sounded like as emotional and painful to hear, as is Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. Wilt Chamberlain plays for the Philadelphia Warriors and scores 100 points against the New York Knicks. No one has ever attained this record in the entire history of the game. But while Kobe Bryant did last year by scoring 81 points in 2006, the modern, team-oriented nature of basketball makes it nearly certain that no one will ever score a century mark for anyone.
From here to eternity: From a background of unprecedented success, Usain Bolt cements of his reigning dominance as the world's fastest man with an unprecedented record-breaking 100-meter sprint at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, and it is almost impossible to think that somebody may come and break this incredible time soon because the prospects of training and technology work in combination with Bolt's speed, size, and efficiency.
No one comes near equalling the record of 56 games Joe DiMaggio strung together in one season during 1941. Pete Rose came closest in 1978 with 44 games. Almost impossible to break this record with the improved skills of pitchers and the dependance of teams on relief specialists.
Perhaps the most impenetrable mark in hockey is Wayne Gretzky's sum of 2,857 career points. His skills at scoring and setting up teammates are unparalleled, and Jaromir Jagr is the all-time scorer in second place, nearly a thousand points from that mark. With today's more defensively oriented NHL and fewer goals scored per game, it is safe to say no one will ever reach this record.
Such a dominating performance in Grand Slams was only seen in the case of Margaret Court with her 24 titles. Serena Williams had the number 23 under her name, but she was nowhere near equalling the number of titles when she retired. That high number will not be even remotely approached by anyone in women's tennis in today's era.
Eight consecutive championships, 1959 through 1966, under the stewardship of Bill Russell and unchallenged in basketball history, it would be improbable for any team, in today's context, with increased parity and salary caps, or virtually impossible, considering the nature of injuries, to dominate the way the Celtics of old did. Even their modern counterparts like the Chicago Bulls or Golden State Warriors might not have been able to attain that kind of consistency.
Among the untouchable records in baseball is Cal Ripken Jr., who played 2,632 consecutive games. Cal Ripken did this for more than 16 years without losing a game; this was way beyond Lou Gehrig's 2,130 games. No player is going to reach near this record nowadays with modern-day load management, rest days, and today's intensified game.
Conclusion
These seven records are the gold standard for sport achievements. Their age says a great deal about the extraordinary talent, dedication, and circumstances that enabled them to be set. Changes in the way sports are played, increased competitiveness, and advancements in technology make it hard to envision these records being broken anytime soon-if at all.
