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  • Phelps' maximum speed of about 6 miles per hour has earned him 14 Olympic gold medals. But a bluefin tuna, which can be found off of the coast of Long Island, can swim at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
  • Bolt, clocks in at a remarkable 28 miles per hour over 110 yards. Meanwhile, a cheetah can run 71 mph over 300 yards. Even if Bolt were to come close, cheetahs make fast and abrupt turns while hunting prey in the African desert.
  • Known for his speed and agility, Federer darts back and forth across a 36-foot court during matches. But White-handed Gibbons are considered the fastest and most agile primates, throwing themselves up to 50 feet between branches in the rainforest.
  • Though they are incredibly in synch, the choreography that synchronized divers use to guide their jumps cannot compare to a flock of migratory birds, which is guided by the Earth's magnetic fields.
  • Hummingbirds have very weak feet and can barely walk — not much help on the balance beam where Johnson shines. But these agile little birds can fly forward, backwards and upside down!
  • Fencers use three different types of swords to hit their opponents in one-on-one matches; Sailfish use their pointed bills to stun the shoals of fish that are their prey.
  • Leaping 47 inches vertically, Kerri Walsh Jennings can certainly out-jump many of her competitors on the sand courts where she plays volleyball. But a mountain lion has her beat: These cats can jump 15 feet vertically.
Nature's Athletes
See how the world's best athletes measure up to the athletic prowess found in nature!