Records that need breaking

Sub two-hour marathon

The prospect of running under two hours is bandied around carelessly because the record has improved so dramatically in recent years.
But Paul Tergat, who set the existing mark of 2hr 4min 55sec in Berlin last year, is not convinced. The Kenyan said: "It remains impossible . . . but maybe time will chide me." Top statisticians agree, believing it to be a barrier too far.
However two professors, Francois Peronnet and Guy Thibault, have produced a scientific study into record-breaking. Accepting that there were physiological and physical limitations on the body preventing indefinite improvement, they projected what the ultimate athletics performances might be.
They speculated on a 1hr 48min marathon to which Stan Greenberg, the old BBC statistics guru, just retorts: "Not a chance. Total rubbish."
William Hill odds on the barrier going within 50 years . . .
Odds: 1-33

Sub 10sec women's 100m

The experts - if not the bookies - seem to agree this will never happen.
Florence Griffith-Joyner's freakish 10.49sec mark, aided by a gale and whatever else fuelled Flo-Jo, has never been remotely approached for 16 years. "Never mind 10sec; I'm not sure the current record will ever be beaten," says Peter Matthews, the world's leading track and field statistician.
Peronnet and Thibault felt just as a man would never break nine seconds for the distance - 9.37sec was their prediction - 10.15sec would be the best by a woman.
Odds: Evens

Women's four-minute mile

The record stands at 4min 12.56sec, set by Svetlana Masterkova eight years ago, and the distance is run so rarely now it will take some beating.
As for a sub-four, not in our lifetime, if ever, Greenberg and Matthews say. Peronnet and Thibault's optimistic thesis, though, is that the record could go 30 years from now.
Odds: 1-20

Sub 20sec 50m swim

The current 50m long course record is held by the great Russian freestyler Alex Popov at 21.64sec but Mark Foster, still Britain's greatest sprinter, reckons that is due to be seriously revised.
"The way that training techniques, sports science and things like swimwear itself have improved means that sub 21 seconds could come within 10 to 15 years and 19-something within half a century," he predicts. "And as those barriers get closer, I'm sure they will capture people's imagination and become a massive deal for the sport of swimming."
Odds: 1-3

The 600lb lift

The biggest weight ever raised from the ground to above the head is the 266kg clean and jerk by Russian Leonid Taranenko back in 1988 but the world's current strongest man, 25st Iranian Olympic super-heavyweight champ Hossein "Hercules" Rezazadeh, who has lifted 263kg, believes he will top that.
If he can raise 273kg, it would represent the first ever 600lb lift but imperial measurements mean nothing in the sport these days.
"Half a century ago the record was just 181kg so why wouldn't 300kg be possible within 50 years," asks Aniko Nemeth-Mora, communications director of governing body, the IWF.
Odds: 10-1

The 18-under round of golf

On a par-72 course, the record tournament round is a 13-under 59 but Billy Mayfair shot a nine-under 27 for the back nine in one round of the 2001 Buick Open to give a tantalising glimpse of an 18-under 54. The bookies think it's the most unlikely happening of the lot but Britain's Ian Poulter insists: "People are going to laugh and say it's impossible, but it's not.
"When somebody does it, it will be the 54 million dollar round of golf. It will be that good - the most respected round ever played. You would need a massive amount of luck and it won't be done round Augusta National or any US Open venue, but it could be done at other courses we play during the year."
Poulter was speaking at the Forest of Arden, where the British Masters is being played this week. "I was 10 under through 12 here last year so it could actually be done round this golf course.
"I don't know if you could birdie all 18 holes but the par fives give you the option of chucking an eagle at it."
Odds: 25-1

20 wickets in a Test match

Since Jim Laker spun out 19 Aussies in the epic Old Trafford Ashes Test of 1956, no bowler has ever got more than 16.
"In over 47,000 first-class games throughout history, no one has done it," says Peter Wynn-Thomas, secretary of the Association of Cricket Statisticians.
"If you gave me 1,000-1 odds, I might venture only a pound." Why? Because it's a record dependent on the bloke at the other end being unable to dismiss anyone. That is what made Laker's record even more incredible since he was bowling in tandem with the great Tony Lock.
Odds: 14-1