Colorado women dominated Sports Illustrated list of fittest athletes in the world

You only have to look around to know Colorado is one of the fittest states in the United States, but when it comes to bragging rights, Colorado actually rocks the world when it comes to really fit women.

That, at least, is the conclusion of a story in the current issue of Sports Illustrated, which says five of the world’s most fit women call Colorado home. They are Boulder track and field runner Emma Coburn (No. 9); Golden ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter (12th); EagleVail ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin (18th); Boulder rock climber Sasha Digiulian (19th); and Vail ski racer Lindsey Vonn (20th).

Sorry, Broncos and Nuggets fans. The only Colorado man on the list is rock climber Tommy Caldwell of Estes Park (15th). Worse, rival quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs comes in at No. 18. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is ranked No. 1, and the top female on the list is gymnast Simone Biles.

Nothing says Colorado like a list of world’s fittest athletes that includes two ski racers, two rock climbers, an ultra runner and a track athlete.

SI used a panel of experts that included Dr. Michael Joyner, human performance expert at the Mayo Clinic; David Hesse, vice president for performance at the IMG Academy in Florida; Dr. Christopher Lundstrom, exercise physiologist and elite running coach at the University of Minnesota; Roy Holmes, a certified strength and conditioning specialist in Phoenix; and Sue Falsone, physical therapist, athletic trainer and author in Los Angeles. Falsone is a former head trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Continue reading on Denverpost.com.