Former Real Madrid doctor Jesus Olmo has revealed that Gareth Bale is the best athlete he's ever seen.
The Welshman joined Los Blancos in a deal worth around £85million from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 becoming the world record transfer at the time, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Bale, who penned a six-year deal in the Spanish capital, saw his record broken by Paul Pogba following his £89m switch to Manchester United in 2016.
There is no doubt Bale has lived up to his price tag, however, with the 33-year-old hitting the ground running at Real. He scored 22 goals in his first campaign at the club, winning the Champions League and the Super Cup in the process as he helped form a dynamic front-three alongside Karim Benzema and Ronaldo.
Bale has previously been praised for his explosive pace and power to beat opponents, especially during one-v-one situations. The winger is also very strong and poses a physical presence which, during his time at Real Madrid, allowed him to perform at his very best, before injuries hampered his career in Spain.
Having worked with Bale, Olmo has opened up on how the Wales international could excel in any sport and admitted he is impressive in almost every aspect. It has been widely reported about how much Bale loves golf, after spending plenty of time on the golf course over the past couple of years.
The ex-Los Blancos doctor told Ideal in 2020: "Perhaps the best athlete I've ever seen is Bale. Gareth Bale is a natural athlete who can excel in practically any sport.
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"He has incredible athletic skills, and I would also say technical skills. He is the one who impressed me most in all aspects."
It means Olmo rates Bale's physique higher than Ronaldo's, despite the Manchester United star's rigorous regimes to keep him at the top of his game. The 37-year-old has struggled for form so far this season but it hasn't influenced how he was perceived during his time at Real, scoring a record 450 goals in 438 matches.
Ronaldo has always tried to keep himself in peak physical condition and rarely has time off from working at his best. He often spends time in the gym and follows a strict plan which has allowed him to be recognised as one of the fittest footballers on the planet.
His Pilates-based routine focuses on resistance work to strengthen his core. And while some players like to sit at home in front of the TV after a match, Ronaldo heads straight to the pool. He swims lengths, often alongside Cristiano Jr, which not only helps him unwind from the physical toll of a match, but also helps him build his huge physique.
