TOKYOPOP's Anime and Manga's Greatest Athletes

The Otaku Olympics: Make way, Misty May, and look out, Lochte!

As Robert Frost once said, "Nothing gold can stay." We're pretty sure that was in reference the the London 2012 Summer Olympics, which come to a close this Sunday night. The Games have captured the attention of the world, but what if some of our favorite anime/manga characters were allowed to compete? We think things might pan out a little differently on the podium. 

Volleyball: Minako Aino (Sailor V) – “Volleyball star” probably isn’t the first phrase would think to use when describing Minako, but she’s an all-star on the court and even considers giving up the senshi lifestyle to focus on volleyball full-time. Thankfully for Crystal Tokyo, she decides to stick to ass-kicking off the court.

Boxing: Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) – After being victimized by local bullies, Ippo is taken in to a local gym where he eventually rises through the ranks to become the best boxer in the world. His dedication to boxing makes him a natural to bring home the gold. Considering the opponents this guy's faced, we're certain that he'd pound Pacquiao to a pulp.

Tennis: Ryoma Echizen (The Prince of Tennis) – Ryoma may only be a first-year student at Seishun Academy, but his talent on the tennis court set him apart from the rest rather quickly. Plus, he’s got the blood of a champion – his father is a former pro tennis player. Look out, Andy Murray - you've got some competition.

Wrestling: Goku (Dragon Ball Z) – Goku doesn’t really wrestle per se, but since “straight up fighting” and “hurling huge energy balls at people” aren’t Olympic sports yet, we had to fit him in to a regular sport. Plus, we don’t think he’d have any trouble putting away the competition. If he gets caught in a hold, he can always use his instant transmission to get him out of there.

Basketball: Hanamichi Sakuragi (Slam Dunk) – Hanamichi gets into basketball initially to impress a girl, but soon finds that he has a passion for it. His rebellious nature and self-reliant drive makes him a fierce competitior on and off the court. Did we mention that he's way more likable than LeBron?