Sports Illustrated names LeBron James word's fittest athlete

NBA star LeBron James has been named the fittest male athlete in the world by Sports Illustrated.

This is reportedly the first time that the magazine has compiled the list, rating athletes on speed, strength, agility and endurance. Each of these categories was scored out of 10 and James came in with a perfect score of 40.

Sports Illustrated said that for the professional male athlete fitness is the very foundation of success. But it added that even among the pros, some athletes stand head and sculpted shoulders above the rest, News.com.au reported.

James' team the Miami Heat reached the NBA final this year but lost to the San Antonio Spurs. James has since decided to head home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers again.

James topped the list, edging out Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 38.5 points. Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt was in third place with 36.5 points.

The Top 10 fittest athletes are:

1. LeBron James

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

3. Usain Bolt

4. Floyd Mayweather

5. Dez Bryant

6. Calvin Johnson

7. Serge Ibaka

8. Adrian Peterson

9. Jon Jones

10.