Ive been involved in multisport for bloody ages, completed 10 + 1/2 Ironman races and a handful of full distance Ironman races as well. I have loads of girly mates (Im a guy, BTW!) who are just that, mates, and the 'line' has never and will never be crossed, but then maybe that's because I'm an old fart :) That said, stick males and females into the same sphere of training for and competing in events, and Ive seen many of my training partners and friends lurch to the dark side, even those in supposedly committed relationships. Overall, I find the more fit I am, the more appetite I have for, erm, extra-curricular activities. Strangely enough, the days after a long race in particular! :)

I don't men and women can really be friends without one of them having other ideas. I find it harder int he sports arena as any women who has a slight enjoyment of cricket makes me instantly attracted to her.

I believe it's possible. A lot of my good mates are guys, and I work in IT so it's fairly male dominated also.

Men and Women can be friends and only friends. Can they be friends if there is a strong attraction between them, well yes to that too, but it is more likely to get complicated.

My sports arena is motorsports, in which every female competitor I know is attached (to another male competitor). So, in that particular sport, apparently the answer is a firm NO.

However the boring reality of that is that the females have joined the sport already attached to the male in question rather than any grand romances sparked by the heady smell of burning petrol.

I had a relationship with a woman who now just wants to be friends, have to say it's pretty hard trying to work out weather I am still seeing her to be just a friend or still want the relationship (read sex) As she rings me rather often I sometimes feel I'm being used as she obviously gets what she needs but not so me. Perhaps I need to get a new relationship ? Most of my other female friends are my mates partners, I suppose you can have friends of the opposite sex as long as you haven't done the deed all ready,mmmmmm

Morning Ann,

I'd definitely say in my experience you make "friends" with people on a sportsfield (if you play team sports) through shared experiences that you otherwise might have nothing in common with, so I'd say it's easier.

As for usual circumstances I'm going to say yeah, it's possible for men and women to just be friends. While some sexual chemistry might be present in the beginning, at a certain point you make a decision conciously or not about who you're going to fall for.

"But I’ve yet to find a straight man who loves Tori Amos and Ani Difranco as much as me."

If you do, then I hate to tell you he's probably just in the closet.

I think it's easy to be mates with people and not be trying to have sex with them.

I've got a ton of girl mates who I hang out with more than my guy mates, I've even been called their "gay friend who isn't gay", sex has never been an issue because I don't see them like that. They are very pretty girls but it's just never been an issue

Essentially: http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/blogs/greer-2-0/2991412/Ask-Greer-Just-friends

But overall, I think yes they can in theory. Society may indicate otherwise and there are those who will always assume there is something going on between any two people of the opposite sex who have anything at all to do with each other.

It's possibly easier not so much in the sports arena specifically but any activity as the focus is going to be on that activity rather than finding a partner.

I have five great guys in my life. They are very different to each other in every way. They are an engineer, IT professional, artist, electrician and a photographer. They are all intelligent, fun, good-looking and reliable. Their friendship is really important to me and I wouldnt trade it for anything. Im allowed to look though and Im sure they also check me out :)