The Greatest Ever Olympian (olympics, gold medal, medals, won)

[dizzybint]

The family are just discussing who they think the best ever Olympian was in the past or present.. here are their choices.
1. Michael Johnson
2. Ed Moses
3 Michael Phelps
4. Muhammad Ali
5.Chris Hoy
6. Jessie Owens..
7. Mark Spitz
8 The William sister
9. Usain Bolt
10.Olga Korbut

[Orangeish]

Whenever we talk about "greatest athletes," it doesn't take long before it gets pointed out that it is hard to compare across eras, and it is especially impossible to compare across different sports. The olympics has to deal with both, how do you compare a pole vaulter to the 3rd guy on a bobsled? I have no idea.

It's fun for conversation, but no definitive answer will ever be arrived at. Michael Jordan played in two olympics, can he get a vote?

[ben86]

No Sir Steve Redgrave? Gold medals in five consecutive Games in an endurance event (rowing, for those who don't know him) is a very special achievement - unique as far as I am aware. Also the Soviet gymnast who held the all-time medal record before Phelps broke it (have forgotten her name already!) and Carl Lewis deserve a mention IMO. I wouldn't say Muhammad Ali deserves to be one of the top Olympians as he only won/competed once.

[dizzybint]

Originally Posted by Orangeish

Whenever we talk about "greatest athletes," it doesn't take long before it gets pointed out that it is hard to compare across eras, and it is especially impossible to compare across different sports. The olympics has to deal with both, how do you compare a pole vaulter to the 3rd guy on a bobsled? I have no idea.

It's fun for conversation, but no definitive answer will ever be arrived at. Michael Jordan played in two olympics, can he get a vote?

yes we discussed that too, as so different in what they do to compare but most people think of one special person when its asked..

[paull805]

Steve Redgrave
Chris Hoy
Usain Bolt
Michael Phelps
Muhammad Ali

No particular order.

[John Dark]

Edoardo Mangiarotti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ghengis]

I'd say the greatest Olympian ever was the Greek thrower Phlingarockestine who in 776 BC, won the first Olympic event ever by heaving a stone the length of 905 cubits. I believe it is a record that stands to this day.

[Zimbochick]

Originally Posted by ben86

Also the Soviet gymnast who held the all-time medal record before Phelps broke it (have forgotten her name already!)

Larisa Latynina, and she's quite a character.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/sp...pagewanted=all

Latynina joked in recent weeks that it was time for a man to be able to do what a woman had done long ago. And that it was too bad Phelps was not Russian. “Forty-eight years is almost enough time to hold a record,” Latynina, 77, said earlier Tuesday by phone.

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by Orangeish

Michael Jordan played in two olympics, can he get a vote?

Only if Michael won the game by himself.

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by dizzybint

The family are just discussing who they think the best ever Olympian was in the past or present.. here are their choices.
1. Michael Johnson
2. Ed Moses
3 Michael Phelps
4. Muhammad Ali
5.Chris Hoy
6. Jessie Owens..
7. Mark Spitz
8 The William sister
9. Usain Bolt
10.Olga Korbut

Right now, today there can be no dispute that Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever.

Michael Johnson has been kicked off the list by Usain Bolt in my opinion.

Ed Moses, while one of the all time track and field greats only one two golds in his Olympic career and in only one event.

Muhammad Ali... my greatest athlete but not the greatest Olympian by any stretch of the imagination.

Chris Hoy... you are joking?

Jessie Owens, see Muhammad Ali.

Mark Spitz... used to be.