Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
He is no doubt one of the greatest olympians ever. And obviously the most DECORATED. I do have some reservation saying he is THE greatest based solely on medal count - this isn't to say that his performances over three olympics by themselves can't count (the wins, the WRs etc.). That said, how DO you compare the accomplishments of a swimmer to a track athlete to a volleyball player? Using medal count IMO takes away from the others as you simply do not have as many chances. For many athletes, the most medals you CAN win per Olympics is one. Winning % alone won't work either as there will be a number of 100%s for those that only participated in one event and won gold. Also, how do you rate a team sport vs. an individual sport?
I don't want to take anything away from Phelps as his accomplishments in swimming is certainly unprecedented. That said, this is the same as comparing athletes across sports or even eras... it'll always be debatable.
He might be the greatest Olympic swimmer of all time but, for the most part, swimming is a sport for wealthy countries only.
For most people outside of the United States, the star of the 2008 Olympics was Usain Bolt with his record smashing performances, not Phelps.
It could be argued that the greatest Olympic athlete of all time was Daley Thompson, who won the gold medal in the decathlon (10 varied events that require speed, endurance, jumping ability, agility, strength, etc., etc.,) twice. One decathlon medal = many swimming medals.
I think Thompson's accomplishment are somewhat diminished because of the US and Soviet led boycotts of the 1980 and 1984 games. Bob Mathias also won two Olympic Decathalons.
Carl Lewis should have some consideration as greatest Olympian while winning 9 gold medals including seven individual golds. Lewis is the only man to succesfully defend his titles in both the 100m and the long jump (which he won 4 consecutive times).
He is definitely the most decorated and has to be one of the great Olympians. Are there more swimming events than any other Olympic sport?
Btw, have you guys read about Jim Thorpe? Very interesting read...many have said he was the greatest Olympian back during the 1912 games in Stockholm. He won the pentathlon and decathlon.
Why Are Jim Thorpe
“Nobody was in his class,” says Olympic historian Bill Mallon. “If you look at old pictures of him he looks almost modern. He’s cut. He doesn’t look soft like the other guys did back then. He looks great.”
Look at Greg Louganis. What might have bee. He won silver in 1976 on the 10m platform. Missed 1980 because of the idiotic boycott, won gold in the 3m springboard and 10m platform in 1984 and won the gold in the 3m springboard and 10m platform in 1988. At the time, those were the only two olympic diving events and athlete could participate in. He very well could have won the gold for those events in 1980.
Point being, there are and have been amazing athletes in all sports that could be considered the greatest.
I just don't care about that "greatest of all time" label. I think Phelps is a great athlete and swimmer, one of many great Olympians. There have been so many and there will be more long after we all are dead and buried. I like Phelps though. Down-to-earth, humble, and so inspiring. I wish him well in his future endeavors.
He's says he's not coming back, but I'm hoping he changes his mind. If I were him, I'd do this until I could no longer be competitive.
Michael Phelps accomplishments are remarkable, because he has dominated in a wide array of swimming cateories----he is just not a specialist who dominates in freestyle or the backstroke. He had dominated in several individual categories and relays.
He has been a spectular performer in three straight olympics, and has captivated audiences worldwide.
Comparing track athletes and gymnasts to swimmers opens a wide spectrum of debate. His teammates have agreed in the past few days that he has revolutionized swimming.
I would have to agree that from my perspective, Michael Phelps has the right to be called one of the greatest olympic athletes of all time----if not the greatest.
He is 27 now, and I will agree with his assessment that this may be the right time move on. People have short memories, and if he comes back at age 31 and things dont go all that well, the luster may wear off. He will have the networks beating on his door, and countless other endorsement packages coming his way------cant blame him for wanting to get on with a new path.
It is very impressive. Still, there are way too many events:
50 metre freestyle
100 metre freestyle
200 metre freestyle
400 metre freestyle
1500 metre freestyle
100 metre backstroke
200 metre backstroke
100 metre breaststroke
200 metre breaststroke
100 metre butterfly
200 metre butterfly
200 metre individual medley
400 metre individual medley
4 × 100 metre freestyle relay
4 × 200 metre freestyle relay
4 × 100 metre medley relay
Marathon 10 km
It is almost the same with cross-country skiing.
With so many funny swimming strokes (bobbing up and down, on the back, etc,) the track athletes have no chance to win as many gold medals. They need to work with this Ministry to invent some new running events :
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
:
