Phelps - is he the greatest olympian of all time?

[kiliarien]

I was reading this blog and it made me think, there is no doubt Phelps is awesome, but really if we're considering to be the greatest olympian - how do you decide on it?:

BBC SPORT | Olympics 2008 blog

Time for OT to decide! And if you have a better candidate, go for it!

 

[Aoami]

I don't think you can judge it.

The greatest swimmer prehaps, but as there are so many medals in swimming compared to everything else it doesn't quite add up.

I'm not sure who i'd go for, but there'd be two brits up there imo - Daley Thompson (2 gold medals in decathalon) or Sir Steve Redgrave (5 Olympic races, 5 gold medals).

 

[old.Tohtori]

Most succesful is the one holding the greatest amount of gold/silver/bronze combined.

The best? One who beats all the individual sports.

 

[pikeh]

I don't think you can judge it.

The greatest swimmer prehaps, but as there are so many medals in swimming compared to everything else it doesn't quite add up.

aye that pretty much sums it up.

 

[Lollie]

i think mark spitz is greater than him, 7 golds at one olympics and beat the world records in most of them at the same time

 

[haarewin]

i think whoever wins the decathlon is a better olympian. they need to be good at lots of stuff, not "just" swimming. (aren't there like only 2 people that have won it twice? daley thompson - a brit, who set two world records 20 years ago, and rob mathias - an american about 60 years ago)

also, i think including relays in his total is a bit misleading, because it's not like he did them alone. not that i want to detract from the fact that he is an incredible swimmer.

 

[collegien]

Cant deny the fact that he has competed in 5 events and world records have been broken in each one so far. That in itself is very impressive.

However as some have said it is difficult to compare . He is able to take part in more events that suit his skillset than a regular athlete on the track could.

He may be the "winningest" olympian ever (to quote NBC) but it is unfair on many other great sportsmen and women to call him the greatest.
"Amongst the greatest olympians in history" would be a better description.

:worthy:

 

[Cromcruaich]

Or Jesse Owens. How did more than just win medals...

Maybe Ben Johnson for finally making people realise that drugs in sport was a real problem.

 

[cHodAX]

Probably on drugs anyway, I don't trust sport anymore.

 

[Huntingtons]

kinda like young girls these days, you never know when they say they're only 14

 

[Lamp]

He's certainly the most decorated...the greatest swimmer perhaps...but not the greatest olympian ever - that should be reserved for someone who gets golds in multiple sports or something like that

 

[Raven]

Sir Steve Redgrave imo even though he is a bit of a cock as a presenter

 

[Lamp]

The guy consumes 12,000 calories a day !

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Food for fuel: Olympian Phelps' unusual diet

 

[kiliarien]

i think whoever wins the decathlon is a better olympian. they need to be good at lots of stuff, not "just" swimming. (aren't there like only 2 people that have won it twice? daley thompson - a brit, who set two world records 20 years ago, and rob mathias - an american about 60 years ago)

also, i think including relays in his total is a bit misleading, because it's not like he did them alone. not that i want to detract from the fact that he is an incredible swimmer.

I agree with the diversification issue, the 'thlon' sports all need more variety of skills, power and endurance. But maybe it should go to someone who excelled at more than one event against people who only did that one, such as Carl Lewis? Hard to say.

Or Jesse Owens. How did more than just win medals...

Maybe Ben Johnson for finally making people realise that drugs in sport was a real problem.

Totally agree with that - a high profile, popular and sustained winner showing he cheated did bring it into the light.

The guy consumes 12,000 calories a day !

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Food for fuel: Olympian Phelps' unusual diet

Quote from that article: "Eat, sleep and swim, that's all I can do," said the US swimmer, after winning his 11th Olympic gold.

Keep your medals then mate, doesn't make me jealous if you don't have any life. I bet swimming isn't even sexy to the ladeez.

 

[Binky the Bomb]

I'd say he's the greatest SWIMMING Olympian, that's it. If he could run the 100 meters for gold and do other disciplines and win the gold, then yeah, I'd say YES.

But he hasn't, can't and wont, so he ain't.

 

[kiliarien]

I'd say he's the greatest SWIMMING Olympian, that's it. If he could run the 100 meters for gold and do other disciplines and win the gold, then yeah, I'd say YES.

But he hasn't, can't and wont, so he ain't.

Well he's just got the 8th Gold in Beijing. I kind of agree, but an Olympian can never do everything. He is the perfect swimmer apparently (somehow as it seems with all of them the suit helps). I would like to see this continue as a discussion because it could get broader.

Did anybody see Paula Radcliffe's marathon run? Yes, she came in 22nd I think, but she crossed the line, got her breath back even though she had an injury herself, then waited for her team mate to cross the line who she knew had fallen earlier, hugged her and put a towel on the lady and got her to the doctors. Now that's fucking spirit imo.

Thinking about others is rare I think in such a competitive arena.