Is Michael Phelps the Greatest Olympian of All Time?
SodaHead Sports
2012/08/05 18:42:58
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247 votes
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It is hard to believe that at just 27 years of age, American swimmer Michael Phelps is a living legend. Already considered one of the greatest swimmers of all time, Phelps cemented his legacy amongst athletes of every sport in this summer's Olympics. With 22 total medals (the most of any Olympian ever), Phelps may very well be the greatest swimmer and Olympian in history.
Phelps is definitely the most popular swimmer ever, appearing in Subway commercials and other forms of media. He is the "it" guy. But don't let his star power overshadow his athletic greatness. Those 22 medals Phelps owns are more than some countries can lay claim to the last decade. If he were a country, he'd rank in the top 60 in the history of the modern Olympics. When it comes to golds, his 18 medals would place him at No. 36 ahead of Argentina. Phelps owns 39 world records, has been named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of The Year, and that's just scratching the surface.
Phelps is also the only swimmer to win the same individual event in three straight Olympics and he set the record for the most gold medals in an Olympic year with eight in 2008 (breaking Mark Spitz's record that was untouched since 1972). Now at 27, Phelps ends his career, with 22 total medals and six alone from this year's Olympics (four gold, two silver).
What do you think SodaHeads? Is Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian of all time?
Phelps is definitely the most popular swimmer ever, appearing in Subway commercials and other forms of media. He is the "it" guy. But don't let his star power overshadow his athletic greatness. Those 22 medals Phelps owns are more than some countries can lay claim to the last decade. If he were a country, he'd rank in the top 60 in the history of the modern Olympics. When it comes to golds, his 18 medals would place him at No. 36 ahead of Argentina. Phelps owns 39 world records, has been named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of The Year, and that's just scratching the surface.
Phelps is also the only swimmer to win the same individual event in three straight Olympics and he set the record for the most gold medals in an Olympic year with eight in 2008 (breaking Mark Spitz's record that was untouched since 1972). Now at 27, Phelps ends his career, with 22 total medals and six alone from this year's Olympics (four gold, two silver).
What do you think SodaHeads? Is Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian of all time?
Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/sports/olympics/...
Top Opinion
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Eyes See Wide North 2012/08/05 21:03:48
Michael Phelps is the first, and maybe the only for a VERY long time to hold the most olympic medals ever, he currently has the most gold medals of every Olympian ever, he won the most gold medals in one olympics, AND has won gold in the same event three olympics in a row.
If that doesn't define the Greatest Olympian of All Time, then I must need to be put in an insane assylum, because there is no way he's not the best... ever.
However, when we talk about greatest Olympians ever, you must look at the decathletes like Bruce Jenner, Jim Thorpe, and Jesse Ownens...
He’s big, with long arm reach, and that suites swimmers best, but dufus, and clumsy too?
he is the greatest swimmer of all time...no doubt.
Greatest Olympian - Jim Thorpe