Is Michael Phelps the Greatest Olympian of All Time?
SodaHead Sports
2012/08/05 18:42:58
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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
p.s. but barack said....mike didn't do it.... public swimming pool,,, dept. of Agri... etc...
CONGRATS Mike, thank you!
however,
It's swimming and a particular kind of niche where there is so many variations of the same thing that top guys can fit into half-dozen medals. Again: in no way saying that isn't amazing but isn't quite the same as someone winning multiple gold in more varied events.
Again, not taking anything away from Phelps but I do think the Decathalon winners are just about the most under-rated. The Triathlon and Pentathlon in particular seems like a gimmicky weird thing but all these ask for MANY very diverse astonishing skills and strengths and overall there is your 'Ultimate' Olympians,
and,
Someone like Clara Hughes just amazes me. wins multiple medals in Summer AND Winter games?? And shows up this time nearly 40 years old and still comes in 5th. WTF? That to me is an absolutely epic all-time Olympian.
Carl Lewis.. remember him? 100, 200 AND Long Jump.. which is pretty damn amazing.
Nadia Comenici.. a bucket of medals but also a perfect score. (subjective and relative i suppose but still).
Jesse Owens. How about Christina Rothenburger - wins gold and silver and bronze in winter (skating) and summer (track racing, bikes).
So taking nothing away from Phelps wh...
however,
It's swimming and a particular kind of niche where there is so many variations of the same thing that top guys can fit into half-dozen medals. Again: in no way saying that isn't amazing but isn't quite the same as someone winning multiple gold in more varied events.
Again, not taking anything away from Phelps but I do think the Decathalon winners are just about the most under-rated. The Triathlon and Pentathlon in particular seems like a gimmicky weird thing but all these ask for MANY very diverse astonishing skills and strengths and overall there is your 'Ultimate' Olympians,
and,
Someone like Clara Hughes just amazes me. wins multiple medals in Summer AND Winter games?? And shows up this time nearly 40 years old and still comes in 5th. WTF? That to me is an absolutely epic all-time Olympian.
Carl Lewis.. remember him? 100, 200 AND Long Jump.. which is pretty damn amazing.
Nadia Comenici.. a bucket of medals but also a perfect score. (subjective and relative i suppose but still).
Jesse Owens. How about Christina Rothenburger - wins gold and silver and bronze in winter (skating) and summer (track racing, bikes).
So taking nothing away from Phelps who most definitely stands among the greatest - there are others well worth noting or maybe putting a notch or too ahead.
I'd pick Clara Hughes but anyone of those I mentioned (and a dozen more) could well be called the 'Greatest Olympian'.
** and btw.. there were a lot of old-school olympians who didn't have so many variations and trained by splitting wood on the farm and training in barns and back when nobody gave you high-tech 'shark skin' technology or super-high-tech engineered pools and hottubs etc. Making them really quite astonishing overall.
American swimmer Michael Phelps has won more Olympic medals than any other athlete ever. His two silvers and one gold from the London Games have pushed him over the previous medal leader, former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.
End of debate.
Great swimmer. Mean person.
You posted that image as a joke, right? I'm sure you know that it's fake...I just want to make sure because this is sodahead and there are a lot of tards here.