Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all times?

[Jangle]

Is that a fair assessment given the fact that swimming offers so many events to win a medal?

[Islandman]

It's certainly debatable but given the hype surrounding him I would not be surprised if that becomes the mainstream view. Endorsers will love that line.

[Gamma]

Exactly Jangle. Greatest swimmer, no doubt about that!

[Don1]

He's the most prolific medalist...not the greatest Olympian

That title has to be bestowed upon a supreme performer...who also manages to transcend sport eg... Jessie Owens or...gasp!... or soon to be ... The Beast?

[MdmeX]

Gwan Don1 (mind the Beast bite yuh)

[Historian]

How I see it

It's certainly debatable but given the hype surrounding him I would not be surprised if that becomes the mainstream view. Endorsers will love that line.

Think about this I’man: Of the five track and field world records broken in Beijing, Bolt was responsible for three.

In comparison, almost 30 world records were broken in swimming (I think around 27), of which Phelps was responsible for about seven (if my memory is correct).

But like you suggest, much hype was created around Phelps, the great white hope. Can you imagine how privately shocked those executives at NBC and elsewhere in the US media were when a man called Usain Bolt made his appearance and made his presence felt during the second week of the Beijing Olympics (lol)!

I know this thread is not about Phelps vs. Bolt, but I just had to throw in this trend of thought.

[Don1]

lol

[Paul Marin]

Is that a fair assessment given the fact that swimming offers so many events to win a medal?

It all depends on how you define "greatest". Regardless of the number of opportunities, the fact is that he has more medals than anyone else. That is undisputed...so if that is the standard for "greatest", then he wins. However, I don't believe there is a universally accepted definition otherwise for "greatest", so until then, it is pointless. Be that as it may, the nuances will be lost on the American media who will use the word "greatest" without debate until someone of another nationality surpasses his record. Then they will start that debate. A so dem roll.

[MdmeX]

Why is your nose growing like that Paul

[Jangle]

because him is a ole lyad....bout Sewerez is not racist.....but we won't bring that argument over here.

[Islandman]

Remember when Donovan Bailey was the 100m world and Olympic champ undisputed fastest man in the world, and them start talk bout Michael Johnson should be the fastest man in the world because his 200m time divided by 2 was better? LOL!

[Islandman]

I agree, and the comparison is valid.

Someone during the last Olympics said that if T&F had a 50m, a 150m, a 100m running backwards, a 200m without a curve, a medley relay or two, and so on how many medals Jamaican athletes would have.

[Gamma]

and i agree with you. if the americans believe their own hype then Phelps should have been the biggest thing coming out of that olympics worldwide yet he was not, why?

[Gamma]

and then there was a 150 race and johnson pulled up when he was being beat down in a proper way!

[Mosiah]

Before Phelps, who was it that had the most Olympic medals?

There you go!

There was no discussion if that person was the greatest Olympian ever!