August 17, 200818 yr I picked best Olympic Athlete ever without a doubt, that imo is a no brainer / very easy pick. I did stop just short of saying best athlete ever.
August 17, 200818 yr Definitely Best Olympic Athlete ever. There is no way you can say that swimming the different strokes are similar. The only similarity is that they are in the water. There is a reason no one has ever done what he has done--it is almost impossible. People that are natural butterflyers (like Phelps) are not breaststrokers and vice versa. It is a completely different rhythm and very difficult to do both well. In addition, the way he swims different distances is amazing. Each distance takes a different mindset and training regimen. Just because you can swim the 100 does not mean you can swim the 400. For Phelps to dominate in differing strokes and different distances--not just dominate but totally obliterate the competition--makes him the #1 Olympian without question in my book.
August 17, 200818 yr In swimming you have events like breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly, etc. I'm sure if Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, or even Michael Johnson lined up in a running backwards contest they would win gold. They would also probably win gold if the Olympics supported a bunny hop or slide step event. I'm also sure that if a dunk contest, three point shootout, or horse was incorporated into Olympic, then MJ would have walked away with more medals. Phelps is great again, but there are so many events taylored to one common denominator. Swimming. The guy swims, its what he does, of course he will be good at whichever swimming event it is. dolamite, with all respect, have you ever swam a competition race? Because if you have there is no way you would make that statement. That is the equivalent of saying someone that throws a baseball should be able to throw a football--after all they are both throwing, right? Or a marathoner should be able to run the 100 yd dash. You cannot lump all swimming events together just because you get wet doing them.
August 17, 200818 yr dolamite, with all respect, have you ever swam a competition race? Because if you have there is no way you would make that statement. That is the equivalent of saying someone that throws a baseball should be able to throw a football--after all they are both throwing, right? Or a marathoner should be able to run the 100 yd dash. You cannot lump all swimming events together just because you get wet doing them. :thumb:
August 17, 200818 yr I would almost certainly have to lean toward a decathlon winner. (decathlete?) The versatility required to win it wins out, IMO. I think that I would agree with you.
August 17, 200818 yr Best Olympian ever, sure he had some help, he also set some WR. One option maybe should've been Best Olmpic athlete and Best Swimmer ever.
August 17, 200818 yr dolamite, with all respect, have you ever swam a competition race? Because if you have there is no way you would make that statement. That is the equivalent of saying someone that throws a baseball should be able to throw a football--after all they are both throwing, right? Or a marathoner should be able to run the 100 yd dash. You cannot lump all swimming events together just because you get wet doing them. :thumb::thumb:
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