Phelps: Unbeatable
Join the Olympics Debate on Michael Phelps' amazing medal haul at the Games < Back to Story
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Simply the best?
Join the Olympics Debate on Phelps' medal haul at the Games
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Comments
Ali S says...
Of course Phelps is a legend. No doubt about it. I would consider Michael Johnson to be almost on a par in terms of acheivements though. Why? Because of the popularity and competitive nature of the sport in which he dominated and dismanteled with such ease. Also his 200m WR, I think is the greatest WR of all time.
Posted 01:04 14th August 2008
Mee mee Me says...
Typical Brits, jealous and negative. If it's so easy for Phelps, just take a look at our own results in medals table, struggling to get an odd one here and there. We are so useless in competition and weak in competitor's spirit, we cheer and pay lots of money to support footballers that can't even get qualified for the basic European finals.
Posted 23:07 13th August 2008
Brett Koenig says...
I think that Michael Phelps should consider entering himself as a country..the people's republic of Phelps, he would be 5th, ahead of Great Britain! and he would be beatin over 190 countries...amazing!
Posted 21:07 13th August 2008
Gary Thompson says...
Phelps is an absolute legend and a true inspiration for all young kids.after finishing 5th in sydney in 2000, 5 months later he broke the 200m butterfly world record and then went on to win 6 golds in athens in 2004 whereas thorpe only won five golds.it is a tribute to his fitness that he is able to swim in 17 races in just 8 days.
Posted 19:50 13th August 2008
Graham Burns says...
Swimming has been one of the most exciting sports to watch at this olympics. But four different strokes for each distance is great TV is a bit of a farce. Carl Lewis is the greatest olympian
Posted 19:21 13th August 2008
Zaeem Shahid says...
I think Phelps is the greatest olympian ever and I am sure that he will break the individual record of Spitz and win 8 gold medals this year.
Posted 19:07 13th August 2008
Thomas Bragg says...
i think that phelps is an amazing all though he does take part in so many events but then he does want to break the record. he has so much strenght and energy which make him in my mind the best in the world
Posted 18:28 13th August 2008
Campbell Smith says...
I share that view that to win consistently over a longer period in the way that Redgrave did is a greater achievement than Phelps, and remember the lack of funding and support that has received in his early days, but take nothing away from what Phelps has achieved. If you look at Redgraves win ratio, he won 5 of the 6 events that he entered (as most people forget he also won a bronze on Seoul in the coxed pairs) which also compares favourably with Phelps. If Phelps is still going strong in 2012 and wins a couple more there, then I too may change my view, but Redgrave remains my choice, closely followed by Phelps who moves ahead of Carl Lewis.
Posted 18:13 13th August 2008
John Simpson says...
I know this is a British sports website and all, but I didn't think everyone would be hating on our American achievements, I sense a lot of jealousy from across the pond. I think people are saying it's not that great of an accomplishment because only the Americans (Spitz and Phelps) have been good enough to win so many medals at a single Olympiad.
Posted 17:42 13th August 2008
Guest1 Frasier says...
Am i right in saying that it's much easier to win more gold medals in the swimming events compared to any of the other events. E.g. In track and field you can win 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m and if you're incredible you may somehow win the long jump. So you really have a maximum of 4 at a push whereas the different disciplines in swimming are all ease to master once you become an olympic swimmer. Phelps is without a doubt a great athlete and deserves praise but lets not just look at it as simply a medal count. I don't think he deserves the title of greatest olypian of all time. I think that has to go to Redrave or Karl Lewis.
Posted 17:20 13th August 2008
Andrew N says...
I notice people put Steve Redgrave above Jessie Owens, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson etc! Come on, how many people do you know who actually row? Its the same reasons Royals win horse riding competitions - because they are the only ones rich enough to compete. Not that I am a fan of athletic per se, but at least it has potential to be mass participation sport and therefore a degree of high level competition.
Posted 17:17 13th August 2008
Cam Orchard says...
5 Races ... 5 Golds ... 5 World Records . Cant say one bad word about him
Posted 15:34 13th August 2008
Abimbola Olarewaju says...
Regardless of opinion the fact is that Phelps is the best olympian whether or not it has spanned over numerous olympics it just shows how good he is if he can dominate a discipline like that. Team GB will have to up it in 2012 and install that 'Win' mentality that Michael Donegan spoke about
Posted 15:29 13th August 2008
Aaa Aaaa says...
i wonder are the redgrave fans english?????
Posted 15:25 13th August 2008
Brian Hannifin says...
Even if you take those ridiculous new speedo suits that may give them a more streamlined profile, he'd still win because they all wear them. The training methods used today, the techniques used on the turn, and on the stroke itself are all geared for the best possible lap time. The guy is freakishly good, and his results show that swimming is his life and there is room for little else. by the way, these swimmers are getting tested for drugs each and every day they are there.
Posted 14:56 13th August 2008
Rob Wells says...
A fanatstic achievement for Phelps. Officially the greatest olympian ever yes. I think Redgrave's achievement is higher overall though in my opinion and tougher to achieve. Im taking nothing away from Phelps though. The greatest human to ever grace the swimming pool. The only shame of this years Olympics though is his competition in the freestyle event, would have been nice to see Thorpe there, shame he retired so early. Would have been an amazing contest!!
Posted 13:54 13th August 2008
Michael Donegan says...
hi in my eyes phelps. great but when the amaricans go for the games they have one thing on there mind and that is to win but that is not the case here we are happy to settle with what ever we get. over the next 4 years we must all think win to make 2012 the best the world has ever see but with GB right at the top of the table or at lest the top three.We sould give them as much funding as possible
Posted 13:52 13th August 2008
Brian Thomas says...
Whilst I agree that Michael Phelps achievements are really superb I have a personal view that being allowed to compete in so many Olympic events does not feel right. I believe that competitors in a sport where there are so many different disciplines should be limited to 2 or 3 events. This would then reflect the purpose of the olympics by allowing more 'athletes' to take part.
Posted 13:13 13th August 2008
J Wood says...
To win the only only event you are in over 5 olympic games spanning 16 years is far more of an achievment than winning multiple events over 2 olympics. Redgrave had to be at his best with no margin for error, with only one chance every four years for his event. Phelps has eight chances at each games. Although he is undoubtedly an amazing athlete, in my opinion Redgrave is the better of the two. If Phelps is still winning Olmpic golds at the London and 2016 games, then my opinion would change.
Posted 12:57 13th August 2008
Al Preston says...
Congrats to Michael Phelps. A wonderful achievement. However I think the greatest Olympian of all time is Jesse Owens. Why? Because he went to Berlin and stuffed Hitler's true arian supremacy good and proper. Even when the german was given a flyer, he still beat him. Seeing Hitler leaveing the stadium in total humiliation is one of the great pieces of film footage of all time!
Posted 12:32 13th August 2008
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