It’s over, there are no arguments … Phelps is the best ever
By Pat Forde
ESPN.com
Updated: August 13, 2008, 4:30 AM ET
BEIJING — Grab some bench, Carl Lewis.
Turn in your leotard, Nadia Comaneci.
Thanks for the memories, Jesse Owens.
And see ya later, Mark Spitz. Here’s a hankie. Now stop crying about nobody flying your smug self over here. History is unfolding just fine without you.
You all had a nice run as the greatest of Olympians, but it’s over. You have been replaced on the throne by Michael Phelps. No disgrace being shoved off Mount Olympus by Poseidon in a Speedo.
Before diving into the Water Cube pool Wednesday morning, Phelps got a text message from a high school friend. It said, “Time to be the best ever.”
The time was now. History was here. Phelps easily won the 10th and 11th gold medals of his career, the most in Olympic annals.
For a moment, the quest to win a great eight gold medals in a single Games was placed on hold to appreciate the bigger picture, the lifetime body of work. From a child who struggled growing up with ADHD to the golden god of international sport, it’s been an incredible 23-year journey.
“To be the most decorated Olympian of all time, it just sounds weird saying it,” Phelps said. “I have absolutely nothing to say. I’m speechless.”
Let the medals do the talking. He’ll hit 14 golds by the end of this blistering swim meet, and accomplish the great eight along the way.
Here is the full story.
Phelps is a great athlete but I don’t think it is fair to call him the greatest athlete ever. He has earned the title of the greateast swimmer ever but people have to keep in mind that swimmers have much greater chance of earning multiple medals than a sprinter as an example. So greatness can’t be measured only in the amount of medals at the olympics, other factor have to be weighted in, like superiority in the field, world records, length of time at the top etc.
So in my opinion there is no way of seperating Phelps from Carl Lewis or the great Paavo Nurmi or even Jan Zelezny or Roman Sebrle.
These greatest ever articles are only designed to create discussion and controversy.
It is unfair to say that Phelps’s achievement is the greatest ever when there are other performances that could be argued are the greatest ever.
If Grant Hackett wins the 1500m freestyle, he will be the male to win the same event at three consecutive Olympic games (and with no boycotts).
There are sports that allow to win several medals in the same Olimpic games and sports that dont – e.g. how can a judo wrestler or a weightlifter win more than one gold in single Olimpics? One can also win medals in individual events and in relays that require the same skills.
Al Oerter won 4 gold medals in 4 olimpic games in discus, Carl Lewis is still tied with Phelps in individual medals.
But one can say that Phelps is the greatest modern Olimpian in sports that allow for multiple medals.
OOO! Phelps is so hot!
True, this “greatest ever” is of course nonsense. As a swimmer you have plentiful chances of winning a medal – at least as compared to e.g. marathon runners, decathletes and the likes.
While there is no doubt that Phelps’ performance is absolutely impressive I am not even sure he is more dominant than Spitz was at his prime. There are probably more competitions now than there had been at Spitz’ time anyway.
The best ever? No, the best doped ever 🙂 … He knows the secret of Armstrong
Yes, Phelps is the best ever! Even when compared to the likes of Fischer and Kasparov they pale in comparison. In a theoretical match-up between Phelps and Kasparov it would be like a 3200 player playing against a 2850 player. Phelps would wipe Kasparov off the board. Only Fisher might have stood a chance during his 20 game winning streak to the world championship match with Spassky. But here too Phelps would have taken Fischer to the cleaners. It is sad for Chess that Phelps took up swimming but probably better for the world because swimming is more popular. My guess now is that Tiger woods is the only one who could surpass Phelps other than Magnus Carlsen. Unfortunately Tiger Woods is out for the season.
Anon 3:12 – what a crap. Why would swimming skills translate into super chess skills. Is there any correlation? As impressive as Phelps’ performance is, you will just have to accept that different sports (and chess, for that matter) just cannot be compared to each other.
Anon 9:59 said
“If Grant Hackett wins the 1500m freestyle, he will be the male to win the same event at three consecutive Olympic games (and with no boycotts).”
Actually Steve Redgrave won Olympic gold medals in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000, and a bronze in 1988.
I agree with the fact that Phelps isn’t the GREATEST athelete but he is really a remarkable swimmer.
😀
It’s the same if you say that Anand is the best chess payer ever. If he is in the same time standart, blitz and rapid chess champion, that means he is the best ever player. Am I right?
Probably not.