Not at all,it is easy to get more medals in swimming than in track and field events. In swimming there are 50 mtr, 100 mtr events and if you had 50 mtrs, 150 mts, 250 mtrs and 300 mtrs races Carl Lewis would have won more golds in track and field. Decathlon and marathon golds and winning 5000 mtrs and 10000 mtrs in a single olympics and then repeating it in the next olympics,or winning marathon in consecutive olympics is much more gruelling than swimming golds. When one floats in water there is boyency which helps swimmers a lot. American athlete Al Oerter won gold in discus throw in 4 consecutive olympics which is quite unbelievable. Abebe Bikila the great Etheopian won consecutive gold in marathon in 1960 and 64 olympics without any coach or a team of phychologists physios or dietetians and the like. Valdimer Cirpisky of Germany also won 2 consecutive gold in marathon. Miritus Yifter another great Etheopian who for the first time saw a stadium and athletes practicing running,at the age of 26, in the year 1966,went on to win gold in 5000 mtrs and 10000 mtrs in Moscow 1980,what happened in between were many tragedies. In Munich he missed 10000 mtrs(he won silver in 5000 mtrs) because he did't understand English when his call came through the loud speaker. In 1976 African countries boycotted Montreal olympics when NZ rugby team visited S.Africa. So came next Moscow 1980 and won double golds in 5000 and 10000 mtrs running.
RE:Is Phelps the greatest olympian?
by maheedhar basix on Aug 14, 2008 11:58 AM Permalink
Good Analysis. But it same for all. his Competitor also has swim 50 or 100 meters. I pity America because out 10 gold 5 won by Phelps. What is great with America?
RE:Is Phelps the greatest olympian?
by Manj u on Aug 14, 2008 11:22 AM Permalink
Agree. A good analtsis. Agree that Phelps is blessing for the game but he can not be rated the greatest. You have analysed it well. Even he can not be compared to Spitz 'cos when he created that record he did not have the swim suits which reduce the water resistance, he did not have the ultra modern facilities to train and whatever technological advances that are enjoyed by the ilk of phelps. So even in swimming Mark Spitz is better or is equal on terms with phelps. The count of gold medals does not make the greatest athlete. It shows that you are the best among the participating lot. Nothing more. If world records can be created with all the help of technology than it can be broken also.
RE:Is Phelps the greatest olympian?
by vinay on Aug 15, 2008 01:00 AM Permalink
manju good point. 'gold medals does not make the greatest athlete. It shows that you are the best among the participating lot. Nothing more' perfect analysis. a player may have scored higher ranks but he may hv performed below his/her best but in the event, he is compared to performances of others.
RE:Is Phelps the greatest olympian?
by devdass on Aug 14, 2008 12:21 PM Permalink
This kind of analysis makes one sick.This how it had been throughout. And he is the only man to do it. CONSISTENCY IS SOMETHING REMARKABLE. One error in one race and you become another MORTAL! Give credit when it is due!
There is some truly remarkable idiocy on display in this forum. Such a phenomenal lack of knowledge, and those who have the knowledge have an appalling dearth of understanding.
It is little wonder that we in India are so thoroughly terrible at Olympic Sport. The reason is clearly on display in most of the comments on this board!!
RE:Is Phelps the greatest olympian?
by vinay on Aug 14, 2008 12:26 AM Permalink
agreed 100%. swimming has the maximum events for getting the gold. just compare the swimming events with other sports events.
