Anyone not impressed with Michael Phelps?

[Eric O]

A friend of mine won a gold in Atlanta a few years back. He says PHelps is the best swimmer to ever live.

Having your name mentioned in that realm is impressive alone.

 

[heavyarms21]

Where did this come about ? I think anyone who tries to say Phelps accomplishments aren't impressive is kinda talking out of their ass

 

[heavyarms21]

A friend of mine won a gold in Atlanta a few years back. He says PHelps is the best swimmer to ever live.

Having your name mentioned in that realm is impressive alone.

1996 is more than a few years back in my opinion

 

[Zer]

1996 is more than a few years back in my opinion

Eric O - pwnt

 

[SafyreSchool**]

I agree with you TS.

I mean, it's like have the 100 meter dash with a gold medal for doing it hoping on one foot, doing it backward, running on your hands and feet, running on your hands and doing it in a dress.

 

[heavyarms21]

I agree with you TS.

I mean, it's like have the 100 meter dash with a gold medal for doing it hoping on one foot, doing it backward, running on your hands and feet, running on your hands and doing it in a dress.

Are you speaking from experience ?

 

[FLYOVER BOSSMAN]

It has a ton to do with genetics.

Having said that, even in relatively good cardio shape right now, I don't think I could finish a 200M fly without stopping.

I would rather run six a 10k setting a PR then have to swim 2500M at a leisurely pace.

*used to swim on teams all the way until my sophomore year of high school.

 

[Eric O]

1996 is more than a few years back in my opinion

I guess I'm getting old. Is 29 old?

 

[heavyarms21]

I guess I'm getting old. Is 29 old?

Fuck no Im 25 and I refuse to accept that once Im 29 people will call me old If anything Ill be taking better carw of my body at that age than at 19 and be happy and healthy


End rant

 

[Grob]

I think they should combine the swimming events into a decathalon and award one medal to the best swimmer. I agree TS.

Or, give the winner of the decathalon 10 medals.

 

[Eric O]

Fuck no Im 25 and I refuse to accept that once Im 29 people will call me old If anything Ill be taking better carw of my body at that age than at 19 and be happy and healthy


End rant

I decided I'm not going to grow up until I have kids. I honeslty didn't start feeling my age until I was 28. I've been doing BJJ, MMA and MT for almost 10 years now though and its definitely taken a toll on my body. I got a few more years until I shift to just bjj which I'll probably do until I die.

 

[Gawd]

i bet he probably got laid like a motherfucker in China of 08.

Apparently he marked his congests with a tatoo...

 

[wilKO]

I'm impressed. He's a force. But Bolt is better. If he got a medal for 100m 110m 120m egg and spoon. He'd look like Phelps does.

 

[mister who]

I think by having so many events in swimming, it taints athletes who get multiple gold medals. The equivalent would be running normally, running sideways, skipping and cartwheeling in track events. It is silly to have so many different styles and small increments of distance in swimming. If track and field had that many events, Usain Bolt would have 20+ gold medals.

 

[mister who]

GSP isn't.


But I am. Swimming like that isn't something that a lot of people can do at such a high level. Now, the man does seem like he's a bit of a dbag, but that takes nothing away from his accomplishments. He's done something that no one else in the world has done.

Swimming is just an odd sport altogether. Track and field makes sense because most sports involve running, jumping and throwing. Aside from water polo and triathlons what other sport requires swimming as a base?

 

[KoreanZawmbie]

HAtin son

 

[Lost Limb**]

The fact he has so many more medals than other swimmers who compete for the same number of medals shows how great he is.

 

[jackietreehorn8]

I think by having so many events in swimming, it taints athletes who get multiple gold medals. The equivalent would be running normally, running sideways, skipping and cartwheeling in track events. It is silly to have so many different styles and small increments of distance in swimming. If track and field had that many events, Usain Bolt would have 20+ gold medals.

There's probably more difference between the 100m Freestyle and the 100m Butterfly or back stroke than there is between the 100m sprint and 100m hurdle. But you don't see many guys that can do both of those track and field events at an olympic level.

They have 100, 200 & 400 in both normal running & hurdles. Plus plenty of distances longer than 400, relays for all those distances, plus steeplechase, etc.

Swimming has more opportunities to medal, sure, but Bolt could have plenty more opportunities to get medals if he was a better and more versatile runner...similar to how good and versatile Phelps is in the pool.

 

[BPA00]

He is VERY impressive... but I will agree with you that he is also WAY over-hyped. Like you said, there are a TON of medals available in swimming each and every Olympics... and many of the same skills/abilities transfer well between many of the events.

I mean, he is probably the greatest swimmer ever... but I don't like how people talk about him like he is WAY better than other athletes that have fewer medals because they only compete for 1 or 2 per Olympics while he gets to compete for like a dozen give/take.

 

[mister who]

There's probably more difference between the 100m Freestyle and the 100m Butterfly or back stroke than there is between the 100m sprint and 100m hurdle. But you don't see many guys that can do both of those track and field events at an olympic level.

They have 100, 200 & 400 in both normal running & hurdles. Plus plenty of distances longer than 400, relays for all those distances, plus steeplechase, etc.

Swimming has more opportunities to medal, sure, but Bolt could have plenty more opportunities to get medals if he was a better and more versatile runner...similar to how good and versatile Phelps is in the pool.

Hurdling is 110m and 400m for men. There are way more distances in swimming. Plus I don't see the comparison between the two. Is there an event in swimming where you have to navigate physical obstacles? If not, the hurdling comparison doesn't make sense.

The fact he has so many more medals than other swimmers who compete for the same number of medals shows how great he is.

How many athletes compete for a spot in swimming versus sprinting? Much smaller talent pool. That would be like saying winning the equestrian championships is comparable to winning the world cup in soccer.