It's more like 8 years. And many athletes can claim it. Those others simply compete in sports that don't have all of the various configurations of events like swimming has.
michael phelps breaks all time medal record
- Thread starter bababuey
- Start date
That's another criteria to measure him by if multi-medal sport is in question. Is there a marathon runner that were ever this dominant over a 9-year period? And it is 9 years since Phelps first came to prominence after the 2003 World Championship. So yes, I do think that I can still call him the "greatest Olympian ever".Yes - He is one History's greatest athletes. Very few people can say they dominated their sport for over 12 years like he did..Scary thing is he still has more medals in him
And he will add more. There are three more events to go where he's guaranteed to get a medal.Clearly, he was motivated to add "most medals" to his resume.
That is true and kudos to Carl. However, athletics is ALSO a multi-medal sport and Carl won medals in multiple events at almost each of the games he participated in. Winning 8 gold medals in one games though is beyond human. Just try swimming multiple styles at your next workout and listen to Spitz when he says it was much easier for him to win 7 golds.Carl Lewis won the gold medal in the long jump in 4 consecutive olympics.
I had this debate during the last Olympics already, so I'm not going to have it again.That is true and kudos to Carl. However, athletics is ALSO a multi-medal sport and Carl won medals in multiple events almost at each of the games he participated in. Winning 8 gold medals in one game though is beyond human. Just try swimming multiple styles at your next workout and listen to Spitz when he says it was much easier for him to win 7 golds.
This article says everything I'd want to say.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19073234
Please elaborate.He wasn't even the greatest Olympian at the 2008 games - that was Usain Bolt.
I agree, it all depends on how you define greatness. I'm just grateful that I got to witness something as amazing as Phelps' career, whether he's the greatest or not. Still regretting that I didn't take advantage of those USA Swimming specials in 2008 where you could get a package to go with them to Beijing, live nearby, go to all events on the staff bus and sit right next to the athletes area. Stupid me.an extraordinary olympic achievement among a handful in the last century ( as per the article referenced above). to classify and categorize them is pointless...
they are all remarkable in their own right and for their own reasons.
Usain was great, but no way he was better than what Phelps accomplished in 2008.He wasn't even the greatest Olympian at the 2008 games - that was Usain Bolt.
Carl Lewis is also part-KangarooCarl Lewis won the gold medal in the long jump in 4 consecutive olympics.
Not to mention that Phelps had to swim 17 races all together including all the prelims and semi-finals in 8 days. Some of them were 30 minutes apart. I don't think Mr. Bolt comes even remotely close to this.Usain was great, but no way he was better than what Phelps accomplished in 2008.
There's certain sports fields that allow for many more medal opportunities than others, swimming being among them. 50-100-150-200 freestlye, backstroke, butterfly, breast stroke relays and dozens more.
Someone like Usain Bolt would never be able to win that many medals.
Maybe they should introduce the running backwards race, the sack race, and the egg and spoon race to give the track guys more medal opportunities.
Someone like Usain Bolt would never be able to win that many medals.
Maybe they should introduce the running backwards race, the sack race, and the egg and spoon race to give the track guys more medal opportunities.
Don't forget the three legged race. Always a winner at the family picnic.There's certain sports fields that allow for many more medal opportunities than others, swimming being among them. 50-100-150-200 freestlye, backstroke, butterfly, breast stroke relays and dozens more.
Someone like Usain Bolt would never be able to win that many medals.
Maybe they should introduce the running backwards race, the sack race, and the egg and spoon race to give the track guys more medal opportunities.
yes- he would be a good candidate- he won in long jump and runningCarl Lewis won the gold medal in the long jump in 4 consecutive olympics.
i also like jesse owens- especially given the times. I like clara hughes winning in winter and summer olympics (thats tough)
eddie egan (US)- boxing and bobsled
Christa Luding- cycling and speed skating
jacob thams- sailing and ski jumping
Gillis Grafström became the first person to win a medal in the same event in Summer and Winter Olympics, winning figure skating golds at the 1920 Olympics and at the first Winter Olympics in 1924.
Eddie Eagan became the first person to win a medal in the Winter Olympics and in the Summer Olympics in different events. He is the only Summer and Winter medalist to win Gold medals in different events.
Christa Luding is the only person to win medals at the Winter and Summer Games in the same year. (This feat is no longer possible due to the staggering of the Winter and Summer Olympic years.)
Clara Hughes is the first person to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games and holds the highest number of medals of any Olympian to win medals in both the Summer and Winter Games.
Christa Luding- cycling and speed skating
jacob thams- sailing and ski jumping
Gillis Grafström became the first person to win a medal in the same event in Summer and Winter Olympics, winning figure skating golds at the 1920 Olympics and at the first Winter Olympics in 1924.
Eddie Eagan became the first person to win a medal in the Winter Olympics and in the Summer Olympics in different events. He is the only Summer and Winter medalist to win Gold medals in different events.
Christa Luding is the only person to win medals at the Winter and Summer Games in the same year. (This feat is no longer possible due to the staggering of the Winter and Summer Olympic years.)
Clara Hughes is the first person to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games and holds the highest number of medals of any Olympian to win medals in both the Summer and Winter Games.
And Clara barely missed medalling in the ITT this year.eddie egan (US)- boxing and bobsled
Christa Luding- cycling and speed skating
jacob thams- sailing and ski jumping
Gillis Grafström became the first person to win a medal in the same event in Summer and Winter Olympics, winning figure skating golds at the 1920 Olympics and at the first Winter Olympics in 1924.
Eddie Eagan became the first person to win a medal in the Winter Olympics and in the Summer Olympics in different events. He is the only Summer and Winter medalist to win Gold medals in different events.
Christa Luding is the only person to win medals at the Winter and Summer Games in the same year. (This feat is no longer possible due to the staggering of the Winter and Summer Olympic years.)
Clara Hughes is the first person to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games and holds the highest number of medals of any Olympian to win medals in both the Summer and Winter Games.
