XXX Summer Olympiad

[Alex]

Now maybe they'll shut up about Phelps (I'm not really watching the Olympics--maybe an hour total so far--team handball is much more interesting if you watch a whole game in 4 minutes online). Sure, he's a great athlete. But he's also lucky to be in a sport that has a bajillion slightly tweaked competitions.

Usain Bolt would win as many medals if there was the 100 meter dash just going as fast as you can. The 100 meter dash running backwards. The 100-meter four man relay. The 100 meter dash running with your arms over your head. The 100 meter dash where you wiggle your shoulders while running. The 100 meter dash while trying to read a newspaper held just slightly too far away. The 100 meter dash where you run around the track clockwise instead of counter-clockwise.

Who can get from one end of the pool fastest is an interesting competition. Who can get from one end of the pool fastest in a slightly slower way is not.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

Now maybe they'll shut up about Phelps (I'm not really watching the Olympics--maybe an hour total so far--team handball is much more interesting if you watch a whole game in 4 minutes online). Sure, he's a great athlete. But he's also lucky to be in a sport that has a bajillion slightly tweaked competitions.

Usain Bolt would win as many medals if there was the 100 meter dash just going as fast as you can. The 100 meter dash running backwards. The 100-meter four man relay. The 100 meter dash running with your arms over your head. The 100 meter dash where you wiggle your shoulders while running. The 100 meter dash while trying to read a newspaper held just slightly too far away. The 100 meter dash where you run around the track clockwise instead of counter-clockwise.

Who can get from one end of the pool fastest is an interesting competition. Who can get from one end of the pool fastest in a slightly slower way is not.

A valid point, but from a different perspective, the similarities in the events is nothing new and still no other swimmer in the history of the Olympics has ever managed to get as many medals.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

A valid point, but from a different perspective, the similarities in the events is nothing new and still no other swimmer in the history of the Olympics has ever managed to get as many medals.

Which clearly makes him the most accomplished (and thus arguably greatest) Olympic swimmer in history. Just not so clearly the greatest Olympian period which is what people are hanging on him. I mean, can you really cleanly argue that he's a "better Olympian" than, say, May/Walsh who have yet to lose a single SET, let alone match in their Olympic career?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Which clearly makes him the most accomplished (and thus arguably greatest) Olympic swimmer in history. Just not so clearly the greatest Olympian period which is what people are hanging on him. I mean, can you really cleanly argue that he's a "better Olympian" than, say, May/Walsh who have yet to lose a single SET, let alone match in their Olympic career?

I doubt there could ever be a quantitative "best ever" athlete so for me calling Phelps by that monicker falls under the general category of puffery which in the celebrations of the moment is fine by me.