Michael Phelps

simon ess

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Just watched him try to to be the first swimmer ever to defend an olympic title for the second time.

He lost by the narrowest of margins to the South African, Le Closs.
I was extremely impressed with Phelps' professionalism, graciousness and humanity towards Le Closs after the race.

He behaved like a true gent and star .

What a fantastic example to all young, aspiring sports people - and others.

I know nothing about Phelps really but, based on what I saw tonight, I'm full of admiration.
 
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Phelps is a quality guy
Really down to earth
 
Amazing achievement tonight by Michael Phelps, gold with the US team in the 4x200m Relay final taking his medal tally to 19 medals in 12 years. Incredible.

I've really been enjoying the swimming at this Olympics, really exciting entertainment.
 
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His modesty was very endearing when he became the greatest Olympian in history
 
Hmmm....I posted this in GC because I considered his behaviour to be of interest and an example to all.

The powers that be seem to have deemed it only suitable for those with a specific interest in sport.

Oh well.
 
MODS there's another thread on this if you would like to merge?
 
Great athlete. But it is just swimming different lengths. ;)

Greatest Olympian has to be someone who can compete in different sports. Like decathletes.



Thank god there is not 50m, 75m , 100m, 150m, 200m, and every few metres swimming events.
 
And now, the greatest medal winner in Olympic history, in any sport, with 19 medals.

Not just 'any' sport. Bit unfair to call him the 'greatest medal winner' as he does have a lot of events inc relays to win medals in. more so than any other sport.

'Greatest olympian of all time'? I don't think so.

Maybe the track running events should include different ways of running like backwards, hopping, skipping etc.
That would even out the number of events with swimming
 
MODS there's another thread on this if you would like to merge?

That's probably a good idea.

Not just 'any' sport. Bit unfair to call him the 'greatest medal winner' as he does have a lot of events inc relays to win medals in. more so than any other sport.

'Greatest olympian of all time'? I don't think so.

Maybe the track running events should include different ways of running like backwards, hopping, skipping etc.
That would even out the number of events with swimming


Well leaving out any value judgements, he has won the greatest number of olympic medals in history.

Out of interest, and I mean that, not trying to start an argument, who would you say was the "greatest olympian of all times"?
 
20 medals - another gold in the 200 IM, three in a row.

Regardless of whether he's the greatest or not, he's one for the ages. A swimmer they'll talk about for generations to come.
 
BlueOrange25 said:
20 medals - another gold in the 200 IM, three in a row.

Regardless of whether he's the greatest or not, he's one for the ages. A swimmer they'll talk about for generations to come.

Yeah another good win and the first gold as an individual at these games.
 
That's probably a good idea.




Well leaving out any value judgements, he has won the greatest number of olympic medals in history.

Out of interest, and I mean that, not trying to start an argument, who would you say was the "greatest olympian of all times"?

Good question an I suppose I set myself up for that.

I really don't know is the short answer. I guess you could argue that any heptathlete or decathlete as they are 'all rounders'. Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens also come to mind or even the Japanese equestrian who was featured last night, not for medals but for his age at 71 and longevity!! He first competed in 1964.
 
Just watched him try to to be the first swimmer ever to defend an olympic title for the second time.

He lost by the narrowest of margins to the South African, Le Closs.
I was extremely impressed with Phelps' professionalism, graciousness and humanity towards Le Closs after the race.

He behaved like a true gent and star .

What a fantastic example to all young, aspiring sports people - and others.

I know nothing about Phelps really but, based on what I saw tonight, I'm full of admiration.

Me too.
 
Al Oerter in the discuss is also up there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Oerter

Swimmers just get too many chances to get medals. Oerter only competed in one event. And a very interesting life as well.

And my hero, Abebe Bikila.The first sub Saharan African to win a gold medal. He won the marathon barefoot.

Abebe Bikila - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of course there are many Olympians with more medals than these two. But few with such lovely stories.

Phil
 
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17 golds now wow
 
Great athlete. But it is just swimming different lengths. ;)

Greatest Olympian has to be someone who can compete in different sports. Like decathletes.



Thank god there is not 50m, 75m , 100m, 150m, 200m, and every few metres swimming events.

Not just 'any' sport. Bit unfair to call him the 'greatest medal winner' as he does have a lot of events inc relays to win medals in. more so than any other sport.

'Greatest olympian of all time'? I don't think so.

Maybe the track running events should include different ways of running like backwards, hopping, skipping etc.
That would even out the number of events with swimming

Carl Lewis won most of his medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay - hardly a wide ranging series of events, just different distances - a bit like swimming. And the long jump is just running with one jump at the end ;)

He also tested positive for banned stimulants 3 times before the 1988 Olympics (as did some of his club team mates) but it was overturned because it was claimed they took over the counter medicines. These days you wouldn't even be competing in the Olympics because that would get you a ban.

Yes swimmers get more opportunities, but you have to be fit enough and good enough to master the different strokes, and to enter and win when there are specialists (the worlds best) in each event.

Phelps has won twice as many medals as any other swimmer in history. If it's so easy then why haven't any other swimmers in the history of the Olympics ever won more than 9 golds when Phelps has won 18?

In the top 15 Olympic medals winners of all time there are only 4 swimmers.

The guy is a phenomenon, he's conducted himself and his career with the utmost professionalism and humility.
 
Not sure what your point is there TBH.

Unless you feel that someone having a bit of reefer is so terrible they can't possibly be held in good regard.

Certainly not my view, but each to their own.
 
Not sure what your point is there TBH.

Unless you feel that someone having a bit of reefer is so terrible they can't possibly be held in good regard.

Certainly not my view, but each to their own.

Hey I think seems alright but I was just referring to the 'utmost professionalism' comment and him smoking.

Reality is we do not know him.

No doubt a great swimmer.
 
So Mr phelps has retired good on him
Won everything he needed to set the bar
 

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