I'm pulling for him, but this has been bothering me the past few days.
If you're a Discus or Javelin or Badminton competitor, no matter how great you are the most gold medals you can win at an Olympics is one.
The fact that there are 12 different flavors of swimming in the Games is what makes this possible.
Don't get me wrong, it's remarkable and I'm pulling for him, but people are getting a little too hung up on this number 8.
If you're a Discus or Javelin or Badminton competitor, no matter how great you are the most gold medals you can win at an Olympics is one.
The fact that there are 12 different flavors of swimming in the Games is what makes this possible.
Don't get me wrong, it's remarkable and I'm pulling for him, but people are getting a little too hung up on this number 8.
Yeah but if it were 9 you wouldn't be complaining.
Seriously though, it's the 12 different flavors that make it THAT much harder and THAT much more of a significant accomplishment.
I swam competitively for 9 years. Typically there are sprinters and distant swimmers. Among sprinters, usually a guy will be good at one stroke, not each and every one, in multiple distances. Make no mistake, 100 breast is a very different race from 200 breast. He's also an IM'er too (all four together fly/back/breast/free)
He's a freak.
I hope not, I bet against it happening. I still don't think he does, but wouldn't be surprised if he did.
I also agree with 9. Phelps is a phenomenal athlete, but I'm sure there are plenty of other athletes that dominate their event, but only have 1 or 2 gold medals available to win. Swimmers are really the only athletes that have a chance at this record.
I also agree with 9. Phelps is a phenomenal athlete, but I'm sure there are plenty of other athletes that dominate their event, but only have 1 or 2 gold medals available to win. Swimmers are really the only athletes that have a chance at this record.
Look at all these potential baseball records...(how many guys hold 8 records?)
<TABLE class=boxed cellSpacing=0 borderColorDark=black cellPadding=5 borderColorLight=black border=1><TBODY><TR><TD class=banner noWrap colSpan=2>Hitting Records by Players</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>At-Bats Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Season Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Bases on Balls Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Inside The Park Home Run Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Batting Average Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Intentional Bases on Balls Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Batting Streaks</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Left on Base Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Doubles Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Multiple Home Run Games Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap></TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>On Base Percentage Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Grand Slam Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Pinch Hitting Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Grounding Into Double Play Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Runs Batted In Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hit By Pitch Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Runs Scored Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hits Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Sacrifice Fly Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hitting For The Cycle Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Singles Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs - Age Related Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Slugging Average Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs - Consecutive Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Strikeout Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Career Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Total Bases Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Game Records
</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Triples Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Month Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap width=194>Future Expansion Area</TD></TR><TR><TD class=banner noWrap colSpan=2>Pitching Records by Players</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>1-Hit Game Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Innings Pitched Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Balk Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Loss Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Bases on Balls / Walks Allowed</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>No Hitter Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Complete Game Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Relief Pitching Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Games Pitched Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Shutout Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Games Started Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Saves Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hit Batsmen Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Strikeout Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Holds Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Wild Pitch Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs Allowed Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Wins Records</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=boxed cellSpacing=0 borderColorDark=black cellPadding=5 borderColorLight=black border=1><TBODY><TR><TD class=banner noWrap colSpan=2>Hitting Records by Players</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>At-Bats Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Season Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Bases on Balls Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Inside The Park Home Run Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Batting Average Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Intentional Bases on Balls Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Batting Streaks</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Left on Base Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Doubles Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Multiple Home Run Games Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap></TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>On Base Percentage Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Grand Slam Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Pinch Hitting Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Grounding Into Double Play Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Runs Batted In Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hit By Pitch Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Runs Scored Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hits Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Sacrifice Fly Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hitting For The Cycle Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Singles Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs - Age Related Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Slugging Average Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs - Consecutive Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Strikeout Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Career Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Total Bases Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Game Records
</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Triples Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs in a Month Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap width=194>Future Expansion Area</TD></TR><TR><TD class=banner noWrap colSpan=2>Pitching Records by Players</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>1-Hit Game Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Innings Pitched Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Balk Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Loss Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Bases on Balls / Walks Allowed</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>No Hitter Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Complete Game Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Relief Pitching Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Games Pitched Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Shutout Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Games Started Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Saves Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Hit Batsmen Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Strikeout Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Holds Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Wild Pitch Records</TD></TR><TR><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Home Runs Allowed Records</TD><TD class=datacolBox noWrap>Wins Records</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I disagree with this. Team USA could win on a 10 foot goal, an 8 foot goal, half court, full court, street ball, etc.. Different forms of the same sport...
Don't get me wrong though. What he has done and has the potential to do is phenomenal, but it's not more significant than what Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods or Babe Ruth did.
I respectfully disagree. If he pulls this off, in my opinion it will be the most significant athletic accomplishment in the history of sports. Like I said, I swam competitively (year-round) for 9 nine years. (I played football, baseball, and basketball as well.) Most do not fully understand the sport of swimming. The significance of this entirely underrated.
Don't forget, he's swimming in the prelims and semifinals before the finals. So he's racing over 20 times in these few days. One hour and 9 minutes before he lead off that Killer Relay, he swam 200 free in the semis. That's insane.
Don't forget, he's swimming in the prelims and semifinals before the finals. So he's racing over 20 times in these few days. One hour and 9 minutes before he lead off that Killer Relay, he swam 200 free in the semis. That's insane.
You are comparing apples and oranges. No single human being could ever have all those records because it takes a different body type and position to be the best in those categories. For example, there is no person who could EVER lead in blocks and 3pters.
2 people have dominated the sport of swimming to the point where they win just about everything. Swimming is a sport where you can essentially hold all the records. Add some long distance swimming events and if phelps wins all those then i'll give him the credit as being superhuman. As it stands now, he's as impressive as the guy who wins the 100m and the 200m track sprint (which is still impressive as hell, but not godly like phelps is made out to be).
Best athletic achievement of all time? I got tons of respect for Phelps, but I don't even put that in the top 50. In my opinion Padraig winning the British and PGA back to back is a bigger accomplishment than Phelps winning 8 gold medals. Hell, I'd say the Giants winning the Super Bowl and Tiger winning the US Open on one leg this year are more significant, at least in my opinion they are.
ti made a much better comparison than the baseball records. You put 8 different basketball events on the schedule and USA wins all 8 pretty easily. Swimming is really the only event that allows this to be possible. If you're the best at your sport, you're the best at your sport. Phelps is by far the best swimmer alive, but no way I could put this accomplishment up with others that have happened throughout history, or even this year.
ti made a much better comparison than the baseball records. You put 8 different basketball events on the schedule and USA wins all 8 pretty easily. Swimming is really the only event that allows this to be possible. If you're the best at your sport, you're the best at your sport. Phelps is by far the best swimmer alive, but no way I could put this accomplishment up with others that have happened throughout history, or even this year.
Why can't someone lead in blocks and 3pters? Never say never. This isn't a guy winning the 100 and 200. It's like a marathon and a decathalon put together. You guys just fail to understand what he's doing. Even Rowdy Gaines just said he swam 4 events in 8 days and thought he was going to die. Phelps is swimming close to 20 times. I think he said 17 times.
shocker to see you shitting on this american achievement as well.
i can see some of the arguments in here as far as he is in the only sport where the opportunity is there to achieve such a feat.
but just cause it is there to be achieved does not make it anything less than extraordinary. i am not sure where it ranks as far as all time athletic achievements but it is way up there.
nearly every time the guy gets in the pool he not only wins but he swims the event faster than any other human that has come before him.
