Thorpe was great in the few events in which he participated. Phelps was great in numerous events with various strokes. He swam 17 times in the olympics and still managed to dominate in his final race enough to give the US the win. I don't think Thorpe came anywhere near 17 races. It's not just that Phelps dominated in some events, it's that he was able to win so many different events all within a short period of time.
So, bottom line, should Thorpe STFU and admit his mistake by calling out that Phelps would not achieve the feat?
I wonder if he was quoted out of context sometimes. At one point they mentioned that Thorpe's prediction was based on the early start time and other factors. But in any case he should be forced to eat his shoe on film Werner Herzog style.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
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sactoking
Diamond Member
- Sep 24, 2007
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I'd say that, barring extensive research, Phelps is the greatest swimmer ever. It's not the records that make him so. It's not the golds that do it either. It's the versatility. Name a swimmer, any swimmer, and they're pretty much a 1-trick pony.
Alexander Popov was a 50 and 100 guy. The 'Thorpedo' was a sprinter. Kitajima can only do breaststroke. Piersol can only do backstroke. Matt Biondi was almost exclusively a freestyler. Spitz was a freestyler and flyer. Janet Evans was a middle distance swimmer. Jeff Rouse was a backstroker.
IMO, only 1 person can hold a candle to him: Summer Sanders. She was the only athlete with the same versatility. Her career was just much shorter.
Too many swimmers get too specialized. Backstrokers, as a rule, can hardly float when it comes to breaststroke, and vice versa. Sprinters can barely complete 2 laps. Being a flyer I think gives Phelps an advantage. 16 years or amateur swimming experience taught me that butterflyers tend to be the most versatile swimmers in the pool.
Alexander Popov was a 50 and 100 guy. The 'Thorpedo' was a sprinter. Kitajima can only do breaststroke. Piersol can only do backstroke. Matt Biondi was almost exclusively a freestyler. Spitz was a freestyler and flyer. Janet Evans was a middle distance swimmer. Jeff Rouse was a backstroker.
IMO, only 1 person can hold a candle to him: Summer Sanders. She was the only athlete with the same versatility. Her career was just much shorter.
Too many swimmers get too specialized. Backstrokers, as a rule, can hardly float when it comes to breaststroke, and vice versa. Sprinters can barely complete 2 laps. Being a flyer I think gives Phelps an advantage. 16 years or amateur swimming experience taught me that butterflyers tend to be the most versatile swimmers in the pool.
I agree, absolutely no doubt. I think he is the best Olympic athlete, ever so slightly moving ahead of Carl Lewis.
Summer only got silver and bronze in the Medleys. She did win gold in the 200m Butterfly.
I think Tracy Caulkins is probably the closest to Phelps. She wasn't able to participate in the boycotted 1980 Olympics, but in the 78 world championships, she won 5 golds (including both IMs and the 200 butterfly) and 1 silver (100 breast). 6 years later in the LA Olympics, she was still able to win both IMs.
Him being a year older than me is all and being one of the best Olympians in history is a bit depressing.
I'll go roll around in college and wash my Hyundai some more. :brokenheart:
I'll go roll around in college and wash my Hyundai some more. :brokenheart:
Kelemvor
Lifer
- May 23, 2002
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Phelps is easily the greatest ever.
It only matters when you compare one swimmer to the people they swam against. Not to someone who swam prior to them.
The best way is to look at the medal count since that shows how well you did against your peers and in how many different ways.
I don't know how many Olympics Spitz was in or Thorpe was in but neither of them ever won 8 golds in a single Olympics or as many total over 2 and even more in 4 more years.
The equipment and suits don't matter since everyone in Phelps's peer group has the same equipment and suits and he still dominates them all.
It only matters when you compare one swimmer to the people they swam against. Not to someone who swam prior to them.
The best way is to look at the medal count since that shows how well you did against your peers and in how many different ways.
I don't know how many Olympics Spitz was in or Thorpe was in but neither of them ever won 8 golds in a single Olympics or as many total over 2 and even more in 4 more years.
The equipment and suits don't matter since everyone in Phelps's peer group has the same equipment and suits and he still dominates them all.
He's great. The greatest right now that is for sure.
I'm not old enough/know a lot about the olympics to compare him to the others.
I'm not old enough/know a lot about the olympics to compare him to the others.
Considering Diana Torres participated in 5 Olympics (albeit removing events as time goes on), phelps will be around for many, many more years. Considering new training techniques, he will probably be able to be competative until his early 40s. So, I can seem his competing the next 20 years, grabbing a medal or two or more in each game. So, when all is said and done, he will be the most decorated Olympian of all time.
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