Olympic GDT - 4 August

[trackercowe]

The water decathlon is essentially the individual medley (comprised of four different swimming disciplines), and yes he is dominant in that as well. And he is usually the best, or near the best in all the disciplines.

Phelps could easily contend in any swimming event, but obviously he can only choose to do so many events without running himself dry.

Heck he dropped events he won gold medals in last time around. If Phelps really wanted to he could probably almost match the medals Canada won the past three Olympics by himself. It would just force him to sacrifice winning the gold 18 times.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by HitterD

Correction

He has twice as many golds as the next olympian has golds. 18 to 9. It took his 19th total medal to break the record for most medals.

I agree with your stance though, greatest olympian ever.

Right you are...they just showed it on CTV...still though....22 medals is just insane.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by transplant99

nope...i will stand by greatest olympian...and by a mile. Is there a decathalete who wins every event? If there was i would be more inclined to agree.

How many running distances are there? 10? No one can come anywhere near his medal total.

Hell he has twice as many gold medals as the next best olympian has total medals IIRC.

every medal Phelps has won has come in the same sized pool, in a climate controlled building, with no outside variables that might factor in. very few other Olympic sports have that same kind of perfect environment in which to participate in. what about athletes who medal in multiple sports, in both the winter and summer games? i'd argue that is a better measurement of a complete athlete than being able to dominate at a single sport. Phelps has the perfect physique for a swimmer, but in what other sport could he hope to compete at a high level. just as arguments about the greatest hockey player in the game has to take into account all of a player's skills, not just point totals, i say any argument about the greatest athlete or Olympian of all time has to factor in more than one event where someone can dominate

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Alright, so did anyone just see Serena Williams crip walk on TSN?

Nothing like crip walking to rep all of Compton.

[Devils'Advocate]

Phelps has so many medals because swimming has WAY TOO MANY EVENTS. 100m, 200m, 4x100m... why not add 50 m, 250 m, 217 m, 113.6 m.... and 8x76m and 12x346m and have all of them in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, doggy-paddle, silly-swim,

If we're going to have so many swimming medals, so that we can compare apples to oranges for "Greatest Olympian" we have to add in more categories in other sports. Let's have 4-on-4 hockey, 3-on-3 hockey, big-ice hockey, small-ice hockey, 20-minute hockey, 40-minute hockey, etc, etc, etc..

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

every medal Phelps has won has come in the same sized pool, in a climate controlled building, with no outside variables that might factor in. very few other Olympic sports have that same kind of perfect environment in which to participate in. what about athletes who medal in multiple sports, in both the winter and summer games? i'd argue that is a better measurement of a complete athlete than being able to dominate at a single sport. Phelps has the perfect physique for a swimmer, but in what other sport could he hope to compete at a high level. just as arguments about the greatest hockey player in the game has to take into account all of a player's skills, not just point totals, i say any argument about the greatest athlete or Olympian of all time has to factor in more than one event where someone can dominate

Its not a "single" sport. Its multiple events, disciplines, and distances.

If it was so easy to do...why has no one even come close to duplicating what he has done? Im pretty sure they have swam in the same sized pools all along in climate controlled buildings.

I am not saying he is the greatest athlete that walked by the way, simply he is the greatest olympian that has ever come along. Those are different things.

[trackercowe]

After looking up some of the best Olympians ever I would rank Phelps 1-2 with Carl Lewis. The only thing detracting from Lewis is that his best results came from the boycotted Los Angeles games in 84.

I do agree with those who say it's almost impossible to rate athletes from one completely different sport with another, but the next time Sports Illustrated or ESPN ranks the top athletes of all-time, I see Phelps and Lewis being 1-2 in terms of amateur athletes.

[carom]

To me the greatest Olympian would best embody the fundamental principles of of Olympism:

1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world’s athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.
4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.
5. Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organisations within the Olympic Movement shall have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organisations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance be applied.
6. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
7. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.

and follow the mission and role of the IOC

1. to encourage and support the promotion of ethics and good governance in sport as well as education of youth through sport and to dedicate its efforts to ensuring that, in sport, the spirit of fair play prevails and violence is banned;
2. to encourage and support the organisation, development and coordination of sport and sports competitions;
3. to ensure the regular celebration of the Olympic Games;
4. to cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the
endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace;
5. to take action to strengthen the unity of the Olympic Movement, to protect its inde- pendence and to preserve the autonomy of sport;
6. to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement;
7. to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all
structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women;
8. to lead the fight against doping in sport;
9. to encourage and support measures protecting the health of athletes;
10. to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes;
11. to encourage and support the efforts of sports organisations and public authorities to
provide for the social and professional future of athletes;
12. to encourage and support the development of sport for all;
13. to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and to require that the Olympic Games are held accordingly;
14. to promote a positive legacy from the Olympic Games to the host cities and host countries;
15. to encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education;
16. to encourage and support the activities of the International Olympic Academy (“IOA”)
and other institutions which dedicate themselves to Olympic education.

as outlined in http://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf

I don't know who comes to mind first as my greatest Olympian, but Michael Phelps isn't it.

There are many, many problems with the IOC right now. I think I would have to look back into the history of the Olympic Games to find someone who best represents the Olympic ideals, because it would be very hard to truly live the Olympic ideals in todays world.

[carom]

I have a hard time considering most Olympic athletes amateurs nowadays, especially Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps.

Maybe Missy Franklin is the closest thing to a true amateur:

As the cameras linger on her and her parents in the stands, the various pieces of her story will begin to bubble to the surface and, in many cases, into Olympic folklore. One standout is Franklin’s devotion to remaining an amateur. Before these Games, she has resisted all temptation to cash in on her talent and swim professionally. “I really, really want to swim in college,” she told the Journal earlier this year. She has turned down roughly $100,000 in prize money and several multiples of that in endorsements.

http://stream.wsj.com/story/london-o...89/SS-2-38386/

[trackercowe]

My God horse jumping sucks.

Please get rid of this crap. Our main guy is 65 years old! How can this be an Olympic event?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Phelps has so many medals because swimming has WAY TOO MANY EVENTS. 100m, 200m, 4x100m... why not add 50 m, 250 m, 217 m, 113.6 m.... and 8x76m and 12x346m and have all of them in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, doggy-paddle, silly-swim,
.

Absolutely.

When Usain Bolt runs through 100m he can win one medal, when Phelps swims the 100m he can win the 100m free style, back stroke, breast stroke and butterfly.

Four potential medal to one.

Not so mention swimming even has a 50m meter event.

If Canada wants to do better at the Olympics just focus on the pool. Put up world class facilities in Toronto and Vancouver and focus on potential top athletes and we could double our medal count.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Absolutely.

When Usain Bolt runs through 100m he can win one medal, when Phelps swims the 100m he can win the 100m free style, back stroke, breast stroke and butterfly.

Four potential medal to one.

Not so mention swimming even has a 50m meter event.

If Canada wants to do better at the Olympics just focus on the pool. Put up world class facilities in Toronto and Vancouver and focus on potential top athletes and we could double our medal count.

And then he can run the 200 and the 400 and the 800 and the 1500 and the 100 and 200 hurdles long jump etc etc.

Just because Phelps does all his winning in the pool, doesnt mean that every discipline is alike and in fact are very very different which helps lend credence to him being the greatest olympian of all time.

Just because he focuses on one discipline in sprinting doesnt mean there arent multiple opportunities to compete in more.

[trackercowe]

In Bolt's defense no sprinter could ever race in that many events. A body can only take so many sprinting events over a one week period. If he were to race in that many events he would likely destroy his body in short order. That and there is very little relation to begin with between sprinting events, and the longer distance one's.

I don't think there has ever been (or ever will be ) a sprinter capable in racing that many events.

Meanwhile many swimmers do race in 5+ events at every Olympics. Swimming is a lot easier on the body than track.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Alright, so did anyone just see Serena Williams crip walk on TSN?

Nothing like crip walking to rep all of Compton.

[Hells Bells]

You go girl... lol.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by transplant99

And then he can run the 200 and the 400 and the 800 and the 1500 .

No, you're being totally disingenuous saying something like that. Let's take out the non-marathon events and also pretend sprinting isn't much more brutal on the body then swimming and break it down. (A swimmer does separate medal events hours apart of the same day, it would be insane to think of a runner doing the 100m in the afternoon then the 200m hours later)

50m Events
Swimming - one
Sprinting - zero

100m Events
Swimming - Four
Sprinting - One

200m Events
Swimming - Five
Sprinting - One

400m Events
Swimming - Two
Sprinting - One

Relay Events
Swimming - Three
Sprinting - Two

So in similar Olympics events a swimming has the potential to win 15 medals, a Sprinter has five.

This is again totally ignoring the impossibility of a sprinter doing that due to the toll on his body.

and the 100 and 200 hurdles long jump etc etc.

That doesn't even make sense...

I think I understand what you're saying, but those are totally different track events all together. That would be like saying Phelps has more opportunity to win if he went in the high diving or synchronized swimming competitions.

Just because Phelps does all his winning in the pool, doesnt mean that every discipline is alike and in fact are very very different which helps lend credence to him being the greatest olympian of all time.

Not saying all the disciplines are alike but a Sprinter doesn't get afforded the opportunity to win a race running forwards then backwards then sideways then a speed walk.

Just because he focuses on one discipline in sprinting doesnt mean there arent multiple opportunities to compete in more

What events is Phelps missing out on?


Honestly, I think trying to decide which athlete is the best Olympian is a fruitless debate... but if you're suggesting Swimming doesn't have too many events I take major issue with that, it does.

One of the best Olympians ever is Canadian Clara Hughes. She is the only athlete ever to have won multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter games.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Wow hahaha. Has any athlete ever crip walked on national television before? haha.

[Machiavelli]

Next up...the Superman.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Next up...the Superman.

Who is that?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

What channel(s) are people watching most of the time?