krow Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Zimbabwe's Coventry second poor thing! she can't catch a break. what is this, three silvers now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 1972 had 15 mens events2008 has 16 mens events (not counting marathon) The only difference is 50m freestyle which Phelps does not participate. I wasn't talking about how much it has increased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westfale Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Am I the only person that feels there are too many medals in Swimming? And whilst the achievement of Phelps can't be denied, it is much easier for someone like him to gain lots of Gold Medals, and therefore have an added advantage of becoming a legendary Olympian. No, you are not alone. You have the same problem with biathlon and cross-country at the winter games. But you can only solve it, when you restrict the number of starts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTHarner Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Am I the only person that feels there are too many medals in Swimming? And whilst the achievement of Phelps can't be denied, it is much easier for someone like him to gain lots of Gold Medals, and therefore have an added advantage of becoming a legendary Olympian. I know for certain that I don't feel the emotions swell up in me for Phelp's medal ceremonies as I do for, to give an example, the judo victors who worked hard for four years for that one brief moment on the podium. Phelps gets to spend more time on the podium than some people spend in competition. The guy is an awesome swimmer though and we are truly blessed to see such an accomplishment in our lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 He hasn't won the eight yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nykfan845 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 He hasn't won the eight yet. Regardless of whether he gets eight or not, has the most gold medals in Olympics history, and I'm glad I've been able to see such an accomplishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Maybe so, but I'm not about to call him the greatest Olympian ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethnalGreen Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Am I the only person that feels there are too many medals in Swimming? And whilst the achievement of Phelps can't be denied, it is much easier for someone like him to gain lots of Gold Medals, and therefore have an added advantage of becoming a legendary Olympian. No, I'm with you! It's a great achivement within swimming, but I am sick of hearing about him. If the BBC go to the lengths they have for PHelps, god knows what lenghts they would go to for a British swmmer... Personally, I don't think it can compare wth a Steve Redgrave who got a gold in 5 games in a row - and there are others from other countries who have greater achievements in my honest opinion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA84 Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 No, I'm with you! It's a great achivement within swimming, but I am sick of hearing about him. If the BBC go to the lengths they have for PHelps, god knows what lenghts they would go to for a British swmmer... Personally, I don't think it can compare wth a Steve Redgrave who got a gold in 5 games in a row - and there are others from other countries who have greater achievements in my honest opinion! I agree. It is quite an accomplishment and good on him. But I don't consider him the greatest. People like Steve Redgrave and Al Oerter I would put into the "greatest" column. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I agree. It is quite an accomplishment and good on him. But I don't consider him the greatest. People like Steve Redgrave and Al Oerter I would put into the "greatest" column. ... and Carl Lewis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nykfan845 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I'll wait to see what he does in London before calling him the greatest of all-time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 To be a great Olympian one doesn't have to have won the most medals, one doesn't have to have won any medals - sometimes one just has to have tried ones best. Two British athletes that spring to mind have become great Olympians without winning a medal at all..... Derek Redmond became a great Olympian in Barcelona 1992 when his hamstring tore during the 400 Meters Semi-Final, but he fought through the pain and, with assistance from his father, managed to complete a full lap of the track as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Michaela Breeze's efforts in Beijing's 63kg Weightlifting also makes her one of our great Olympians. Despite being in constant pain from a back injury she continued to take part in her event - the pain moved her to tears each time she lifted the apparatus and the spectators, who could see how much she was struggling, gave her so much support. She said that she continued because all she had ever wanted is to be an Olympian. Every country has their own examples of great Olympians who haven't won medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA84 Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 That is the most juvenile thing you have ever posted. God I hope Canada eventually wins a medal. Phelps is probably the greatest swimmer ever but I don't think so as the best ever Olympian. Now if he goes to London and adds to his gold medal total I might revise my assessment. But at this point, from the U.S. I put Bonnie Blair, Al Oerter, Carl Lewis, Sammy Lee, Greg Lougannis and Pat Cormick in that category as best ever. I do take pleasure, however that Ian Thorpe has to eat his words now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 (edited) At this moment, I think Abebe Bikila is the GREATEST Olympian of all time. W/o a fancy sports/PR machine behind him, without million-dollar sponsorships, WHO can run 26.5 miles of Roman roads BAREFOOT? I know I can't. Bikila's the only one who ever did and NO ONE else ever will. That is GREATNESS!! And then come back 4 years later and win it again in Tokyo. Edited August 14, 2008 by baron-pierreIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA84 Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 At this moment, I think Abebe Bikila is the GREATEST Olympian of all time. W/o coaches, without fancy sports science to set him up, WHO can run 26.5 miles of Roman roads BAREFOOT? I know I can't. Bikila's the only one who ever did and NO ONE else ever will. That is GREATNESS!! ^^^ cosign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympian Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 4th Place for Canada's Mike Brown in the 200 Breast stroke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micheal_warren Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Phelps would have to be one of the greatest swimmers of all time and thus one of the greatest olympians of all time, but I still would not call him the best ever olympian! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huaiwei Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Congratulations to Speedo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 To be a great Olympian one doesn't have to have won the most medals, one doesn't have to have won any medals - sometimes one just has to have tried ones best.Two British athletes that spring to mind have become great Olympians without winning a medal at all..... Derek Redmond became a great Olympian in Barcelona 1992 when his hamstring tore during the 400 Meters Semi-Final, but he fought through the pain and, with assistance from his father, managed to complete a full lap of the track as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. I'll never forget that moment. One of the most iconic Olympic images of modern times in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 I haven't won ANY Olympics medals yet, yet in my MIND, I am the GREATEST Olympian of all!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krow Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 That is the most juvenile thing you have ever posted. oh, i don't know about that i think my grandmother died in 9/11 is still ahead by a hair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code1390 Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Wow. What a race for Soni. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 (edited) Rebecca Soni (USA) steams over Liesel Jones (Aus) for the 200 breaststroke. Norway 3rd. 200m backstroke (men) Gold Lochte (USA) Edited August 15, 2008 by Sir Roltel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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