1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Greatest U.S. Olympian

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!, Aug 2, 2012.

?

Who's the greatest U.S. Olympian of all-time

  1. Michael Phelps

    16 vote(s)
    50.0%

  2. Carl Lewis

    6 vote(s)
    18.8%

  3. Mark Spitz

    1 vote(s)
    3.1%

  4. Jim Thorpe

    2 vote(s)
    6.3%

  5. Dara Torres

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  6. Bonnie Blair

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  7. Zeus

    3 vote(s)
    9.4%

  8. Mini Ditka

    2 vote(s)
    6.3%

  9. Other

    2 vote(s)
    6.3%
Page 3 of 5
  1. da man

    da man Well-Known Member

    Gods are citizens of all nations.
     
    da man, Aug 2, 2012
    #25
  2. Deeper_Background

    Deeper_Background Active Member

    Mini Ditka is the greatest small athlete of all time, he would easily beat Nigeria by 200 points.
     
    Deeper_Background, Aug 2, 2012
    #26
  3. SpeedTchr

    SpeedTchr Well-Known Member

    Paranorman, hands down...errr....
     
    SpeedTchr, Aug 2, 2012
    #27
  4. Mystery Meat II

    Mystery Meat II Well-Known Member

    No no no, God is a United States citizen, born in Columbia, South Carolina. And He has the long-form birth certificate to prove it.
     
    Mystery Meat II, Aug 2, 2012
    #28
  5. Beef03

    Beef03 Active Member

    It's clearly Hercules who DOMINATED back in the day.
     
    Beef03, Aug 3, 2012
    #29
  6. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    This list really sucks without Jesse Owens.
     
    Versatile, Aug 3, 2012
    #30
  7. HanSenSE

    HanSenSE Well-Known Member

    Heiden should be on the list. But if you're going to add Lougainis, you've got to include Pat McCormack as well.
     
    HanSenSE, Aug 3, 2012
    #31
  8. Bubbler

    Bubbler Well-Known Member

    Al Oerter was in, I think, 20 Olympics, and medaled in each of them. He may have lit the torch at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.
     
    Bubbler, Aug 3, 2012
    #32
  9. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    Kim Rhode is the first U.S. Olympian with medals in five consecutive Games.
     
    Versatile, Aug 3, 2012
    #33
  10. HanSenSE

    HanSenSE Well-Known Member

    Only 19. Intercalated Games don't count officially.
     
    HanSenSE, Aug 3, 2012
    #34
  11. Bubbler

    Bubbler Well-Known Member

    Athens 1906. Right.
     
    Bubbler, Aug 3, 2012
    #35
  12. DanOregon

    DanOregon Well-Known Member

    I just don't think you can go by medals. If you are the best swimmer, you can pile up the medals. The best runner? You've got the 100, 200 and relays. Hell, if anyone belongs in the conversation its Paavo Nurmi. Five golds ranging from the 1500 to the 5000 and two team events in 1924. Won four other golds and three silvers in two other Olympics. The swimming equivalent would be winning a 400 and an 800 race, or a 400 and 1,600 in sprinting. Which has never been done.
    Carl Lewis is close, but you wonder if there was someone who stayed home in '84 who might have challenged him.
     
    DanOregon, Aug 3, 2012
    #36
Page 3 of 5
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page