Michael Phelps-Greatest Athlete of All Time?

Give me a break. Who pissed in your pool?
Look, I'm not suggesting Michael Phelps is the greatest athlete, was merely pointing out that just because someone doesn't hit, throw or catch a ball they aren't excluded from consideration.
You, obviously, like your sig and name suggest, need it your way or not at all.
Swimming is athleticism, whether you want to acknowledge that or not. And a great swimmer's physique is as close to perfection as the body can get.

 

Secretariat is better then Phelps, then, and Edwin Moses is better than the two of them.

 

1. Jim Brown
2. Jim Thorpe
3. Bo Jackson

 

Carl Lewis wasn't bad, either.

I'd say that anyone who competes in a decathlon or triathlon has to earn some votes.

 

I would put Thorpe ahead of Brown.
I would also give some props to Babe Zahrahias

 

I've got you Babe as well.

 

Phelps, greatest athlete? No, definetely not by a longshot!

 

Damn right, Won four consecutive Olympic long jump gold medals. World Class sprinter for over 10 years. Had the Olympic boycott not happened he might've been the long jump gold medal winner for 20 years. That's very fucking impressive.

 

Longevity has to count for something. That might be why Bo Jackson isn't a unanimous choice. If Bo plays both sports until he's 40, I think he wins by a landslide.

 

If you cannot throw a ball, then you cannot be on this list.