Phelps: Greatest Olympian or just Greatest Swimmer?

Some people have a need to put Jordan in any discussion that has greatest in the title. God forbid we start a thread about the greatest baseball players to never make it past double A

 

Greatest Olympic boxers were Teofilo Stevenson, Laszlo Papp and Felix Savon who each won three golds. Papp won his in two divisions.

 

I believe Spitz left the country while the standoff was still going on in the Olympic Village.

As for Lewis, losing the 200m in Seoul (to Joe DeLoach) hurts his cause. The Greatest Olympian of All-Time can't lose that race in his prime.

 

There are those who think Lewis let his teammate and best friend win that 200, Boomer.

As for great track performances, as much as I love Michael Johnson's 200-400 in Atlanta and there have been some impressive distance doubles (I think Lagat will pull off a 1,500-5,000 doublke in Beijing), my favorite track double was Alberto Juantorena's 400-800 in Montreal. That guy was a beast.

 

spnited, if Lewis actually did let DeLoach win, I think that hurts his case more than it helps. I understand that some might disagree with me on that.

But I don't see how you can count it in his favor without being able to prove it.

 

I can't see why anyone would disagree. If you're going to compete, compete to win. Phelps and Lochte are pals, but the former wouldn't tank a race to let the latter win.

 

Who would agree to throw out a first pitch if they can't throw?

Who would agree to sing in front of thousands if they can't sing?

Trying to read Carl's mind mind be a little tough.

 

Perhaps. But he was .01 seconds faster in Seoul than LA.

 

Too many chances to pile up gold medals, with the variation in physical requirement for each event being merely incremental.

 

Is the difference really incremental? More so than the difference between, say, the long jump, triple jump and high jump? Or running the 100, 200, or 400?

I really dunno -- just asking.

 

Wouldn't there be a greater difference in physical requirements for a swimmer winning medals across free/back/butterfly/breast disciplines at different distances than there would be for running at different distances?

I think any argument that invokes "range of physical requirements" probably gets you to Bob Mathias. Won the gold in the decathlon twice.

 

Lewis was a doper. He tested positive and the USOC quashed it.