|
|
Post by thehothead on Aug 12, 2012 8:29:54 GMT
I've seen this discussion all over the place and .. I am struggling with it.
Some claim Phelps for sheer number of Golds, Redgrave for number of Olympic games he won medals at. But the thing is, some of these sports are elitist, I mean, how many people go rowing or sailing ?
For me Phelps isn't the best Olympian, i mean, if you are a good swimmer then you are a good swimmer, so whether it is the 50m, 100m or 200m freestyle - big bloody deal ? some people are more buoyant than others so it takes less effort to stay afloat - making swimming easier.
Its not like athletic sprinting where the lactic acid build up kicks your arse, the 100m takes a different set of skills to the 200m which takes a whole load of extra endurance. The 400m is a killer for speed endurance - in fact many sportsmen and women use the 400m to build up their endurance.
I rate Allyson Felix as a better Olympian than Phelps because she has medalled in the 100m (relay), 200m and 400m !! Then you have Decathletes - these people are ridiculous, the records for the individual events are not that far off the actual world records.
Everybody runs, so the number of people who have access to sprinting is high so are Bolt's achievements the best ?
Its probably a subjective view .... what do you lot think ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Bergkamp a Dutch master on Aug 12, 2012 10:53:35 GMT
well for s start what would you say if I pointed out there are so many 'similar' swimming styles and distances -that only demand up to 2 mins effort. Now if sprinters and hurdlers had 60m / 80m /100m /150m / 200m / 250m events - we would be talking about how GREAT they were.
You would probably easily find 3 outstanding people every Olympics - but you don't find many that are top in 3 or more running. Then what does it take to be the best in that sport? Next how do you rate the competition the GREAT is up against? Some events have been tarnished by drug taking - so there were other terrific athletes who have been denied recognition.
Currently Redgrave and Hoy are talked about.
AL Oerter - discus?? Jan Železný - javelin? Irena Szewińska -track/field athlete? Haile Gebrselassie - distance running?
There are too many to quote.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jayramfootball on Aug 12, 2012 11:15:11 GMT
Bolt - in my view - as the best ever.
100m, 200m retained, and times that are just out of this world - magnificent.
Obviously Phelps' achievement is fantastic, but I could never bring myself to rate it as highly as Bolts'.
I have to say though that at THIS Olympics I would go for Rushida for his 800m world record. That run was truly remarkable.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin van Bergkamp on Aug 12, 2012 13:14:18 GMT
I have to admit being a Michel Phelps fan and suppose it's the measure one employs to determine the criteria of greatest. Certainly in terms of sheer scale and consistency of achievements, Michael Phelps has to merit some form of recognition under any criteria. Never mind the record at Beijing but he has won gold in four disciplines in three Olympics. I think that in such a competitive field that to motivate oneself from one Games to the next, let alone three Olympics is quite an achievement. To be honest I wasn't sure how well he would do in London and was thinking perhaps 2 golds would have established himself at the top but to win 4 when your nearest rivals could manage no more than 2 must give him some form of recognition of the highest order. I haven't checked on the times at London 2012 but at Athens and in Beijing, every one of those golds was a record of some sort. Indeed all but one was either an OR or WR and only the 4 x 200 freestyle relay in Athens was a National Record. It is hard to imagine anyone being able to replicate this level of performance. On the track and field even the great Carl Lewis has only 9 golds. ;D Only he says A part of me thinks this is a little like gauging F1 champions or indeed drivers since Stirling Moss never won a world title and there are those who ask what the measure and relevance of a world drivers' championship is if a driver like Moss never won it. Again, much like drivers, I suppose you also have to compare the performances of other athletes in their time. I think the multi-discipline athletes like those who partake in Decathlons are exceptional all-round athletes who merit some tag of greatness but given that we currently only have one single objective measure and that is the number of medals, then Michael Phelps currently is the one. Subjectively, well the comparison could perhaps continue. I was a little late into this year's Games and now lament that this is it's last day. There have been some wonderfully exciting moments for me. I don't know if seeing very familiar landmarks like those along the cycling road race make a difference but I have enjoyed these Games and wish I could have see more. Sadly we won't be seeing some of these athletes in action again. I for one certainly wish we could see Victoria Pendleton race again but have to console myself with the thought and knowledge that she wore her crown well and infuriated by the fact that she was shafted by an idiotic commissar!!!!   I'll leave you to debate on  Later Pals  |
|
