Michael phelps is NOT greatest olympian ever b/c....
Former Member
This is not my opinion, but have heard this argued multiple times the past few days
He is swimming in a upper class white dominated sport. If swimming were more accessible to inner city black kids then he would have more competition and a deeper talent pool To compete against and he would not come close to his medal count.
Everyone can run, so usain bolt or carl Lewis are the best Olympians ever bc they accomplished what they did against the unquestionable best the world could possible throw at them
What say you?
Why should running be the arbiter of what great Olympians are made of?
It's not as if he's playing some sport like table tennis where winning is based primarily on skill rather than fitness.
Let's take Phelps versus Usain Bolt and do a swim-run race because running is the measuring stick here. They both do a 100 meter dash on the track immediately followed by a 100 meter sprint. Like a biathlon. Winner is the best Olympian.
Phelps:
100 meter dash: 18 seconds
100 meter swim: 48 seconds
Usain:
100 meter dash: 10 seconds
100 meter swim: 68 seconds
Winner Phelps. Best Olympian ever.
If Bolt could swim 100M in 68 sec I would be very impressed.
Why should running be the arbiter of what great Olympians are made of?
It's not as if he's playing some sport like table tennis where winning is based primarily on skill rather than fitness.
Let's take Phelps versus Usain Bolt and do a swim-run race because running is the measuring stick here. They both do a 100 meter dash on the track immediately followed by a 100 meter sprint. Like a biathlon. Winner is the best Olympian.
Phelps:
100 meter dash: 18 seconds
100 meter swim: 48 seconds
Usain:
100 meter dash: 10 seconds
100 meter swim: 68 seconds
Winner Phelps. Best Olympian ever.
If Bolt could swim 100M in 68 sec I would be very impressed.
