We're a few weeks out from the 10th FINA World Championship and the war of the words between US vs Australia has begun. As reported in swiminfo Talbot (former Australian coach and now full-time minister of propaganda) just fired the first salvo in the continung swimming war between the US vs Australia.
Commenting on Phelps recent 200 IM world record, Talbot noted that the US is looking for someone to top their Thorpe for best swimmer in the world and, in a transparent attempt to psyche the young Phelps, noted that in "Phelps had done nothing yet" and has everything to prove and Thorpe is still the best inthe world...blah...blah...blah.
The Aussies have mounted a campaign that their Thorpie will challenge Spitz for four individual golds at Athens. Too bad for them that Thorpes fourth event is the 200 IM and Phelps has just made that task much more difficult.
Meanwhile, as to Talbot's statement that "Phelps has done nothing yet" in international competition. What about his gold medal and world record inthe 200 fly at 9th FINA World Championship weeks after he turned 16? How about his performances in the 400 IM AGAINST the world's best (just happened to be the US Eric Vendt) in the 400 IM last summer? How about swimming head-to-head ALL THE TIME against the best in the world in the 200 fly (just happens to be another American Tom Malchow)? Only one of Phelps world records weren't set against the best in the world and that was his 200 IM last week in Santa Clara.
In fact, I maintain that Phelps is already the better swimmer than Thorpe. He has three world records (200 IM/400 IM/200 FLY) and will soon have his fourth (100FLY) demonstrating a range of male swimming talent not seen since Mark Spitz.
Since turning 16 he has proven unbeatable in his events in head-to-head competition against the best in the world (Thorpe's record is not good in that record especially at the big show). The only thing missing from Phelps resume is a stellar Olympics (does Thorpe really have one?
How about it--who's the best male swimmer in the world RIGHT NOW. Thorpe or Phelps?
I say Phelps no contest. It's Thorpe who's coming into Worlds
with something to prove. Is he healthy-both physically and mentally. How will the change in coaching work out? Does he still
have what it takes to win? WILL HE DUCK PHELPS IN HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH UP IN THE 200 IM? In this contest, Phelps has the advantage before the gun goes off not Thorpe. How about that Talbot?
What do you guys think?
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Former Member
Matt:
There are measures to compare swim performances across different events (see the Canadian swim news website for one example). This measure let's you compare Phelps 400 IM to Thorpe 400 free. Hardly a Batman vs Mighty Mouse type of comparison. And frankly I don't think it's demeaning to debate such an issue--rather like the old Duke Snider vs Mickey Mantle debates it's good for the sport.
I do agree that Hackett does not get the credit he deserves. His record in the 1500 approaches Salnikov (though he will have to hang in a bit longer to match Salnikov--in my mind still the best distance swimmer ever). And like Salnikov he's racing pretty much by himself these days. That means he's also pretty much training by himself also.
Also I agree that all three of these swimmers (now I should include Hackett) have a single performance that is truly outstanding (Thorpe-400 free; Hackett's 1500 free and Phelps 400 IM). But in this era of so many great swimmers (I think we are enjoying a golden period) Phelps is on the verge of breaking away from such elite company based on his tremendous range of abilities.
Tablot, the Aussie propaganda meister may have been mis-quoted. Maybe what he meant was that "you haven't seen anything yet" when it comes to Phelps.
Matt:
There are measures to compare swim performances across different events (see the Canadian swim news website for one example). This measure let's you compare Phelps 400 IM to Thorpe 400 free. Hardly a Batman vs Mighty Mouse type of comparison. And frankly I don't think it's demeaning to debate such an issue--rather like the old Duke Snider vs Mickey Mantle debates it's good for the sport.
I do agree that Hackett does not get the credit he deserves. His record in the 1500 approaches Salnikov (though he will have to hang in a bit longer to match Salnikov--in my mind still the best distance swimmer ever). And like Salnikov he's racing pretty much by himself these days. That means he's also pretty much training by himself also.
Also I agree that all three of these swimmers (now I should include Hackett) have a single performance that is truly outstanding (Thorpe-400 free; Hackett's 1500 free and Phelps 400 IM). But in this era of so many great swimmers (I think we are enjoying a golden period) Phelps is on the verge of breaking away from such elite company based on his tremendous range of abilities.
Tablot, the Aussie propaganda meister may have been mis-quoted. Maybe what he meant was that "you haven't seen anything yet" when it comes to Phelps.
