Just seen the news that Michael Phelps is going to be swimming in Australia in November.That sure will be a chance for him to put the cat amongst the pidgeons.Will he swim the 200m/400m free at the Olympics??I think that he will give Thorpe a good run for his money but Hackett is another story altogether.
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It's unlikely that he'll swim the 400 since it's the same day as the 400 IM on the Olympic schedule. However, it's very likely that he'll swim the 200 head-to-head against Thorpe since Phelps other events (fly, 200 IM) come later in the schedule. It's also unlikely that he'll swim the 200 back (maybe his next best chance to win a gold after his IM/Fly) because it overlaps with some of his other strong events.
Of course, Phelps and Bowman are mum about it all--they won't reveal their plans until after the US Olympic trials (scheduled one month before Athens).
I think he's gunning for five individual golds, five individual world records--that would legimately put his performance above Spitz's Olympic performance because in 1972 swimming on the US men's relay was almost a gold medal certainity. International parity has changed that.
Phelps vs Thorpe in the 200 free?
I think Phelps beats him head-to-head but might not break Thorpe's world record. Unlike Thorpe, Phelps continues to improve in this event and in one year will develop enough power to take out the first 100 faster.
On the other hand, will Thorpe try his hand at the 100 fly? It's Phelps "weakest event" and Crocker had an amazing swim but is not untouchable.
It's unlikely that he'll swim the 400 since it's the same day as the 400 IM on the Olympic schedule. However, it's very likely that he'll swim the 200 head-to-head against Thorpe since Phelps other events (fly, 200 IM) come later in the schedule. It's also unlikely that he'll swim the 200 back (maybe his next best chance to win a gold after his IM/Fly) because it overlaps with some of his other strong events.
Of course, Phelps and Bowman are mum about it all--they won't reveal their plans until after the US Olympic trials (scheduled one month before Athens).
I think he's gunning for five individual golds, five individual world records--that would legimately put his performance above Spitz's Olympic performance because in 1972 swimming on the US men's relay was almost a gold medal certainity. International parity has changed that.
Phelps vs Thorpe in the 200 free?
I think Phelps beats him head-to-head but might not break Thorpe's world record. Unlike Thorpe, Phelps continues to improve in this event and in one year will develop enough power to take out the first 100 faster.
On the other hand, will Thorpe try his hand at the 100 fly? It's Phelps "weakest event" and Crocker had an amazing swim but is not untouchable.
