SPITZ VERSUS Phelps

I don't think that shaving his head Spitz would have made him much faster since he defeated shaved head Steve Genter. But I gave Phelps the plus since he has a better breaststroke for his day. As for height, I think that 6'1" is on the high side for Spitz. Usually I read around 6'0". Many of the pre-John Naber era swimmers were probably 6'4" and under. His 100 meter free was his weakest. yet, height does sometimes have a disadvantge with speed. Michael Gross, who was probably around 6'8" had a slow turn over and was better at the 200 meter and 400 meter freestyle than the 50 meter and 100 meter. On the other hand, he had a good 100 meter fly and 200 meter fly. The only american male or female to win in either the nationals or worlds at all 4 strokes was Tracey Caulkins, who didn't have those important Im records because of the East Germans cheating. So, was Tracey the best women swimmer in the US since she won nationals in all 4 strokes and won worlds in two different strokes or the Im's.