I think Michael Phelps quest for 7 golds will be a lot harder than when Spitz did it. It must be pointed out that when Mark Spitz swam in the Olympic Trials in Chicago, he only swam 8 times for 4 events. Michael Phelps had to swim 17 times for 6 events. Only the 400 IM was not swam 3 times. We will never know if Mark Spitz would have won those 7 golds under todays format. Rumor has it that he wanted to scratch his last individual event the 100 Free in the 1972 Olympics. This is documented in one of the great swimming books "50 Meter Jungle" by Sherm Chavoor who coached Spitz in the summer of 1972 before the Olympics.
I really believe that if Michael Phelps swam with the same format as in 1972 that he would not drop the 200 Back and would have possibly swam the 100 Free at trials. We will never know what he would be capable of under these conditions. So you cannot compare what he does now because its not a valid comparison.
It was mentioned on NBC that Michael Phelps will attempt to break the record of some Russian that won 8 medals in the 1980 Olympics. Dropping the 200 Back means he can tie if he gets a chance to swim 5 individual events and 3 relays.
I think Michael Phelps quest for 7 golds will be a lot harder than when Spitz did it. It must be pointed out that when Mark Spitz swam in the Olympic Trials in Chicago, he only swam 8 times for 4 events. Michael Phelps had to swim 17 times for 6 events. Only the 400 IM was not swam 3 times. We will never know if Mark Spitz would have won those 7 golds under todays format. Rumor has it that he wanted to scratch his last individual event the 100 Free in the 1972 Olympics. This is documented in one of the great swimming books "50 Meter Jungle" by Sherm Chavoor who coached Spitz in the summer of 1972 before the Olympics.
I really believe that if Michael Phelps swam with the same format as in 1972 that he would not drop the 200 Back and would have possibly swam the 100 Free at trials. We will never know what he would be capable of under these conditions. So you cannot compare what he does now because its not a valid comparison.
It was mentioned on NBC that Michael Phelps will attempt to break the record of some Russian that won 8 medals in the 1980 Olympics. Dropping the 200 Back means he can tie if he gets a chance to swim 5 individual events and 3 relays.
