I think the decision to award Hamm is not the right one.Michael deserved that one a lot more, besides I think the following statement is entirely pathetic:"Hamm also withstood a challenge by South Korea claiming that the gold medal should be awarded to Yang Tae-Young after it was discovered he was incorrectly scored during the all-around final."So now he is being awarded for holding on to the medal that someone else should have won due to the outrageous mistake.He acted like a little boy who sneaked someone else's candy and was reluctant to give it away even when caught.I think he should have given the medal to the sout korean.
And then it is Michael PHelps: not only did he haul a miriad of medals and set a world record, but also showed the spirit of sportsmanship by letting his team mate(Ian Crocker) have a chance at the medal on the relay team...
Anyways, here's the link:
swiminfo.com/.../9345.asp
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Exactly Geek!
Gymnastics and swimming can't really be compared no. But in terms of dominace I think Michael beats Hamm hands down. Hamm potentially had a chance at eight medals (all around, team, and each of the six individual events) whereas, Michael actually won eight medals. Mike medaled in everything he swam. He has verastility (IM, fly, free) too.
The all around medal in gymnastics is the most difficult to win no doubt. So that right there puts Paul in darn good company. I was a gymnast for about 10 years and so I will defend the sport of gymnastics and it's athletes. But I think Phelps is a better overall athlete than Paul. It's subjective no doubt and no there is not a way to easily state who is better.
I remember Sports Illustrated ( I think) did a study about 10 years ago where they took tons of different athletes and had them try all the other sports. Gymnasts had the easiest time. To be a good gymnast you have to strong, flexible, agile, quick, and so on, skills that are no doubt helpful but not necessary to the same degree in every sport.
Maybe that all sounds hypocritical, I don't know ... but with all that said, I still think Phelps is the better athlete probably also because I think he is just about the most talented athlete in the world.
I don't think Mark Spitz could replicate his seven gold medals, and I don't mean at his current age - I mean if he was in his prime now I don't think he could do it. I believe he has stated that he couldn't because the competition is so much more difficult now. I guess more off of sheer dominance in the sport I would say Phelps is the better athlete. Not to take anything away from Hamm, because he is a tremendous athlete, has worked insanely hard, and DESERVED his gold medal.
Exactly Geek!
Gymnastics and swimming can't really be compared no. But in terms of dominace I think Michael beats Hamm hands down. Hamm potentially had a chance at eight medals (all around, team, and each of the six individual events) whereas, Michael actually won eight medals. Mike medaled in everything he swam. He has verastility (IM, fly, free) too.
The all around medal in gymnastics is the most difficult to win no doubt. So that right there puts Paul in darn good company. I was a gymnast for about 10 years and so I will defend the sport of gymnastics and it's athletes. But I think Phelps is a better overall athlete than Paul. It's subjective no doubt and no there is not a way to easily state who is better.
I remember Sports Illustrated ( I think) did a study about 10 years ago where they took tons of different athletes and had them try all the other sports. Gymnasts had the easiest time. To be a good gymnast you have to strong, flexible, agile, quick, and so on, skills that are no doubt helpful but not necessary to the same degree in every sport.
Maybe that all sounds hypocritical, I don't know ... but with all that said, I still think Phelps is the better athlete probably also because I think he is just about the most talented athlete in the world.
I don't think Mark Spitz could replicate his seven gold medals, and I don't mean at his current age - I mean if he was in his prime now I don't think he could do it. I believe he has stated that he couldn't because the competition is so much more difficult now. I guess more off of sheer dominance in the sport I would say Phelps is the better athlete. Not to take anything away from Hamm, because he is a tremendous athlete, has worked insanely hard, and DESERVED his gold medal.
