"If Aaron wins and breaks the World Record at these Olympic Trials and then does a repeat performance in August at the Olympics winning both events, then they are going to start talking about him as one of the greatest, if not the greatest backstroker in swimming history."
If one holds the world records and is the Olympic champion at both distances, how can he be only "one of the greatest." Wouldn't he be, by definition, "the greatest?"
Yes but there are others that have done this in Olympic history. A case can be made for Warren Kealoha, Adolph Kiefer, Roland Matthes, and John Naber. Each of these swimmers have dominated the events just as Aaron has done. Warren Keahola is the only repeat Olympic Champion that the USA has had in the 100 meter Back. There was no 200 meter Back in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics. Adolph Kiefer won the 100 meter Back in 1936 and there was no Olympics in 1940 and 1944. However he held the World Record in that event for 12 years from 1936 to 1948.
Rolland Matthes is the only repeat champion in Olympic history winning both the 100 and 200 Back at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. He also held the World Record from 1967 to 1976 in both events. He lost the World Record to Gary Hall and Mike Stamm for less than a month to both swimmers in the 200 Back but pretty much had that record from 1968 to 1976 for a total of 9 years.
I include John Naber because from 1973 to 1977 he never lost a backstroke race at a championship meet and the meets I am including here are the NCAA, World Championships, Nationals, and Olympics. He got a DQ once during this time and that is the only loss he had in those years. He also held the World Record from 1976 to 1983 for both events exclusively which adds to 7 years.
Lets see how Aaron does in a couple of days in the 200 Back and in about a month and then we can start comparing him to the others I just mentioned.
"If Aaron wins and breaks the World Record at these Olympic Trials and then does a repeat performance in August at the Olympics winning both events, then they are going to start talking about him as one of the greatest, if not the greatest backstroker in swimming history."
If one holds the world records and is the Olympic champion at both distances, how can he be only "one of the greatest." Wouldn't he be, by definition, "the greatest?"
Yes but there are others that have done this in Olympic history. A case can be made for Warren Kealoha, Adolph Kiefer, Roland Matthes, and John Naber. Each of these swimmers have dominated the events just as Aaron has done. Warren Keahola is the only repeat Olympic Champion that the USA has had in the 100 meter Back. There was no 200 meter Back in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics. Adolph Kiefer won the 100 meter Back in 1936 and there was no Olympics in 1940 and 1944. However he held the World Record in that event for 12 years from 1936 to 1948.
Rolland Matthes is the only repeat champion in Olympic history winning both the 100 and 200 Back at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. He also held the World Record from 1967 to 1976 in both events. He lost the World Record to Gary Hall and Mike Stamm for less than a month to both swimmers in the 200 Back but pretty much had that record from 1968 to 1976 for a total of 9 years.
I include John Naber because from 1973 to 1977 he never lost a backstroke race at a championship meet and the meets I am including here are the NCAA, World Championships, Nationals, and Olympics. He got a DQ once during this time and that is the only loss he had in those years. He also held the World Record from 1976 to 1983 for both events exclusively which adds to 7 years.
Lets see how Aaron does in a couple of days in the 200 Back and in about a month and then we can start comparing him to the others I just mentioned.
