Phelps is definately a cut above most elite swimmers with his amazing mastery of basically all four strokes (breastroke withholding, barely) - but I do not consider his swimming ability unmatched.
One can ask the question that if Mark Spitz was 23 today, with the same access to modern swim techniques, methods, gear (I mean, a cap and goggles probably would give him an extra second at least with that crazy hair-doo and stache!!). As I recall, Spitz actually acheived faster times in his early 40's than when he was at the Olympics.
I suppose this is the same question asked in many sports concerning time passage and new tech - could Arnold Palmer beat Tiger with modern equipment and training, could Ali have taken Mike Tyson, or Wilt Chamberlain go 1 on 1 with Shaq - who knows really!
Phelps is definately a cut above most elite swimmers with his amazing mastery of basically all four strokes (breastroke withholding, barely) - but I do not consider his swimming ability unmatched.
One can ask the question that if Mark Spitz was 23 today, with the same access to modern swim techniques, methods, gear (I mean, a cap and goggles probably would give him an extra second at least with that crazy hair-doo and stache!!). As I recall, Spitz actually acheived faster times in his early 40's than when he was at the Olympics.
I suppose this is the same question asked in many sports concerning time passage and new tech - could Arnold Palmer beat Tiger with modern equipment and training, could Ali have taken Mike Tyson, or Wilt Chamberlain go 1 on 1 with Shaq - who knows really!
