I hope that you do not mind me starting a thread on my first post, but I saw this and wondered what swimmers would think about it. I swim, but not competitively.
Anyway, here is the question posted on LetsRun:
"Phelps is a phenomenal athlete.
How many of you runners who ran competitively in college think you could beat him in a foot race?
Any distance from 100 meters to the marathon, your choice."
You can see people's answers on the thread here, but I am interested in hearing what you think as well. This is an interesting question.
Thanks.
The idea that Phelps is some kind of super athlete is ridiculous. He's a really good swimmer, and that's all.
That statement is silly, beyond silly actually. Many many elite athletes were multi sport stars in high school, they just chose to specialize in a single sport. Because Phelps only swims does not mean he wouldn't excel in another sport.
Go to a high school that produced a pro calibre athlete and check out their trophy case. Most likely you will see that athlete on many teams.
Because you are young, you have grown up in an era of single sport specialization and year-round teams for most sports. Most of us geezers went from sport to sport based on the season. Most of my friends who played sports in college or professionally were extremely talented in a variety of sports, most notably the football players for some reason.
Here's a list - Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Marion Jones (I know, bad example but she was a fantastic basketball player also), Julius Peppers, Randy Moss, John Elway, that Dix sprinter in the Olympics from FSU, Jim Brown, the list is pretty much endless. I've read where Lance Armstrong is a heck of a runner as well.
I would even contend that an elite athlete is more likely excel in another sport than your average athlete because so much of what it takes to get to that level is an attitude and work ethic.
The idea that Phelps is some kind of super athlete is ridiculous. He's a really good swimmer, and that's all.
That statement is silly, beyond silly actually. Many many elite athletes were multi sport stars in high school, they just chose to specialize in a single sport. Because Phelps only swims does not mean he wouldn't excel in another sport.
Go to a high school that produced a pro calibre athlete and check out their trophy case. Most likely you will see that athlete on many teams.
Because you are young, you have grown up in an era of single sport specialization and year-round teams for most sports. Most of us geezers went from sport to sport based on the season. Most of my friends who played sports in college or professionally were extremely talented in a variety of sports, most notably the football players for some reason.
Here's a list - Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Marion Jones (I know, bad example but she was a fantastic basketball player also), Julius Peppers, Randy Moss, John Elway, that Dix sprinter in the Olympics from FSU, Jim Brown, the list is pretty much endless. I've read where Lance Armstrong is a heck of a runner as well.
I would even contend that an elite athlete is more likely excel in another sport than your average athlete because so much of what it takes to get to that level is an attitude and work ethic.
