Back to the topic at hand...
The columnist spends a great deal of print discussing Carl Lewis's achievements and I have to say that he presents a good case for Mr. Lewis' supremacy over Phelps. Lewis competed and medaled in the 100, 200 and long jump, and dominated the long jump over 4 Olympics. The diversity of events, as well as the longevity of dominance in long jump are the reasons why the columnist thinks Lewis's achievements are greater.
Sure, Phelps can't compete with that longevity... yet. But I have a hard time believing that Phelps' Olympic events - the 200 free, 1/200 fly, 2/400 IM - are any less diverse. Additionally, he has one of the top times for the US in his 100 free and, as was earlier pointed out, he could probably have medaled in the backstrokes.
Regardless of the similarities of the four strokes, Phelps excels in each discipline individually as well as the four collectively in the IM - our sport's version of the Pentathlon and Decathlon. If Carl Lewis medaled in one of the sprint hurdle events and in a Pentathlon and/or Decathlon, then I think we have a toss-up.
Until then, my money is on Phelps.
Back to the topic at hand...
The columnist spends a great deal of print discussing Carl Lewis's achievements and I have to say that he presents a good case for Mr. Lewis' supremacy over Phelps. Lewis competed and medaled in the 100, 200 and long jump, and dominated the long jump over 4 Olympics. The diversity of events, as well as the longevity of dominance in long jump are the reasons why the columnist thinks Lewis's achievements are greater.
Sure, Phelps can't compete with that longevity... yet. But I have a hard time believing that Phelps' Olympic events - the 200 free, 1/200 fly, 2/400 IM - are any less diverse. Additionally, he has one of the top times for the US in his 100 free and, as was earlier pointed out, he could probably have medaled in the backstrokes.
Regardless of the similarities of the four strokes, Phelps excels in each discipline individually as well as the four collectively in the IM - our sport's version of the Pentathlon and Decathlon. If Carl Lewis medaled in one of the sprint hurdle events and in a Pentathlon and/or Decathlon, then I think we have a toss-up.
Until then, my money is on Phelps.
