Columnist disses Phelps, slams swimming

I think a basic distinction that is being missed is between skills and energy systems. Freestyle and backstroke are two swimming techniques or skills. Being technically proficient in different strokes is nothing to scoff at. On the other hand, swimming a good 100m and swimming a good 1500m require two different physiologies. Although there have been a couple swimmers that have won at all distances I don't think anyone could do so today, I am pretty sure that even Phelps couldn't win gold in the 1500 and 100m frees in the same Olympics, even if he tried. I'm not saying the journalist was right, just that there is some validity to his argument that winning the 200 fly and the 200 free is not the same as winning the 100m and the 800m on the track. That Phelps can win the 400IM and the 100fly is in that sense even more amazing that winning multiple 200m events.

I think a basic distinction that is being missed is between skills and energy systems. Freestyle and backstroke are two swimming techniques or skills. Being technically proficient in different strokes is nothing to scoff at. On the other hand, swimming a good 100m and swimming a good 1500m require two different physiologies. Although there have been a couple swimmers that have won at all distances I don't think anyone could do so today, I am pretty sure that even Phelps couldn't win gold in the 1500 and 100m frees in the same Olympics, even if he tried. I'm not saying the journalist was right, just that there is some validity to his argument that winning the 200 fly and the 200 free is not the same as winning the 100m and the 800m on the track. That Phelps can win the 400IM and the 100fly is in that sense even more amazing that winning multiple 200m events.