"Nearly every good freestyler can be a good butterflyer, and vice-versa.":joker:
What an ass-hat. :shakeshead::shakeshead:
what a joker... ok im not the fastest freestyler, but many many times i get compliments about my stroke. numerous coaches have mentioned how good both my freestyle and backstroke are (i just dont have the power or stamina to be fast enough) but despite that i suck the big one at fly!!!! i can do 50m tops! and then i just cant do it any longer.
its still a wonder to me how people can do 200's or even 400's fly... it just seems impossible! probably just not cut out for it.
However Phelps wins cool, non-taunting, calm, cool (yes, I know, twice)and collected and non-obtrusive.
For a quick reality check rewatch Phelps following the 4x100 relay. Nothing wrong with it at all but hardly "calm, cool and collected and non-obtrusive".
Now, point me to Bolt taunting anyone, I watched all his events and didn't see it.
For a quick reality check rewatch Phelps following the 4x100 relay. Nothing wrong with it at all but hardly "calm, cool and collected and non-obtrusive".
Now, point me to Bolt taunting anyone, I watched all his events and didn't see it.
Many people, myself included, believe there's a big difference between celebrating after a win and doing it while the race is still going on. I think Phelps was excited and amazed that they won; many people shared that feeling. But for Bolt to be pounding his chest and celebrating before the race is over, I feel that's disrespectful to the other competitors.
Of course, I think the trash-talking before the race (Bernard) is pretty bad, too.
BTW, what happens in the NFL or the NCAA if you're about to score a touchdown and you stop in front of the goal line to draw attention to the fact that you're so far ahead of the defense? That's right: you get a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct because it's taunting. That's pretty much what Bolt was guilty of.
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.
Ever notice the morning after the Super Bowl or Game 7 of the WS that everyone says it "was the best one ever?" That's the way it is with Phelps now. Give it a decade to percolate and then things become clearer. For instance, Carl Lewis' achievements have gained more significance while others have faded, for any number of reasons.
To sit around and say something that was done a week ago is better than something done a decade ago in a different sport is really silly. Carl Lewis doesn't have to do hurdles to be a great athlete anymore than Phelps needs to swin the 1500.
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.
At the very least was Bolt did should be called "as impressive." We cannot measure medals to medals, Bolt's choices of events was limited by his sport. The women's beach volleyball were just a dominating as Phelps and Bolt. They got one medal.
I am willing to give Phelps the edge though. Bolt did not step out of the box when he had the chance the way Phelps has. Specifically Bolt said he was not going to run in the 4x400 final (as it turns out Jamaica didn't qualify anyhow).
One final thought, Bolt is the fastest human by far on land. Phelps is the greatest swimmer, but he is NOT the fastest. That matters to me a little bit.
The ladies may have got just one medal, but their longevity sure speaks for itself and their 4 year record is incredibile....this WAS the only sport my husband made sure to DVR:rolleyes:
For a quick reality check rewatch Phelps following the 4x100 relay. Nothing wrong with it at all but hardly "calm, cool and collected and non-obtrusive".
Now, point me to Bolt taunting anyone, I watched all his events and didn't see it.
Bolt was a bit over the top, and a bit goofy, but we have certainly had swimmers who have acted the same way(anyone remember Gary Hall Jr.) Bolt is good, Phelps is good, as are a bunch of these Olympians. The men's gymnastic's team was suppose to do nothing after those injuries, and "all" they got was the bronze, but what an accomplishment.
So silly to compare, and instead, just be inspired by the lot of them.
