What does it mean when we look at the performance of the US men's swimming team at Beijing without Phelps....... i.e. without the man carrying the team? Is he merely the "Vince Young" of a slightly above average football Team?
We essentially lose the 400 free relay, 100 fly (Ian moves form 4th to 3rd), 200 IM and 400 IM (Lochted moves to silver), 200 free and 200 fly. That's makes 6 less golds and one extra bronze.
The US would effectively only win 2 individual events...... the 200 and 100 back.
Is Phelps a true representation of the state of US men's swimming or and exception?
www.nbcolympics.com/.../index.html
Parents
Former Member
Chowmi and Haroldbuck,
I fully agree with you that there are always remote possibilities of qualifies further down the list stepping up to superb performances. However, the likelihood of this happening in all 5 of Phelp's events, you will have to agree is not very probable. Actually, the likelihood of a 3rd place qualifier at the US Trials finishing 1st is not very common even before the reduction from 3 to 2 qualifiers prior to 1980 .
My point was to address the boys swimming issue that Knelson and Patrick Brundage have accurately pointed out. My son swims age group in Denver. There are routinely more girls than boys in every event by a margin of 20% or more.
I suppose you can mentally roll the dice and plan on a Phelpisan performance for the US team every 4 years, but I'd like to think the US continues to have the depth and ability to pull off a great haul like this even without him one day.
I know Geek will disagree as he believes there are no concerns in the swimming universe.
John Smith
Chowmi and Haroldbuck,
I fully agree with you that there are always remote possibilities of qualifies further down the list stepping up to superb performances. However, the likelihood of this happening in all 5 of Phelp's events, you will have to agree is not very probable. Actually, the likelihood of a 3rd place qualifier at the US Trials finishing 1st is not very common even before the reduction from 3 to 2 qualifiers prior to 1980 .
My point was to address the boys swimming issue that Knelson and Patrick Brundage have accurately pointed out. My son swims age group in Denver. There are routinely more girls than boys in every event by a margin of 20% or more.
I suppose you can mentally roll the dice and plan on a Phelpisan performance for the US team every 4 years, but I'd like to think the US continues to have the depth and ability to pull off a great haul like this even without him one day.
I know Geek will disagree as he believes there are no concerns in the swimming universe.
John Smith
