The relay bronze could have been gold if her had better teammates.
Also Michael would have got medals in backstroke events if he could have fitted them into his schedule.
With the level of modern competition, i rate his effort slightly better than Spitz and Biondi
what do u reckon ?
eXcentris
08-26-04, 12:26 AM
If it's true that Thorpe is boning Amanda Beard I'd pick him over Phelps. :)
Jeremy517
08-26-04, 01:16 AM
Phelps will most likely be back in 2008. We have to wait and see.
B.A.
08-26-04, 01:18 AM
As of right now - Spitz is still the man. And that is not a knock of Phelps, the guy is most likely the second coming.
the big train
08-26-04, 02:40 AM
Right now I'd say that he's the most complete swimmer in history. Read in to that what you will.
classicman2
08-26-04, 08:08 AM
His 'place in history' is right up there with Abraham Lincoln.
WillieTheShakes
08-26-04, 09:24 AM
All due respect to Phelps, but I've got to go with Spitz here. Hell, the fact that he could get all those medals with that moustache...
Red Dog
08-26-04, 09:35 AM
Were there as many events for Spitz to compete in as Phelps?
Hiro11
08-26-04, 10:00 AM
Biondi was a sprint freestyle specialist and was never world class in any other dicipline. Spitz was a freestyler and butterflyer only and competed at a time when most people didn't train nearly as hard as your everyday college swimmer does now.
Long story short: Phelps is the greatest swimmer of all time.
Phelps is swimming against much stronger competition than Spitz did. Swimmers like Ian Thorpe only come along every once a decade and he only just barely beat Phelps in Thorpe's strongest event, the 200 free. Note that Thorpe used to swim the 400 IM, but curiosly stopped when Phelps came on the scene while Phelps actively went after Thorpe where he is most dominant.
Phelps is head and shoulders above anyone else in the world in both the IMs. He's the best 200 butterflyer in the world and beat the world record holder in the 100. He's probably the second best backstroker in the world and would have medaled in the 200 if he swam it. He's a great freestyler and will win the 200 free in Beijing (mark my words). He's an improving breaststroker and will be world class shortly.
Let me put it this way: if Phelps did track and field, his performance in Athens would be like winning the gold in the 100, 800, shot put and pole vault and then medaling in the 400 hurdles. The guy is just insane.
Dabaomb
08-26-04, 11:01 AM
Originally posted by classicman2
His 'place in history' is right up there with Abraham Lincoln.
ahh yes, ClassicMan2 and good ole Abe were best of friends ;)
tofu
08-26-04, 03:01 PM
Originally posted by Red Dog
Were there as many events for Spitz to compete in as Phelps?
They might not have had the 400 IM in 68 since they had just added the 200 IM in 1964 but other than that, every other event was available.
But I don't think that Spitz would have qualified in any IM events anyway since I've heard that his breastroke was atrocious.
Jericho
08-26-04, 03:26 PM
To me, what Phelps did was way more impressive than Spitz. And as mentioned above, the only reason Phelps didn't tie Spitz's record of 7 golds is because the U.S. had a medicore 4x100 freestyle relay team. It had nothing to do with Phelps himself.
Spitz won four individual golds, Phelps won four as well plus a bronze (not to mention foregoing the 200 back, an event he almost certainly would have gotten silver in). The big difference was no swim team could touch the Americans in the three relays in Spitz's day. Now swimming is alot more competitive. The Americans barely won the 4x200 and lost the 4x100 for only the second time ever (2000 being the other time).
I really see no evidence to say Spitz was better, and Biondi doesn't even enter the discussion. And to think, Phelps should be even better in 2008.
WillieTheShakes
08-26-04, 03:39 PM
Originally posted by Hiro11
Long story short: Phelps is the greatest swimmer of all time.
Phelps is swimming against much stronger competition than Spitz did. Swimmers like Ian Thorpe only come along every once a decade and he only just barely beat Phelps in Thorpe's strongest event, the 200 free. Note that Thorpe used to swim the 400 IM, but curiosly stopped when Phelps came on the scene while Phelps actively went after Thorpe where he is most dominant.
Phelps is head and shoulders above anyone else in the world in both the IMs. He's the best 200 butterflyer in the world and beat the world record holder in the 100. He's probably the second best backstroker in the world and would have medaled in the 200 if he swam it. He's a great freestyler and will win the 200 free in Beijing (mark my words). He's an improving breaststroker and will be world class shortly.
Let me put it this way: if Phelps did track and field, his performance in Athens would be like winning the gold in the 100, 800, shot put and pole vault and then medaling in the 400 hurdles. The guy is just insane.
Sure, but can he do it with a big-ass moustache? I don't think so...
Original Desmond
08-26-04, 04:49 PM
Hiro11 well said mate, i agree with you
Matt Biondi has the sexiest name though
Quake1028
08-26-04, 06:22 PM
Phelps being only 19 and most likely coming back for 2 more Olympic Games means that by the end of his career he will be arguably the greatest of all-time. Too early to say now, but I think his performance this year is better than any performance before it.
the big train
08-26-04, 06:34 PM
If he competes in two more Olympics, it won't be arguable.
I imagine that he may start to focus more on the sprint events as he gets older, too.
Flashback
08-26-04, 10:15 PM
Are you people kidding me????? What Spitz did at his time compare to Phelps is ridiculous. Maybe Phelps can do it next time but right now don't even think about it... My lord!!!
SALISBURY, Md. - Six-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps (news - web sites) was arrested last week and charged with drunken driving.
A trooper saw the 19-year-old swimming sensation go through a stop sign Thursday night, state police said Monday. The trooper saw signs of intoxication and arrested Phelps for driving under the influence, police said.
Phelps also was charged with violation of a license restriction and failure to obey a stop sign. The legal drinking age in Maryland is 21.
"I want to say that last week I made a mistake. I wanted to share my feelings and I know that getting in a car with anything to drink is wrong, dangerous and is unacceptable," Phelps told The Associated Press.
"I'm 19, but I was taught that no matter how old you are you should always take responsibility for your action, which I will do. I'm very sorry this happened."
The swimmer from suburban Baltimore won eight medals at the Athens Olympics, including six golds.
Phelps, wearing a Baltimore Ravens (news) jersey, was introduced to the crowd before the team's game Sunday night.
If Phelps is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, he could receive a year in jail, a $1,000 fine and 12 points on his driver's license for a first offense, The (Baltimore) Sun reported. He could be subject to a 60-day sentence and a $500 fine if convicted on a first offense on the charge of driving while impaired.
On either charge, a judge could give a defendant probation before judgment or impose a lesser penalty, but the driver could still lose his driving privileges.
Chris
Homer Simpson
11-09-04, 02:26 AM
Originally posted by Flashback
Are you people kidding me????? What Spitz did at his time compare to Phelps is ridiculous. Maybe Phelps can do it next time but right now don't even think about it... My lord!!!
Phelps is way ahead on DUI charges though, you have to give him that.
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