Michael Phelps Appreciation Thread -

[Schwahalala]

Because I don't think I will ever see anything like this again.

[Burrito Brother]

The dude is a man-fish. Those underwater camera shots in HD proove it.

Awesome performance.

[Cardz82]

A man among boys when it comes to swimming. It's really not even fair. How many more golds could he pick up for this is over anyway? Oh and any word on if he'll be back again in 4 years?

[ElviswasaBluesFan]

reminds me of Lance Armstrong how he makes it look so damn easy.

[Schwahalala]

A man among boys when it comes to swimming. It's really not even fair. How many more golds could he pick up for this is over anyway? Oh and any word on if he'll be back again in 4 years?

I think I read somewhere he is coming back in 4 years but not with the grueling schedule he has now.

[kennyboyerfan]

Greatest athlete ever? Greatest Olympian ever? Greatest swimmer ever?

Or all three?

[Bleacher Creature]

Greatest athlete ever? Greatest Olympian ever? Greatest swimmer ever?

Or all three?

I think he may be the greatest Olympic swimmer ever.

I don't think it's a fair comparison to the other events.

[Ty Shula]

one of the damnedest things i've ever seen.

[#1 Jimmy fan]

He is teh awesome!! Excellent bod.

[Schwahalala]

Greatest athlete ever? Greatest Olympian ever? Greatest swimmer ever?

Or all three?

No - Edwin Moses
Although there was no track at Morehouse, Moses trained for the 1976 Olympic trials using the public high school facilities around Atlanta. He subsequently won the trials in the 400m hurdles with an American record of 48.30 seconds, making his first Olympic team. At the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, he became the Olympic champion, bettering the Olympic and world records with a time of 47.63 seconds. For the next decade he dominated the hurdles, accumulating the most amazing string of consecutive victories ever amassed by an individual athlete. Over a period of nearly 10 years, from August 1977 until May 1987, Moses collected 122 straight victories.

and

Alexander Karalin
Russia's Alexander Karelin is the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler of the modern era, having won twelve European Championships, nine World Championships, and three Olympic gold [COLOR=red! important][FONT=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][COLOR=red! important][FONT=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]medals[/font][/font][/color][/color] during his reign. Karelin's dominance is unparalleled: he won every match he entered for thirteen years and went ten years without giving up a single point.

Yes - Replacing the great Russian Wrestler -
Yes - Replacing Mark Spitz

[Guppy]

Greatest athlete ever? Greatest Olympian ever? Greatest swimmer ever?

Or all three?

Swimmer yes. It is impossible to say athlete or olympian. Now if he goes and wins gold in the single and doubles tennis, ping pong, diving and sync diving events, then we can say he is the greatest ever.

[Bleacher Creature]

No - Edwin Moses
Although there was no track at Morehouse, Moses trained for the 1976 Olympic trials using the public high school facilities around Atlanta. He subsequently won the trials in the 400m hurdles with an American record of 48.30 seconds, making his first Olympic team. At the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, he became the Olympic champion, bettering the Olympic and world records with a time of 47.63 seconds. For the next decade he dominated the hurdles, accumulating the most amazing string of consecutive victories ever amassed by an individual athlete. Over a period of nearly 10 years, from August 1977 until May 1987, Moses collected 122 straight victories.

and

Alexander Karalin
Russia's Alexander Karelin is the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler of the modern era, having won twelve European Championships, nine World Championships, and three Olympic gold [COLOR=red! important][FONT=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][COLOR=red! important][FONT=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]medals[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] during his reign. Karelin's dominance is unparalleled: he won every match he entered for thirteen years and went ten years without giving up a single point.
Yes - Replacing the great Russian Wrestler -
Yes - Replacing Mark Spitz

This is why I say it's hard to compare sports.

Remember Teofelo(sp) Stevenson of Cuba? He was total domination in Olympic boxing.

[kennyboyerfan]

I don't know man. He has the chance to win eight gold medals -- and set a new world record in all eight? Going to be hard to match or eclipse that in any sport.

[Schwahalala]

As great as Stevenson was - I don't think he was anymore dominant then Karalin or Moses.

[Burrito Brother]

This is why I say it's hard to compare sports.

Remember Teofelo(sp) Stevenson of Cuba? He was total domination in Olympic boxing.

Too bad he wasn't allowed to compete against the best professional heavyweights of the day. Whether he could have beat Ali was the unanswered debate.