More Dominant Olympic Athlete - Bolt or Phelps?

[sloopjohnc]

Darkness Fish's opinions about swimming notwithstanding, both of these guys have had pretty remarkable careers. Bolt has won the 100 meters three Olympics in a row, and at the time of this writing, will surely win the 200 meters.

We all know about Phelps - 20+ medals.

Carl Lewis would be the only other one to come close, I would think.

[Goat Boy]

Bolt of course.

Not only has he dominated his sport completely he has done it in times and by margins that have never been seen before and that would have been inconceivable before Bolt.

Carl Lewis was a cheat.

[Geezee]

Darkness Fish's opinions about swimming notwithstanding, both of these guys have had pretty remarkable careers. Bolt has won the 100 meters three Olympics in a row, and at the time of this writing, will surely win the 200 meters.

We all know about Phelps - 20+ medals.

Carl Lewis would be the only other one to come close, I would think.

Bolt. But it's also strongly related to the fact that I'm not a huge fan of swimming, or at least am very ignorant of the differences between each branch of swimming. When you look at the most decorated Olympians of all time, Bolt doesn't even feature in the Top 50.

[Rayge]

I'm with DF, Bolt is the most remarkable athlete I've seen in more than a half century of loving track and field – the only one who comes close in all of sport is Muhammad Ali – and Phelps is a swimmer.

[The Write Profile]

As someone who swam competitively in their teens (although not to any major standard), I'm pretty much in awe of what Phelps has achieved. Everything about him is built for swimming, and he's still winning golds at an age where most swimmers would have retired two Olympics ago. But Bolt has transformed his sport, to an extent that's barely conceivable. He is simply awesome.

[Geezee]

and Phelps is a swimmer.

and so...?

[Rayge]

,

[Rayge]

and Phelps is a swimmer.

and so...?

I'm with DF,

Just a personal choice, Geezee, referring back to what sloop said in his OP.
I don't enjoy swimming as a spectator sport, and, like DF, feel it is wildly over-represented in terms of medals available.
Phelps is obviously very good quick at it, but as far as I'm concerned he's a big fish in an Olympic-sized pool.

[Limpin' Jez McKenzie]

Ed Moses
Sergey Bubka
Irina Rodnina
Al Oerter

The main argument in favour of phelps is not the number of medals as such, as the fact that he often had to compete in three or four events a day and still wins.
The main arguments against him are the number of medals available at his preferred distances, and the fact that nearly half of his medals are relays.

[Geezee]

and Phelps is a swimmer.

and so...?

I'm with DF,

Just a personal choice, Geezee, referring back to what sloop said in his OP.
I don't enjoy swimming as a spectator sport, and, like DF, feel it is wildly over-represented in terms of medals available.
Phelps is obviously very good quick at it, but as far as I'm concerned he's a big fish in an Olympic-sized pool.

Generally I'd probably agree - but by not even explaining what you meant, you are assuming it should be obvious that swimming is a lesser sport in this context, and as such you are not making a personal choice. And if you look at the list of athletes who have collected the most medals at the olympics, the majority of them are either gymnasts or skiers, so not sure it is over-represented.

(and not sure why you've erased "good" - is that meant to imply Phelps is not a good swimmer? )

[sloopjohnc]

Ed Moses
Sergey Bubka
Irina Rodnina
Al Oerter

The main argument in favour of phelps is not the number of medals as such, as the fact that he often had to compete in three or four events a day and still wins.
The main arguments against him are the number of medals available at his preferred distances, and the fact that nearly half of his medals are relays.

You could put Michael Johnson in that list too - the only male athlete in history to win both the 200 metres and 400 metres events at the same Olympics.

[sloopjohnc]

and the fact that nearly half of his medals are relays.

Relays don't bother me - I don't know if Bolt runs the anchor for Jamaica's 4 x 100 relay, but he probably should.

[Diamond Dog]

Ed Moses
Sergey Bubka
Irina Rodnina
Al Oerter

The main argument in favour of phelps is not the number of medals as such, as the fact that he often had to compete in three or four events a day and still wins.
The main arguments against him are the number of medals available at his preferred distances, and the fact that nearly half of his medals are relays.

You could put Michael Johnson in that list too - the only male athlete in history to win both the 200 metres and 400 metres events at the same Olympics.

Or Alberto Juantorena - 400m & 800m.

[Limpin' Jez McKenzie]

and the fact that nearly half of his medals are relays.

Relays don't bother me - I don't know if Bolt runs the anchor for Jamaica's 4 x 100 relay, but he probably should.

he does - the third element of his "triple" at the last two olympics

[never/ever]

It's one of those discussions I really don't understand- same as this Warriors vs the '96 Bulls-bollocks. Both are phenomenal in their line of work.

[Rayge]

Generally I'd probably agree - but by not even explaining what you meant, you are assuming it should be obvious that swimming is a lesser sport in this context, and as such you are not making a personal choice. And if you look at the list of athletes who have collected the most medals at the olympics, the majority of them are either gymnasts or skiers, so not sure it is over-represented.

Saying I agreed with DF was me saying that I feel swimming is a lesser sport, as that was what he said, and what sloop was referring to.

(and not sure why you've erased "good" - is that meant to imply Phelps is not a good swimmer?

ER, no, it suggests that I don't know how to judge a swimmer's quality and technique in the same way I can appreciate real athletes, gymnasts, footballers, tennis players, cricketers, snooker players and so on. Even divers.

[Limpin' Jez McKenzie]

Ed Moses
Sergey Bubka
Irina Rodnina
Al Oerter

The main argument in favour of phelps is not the number of medals as such, as the fact that he often had to compete in three or four events a day and still wins.
The main arguments against him are the number of medals available at his preferred distances, and the fact that nearly half of his medals are relays.

You could put Michael Johnson in that list too - the only male athlete in history to win both the 200 metres and 400 metres events at the same Olympics.

Or Alberto Juantorena - 400m & 800m.

johnson maybe - he was very strong in the 200 generally, though only won one olympic gold for it, and he won the 400 twice.

Juantorena - not so much - he didn't win golds at two olympics, let alone 3.

That said, nor did Bubka, but would probably have won in 1984 had he gone. He definitely dominated his event for a long time, but perhaps not enough Olympic success for this thread.

Though Ed Moses only won at two olympics - 1976 and 1984 - he missed 1980 and certainly would have won gold there had he gone.

[Rayge]

Lots of opinions, but only three votes.

[never/ever]

Lots of opinions, but only three votes.

That's because Footy rules them all.

[Diamond Dog]

Lasse Viren - 5k & 10k golds at 72 & 76 Olympics?

Emil Zatopek - 10k winner in 48, 5k, 10k and Marathon winner in 52?