Am I the only one that doesn't think Phelps record is as impressive as everyone seems?

Will Munny

So basically, this dude swims fast and wins. Then he swims again just as fast, just a litle longer. Then he gets in a few relays with a few other fast swimmers and wins again.

He has so many more opporunities to win a medal compared to other sports, and they are all slight variations of the same thing.

There are many other sports like basketball where you have to win in tournament style, and it only counts as one gold medal.

usmarin3

Swimming just so happen to have more events. I think the record is fucking overrated. I would be like track and field adding a 80, 120, 140, 160, 180, 220,etc meters so Usain Bolt can dominate it and win more medals.

They need to narrow that shit down to the different strokes and cut out all the different distances.

Gooner

good point...but its still impressive...it takes a lot of talent to be that dominant at different distances and events

unspoken_respect

The best in the WORLD. It means something.

Will Munny

Don't get me wrong, I think its extremely impressive, but I think he's being deified a bit much.

The Lonious Monk

Well, I will point out that swimming doesn't just have different distances. It has different strokes too. So Phelp's winning the freestyle and then the breaststroke isn't exactly the same as Bolt winning the 100 and the 200. It would be closer to Bolt winning the100 and then the 100 hurdles. That said the record is a bit overrated. He definitely does have more opportunities than others. It's fair to point out that he has won more medals, but it's out of line to use that to claim he is the greatest olympian. Especially when there are so many events that require you to go through multiple rounds of more grueling competition just to get one medal. I mean think about what the people in the combat sports: judo, TKD, boxing, wrestling, and fencing have to endure. For them, one match lasts longer than all of Phelps competitions combine, and they have to maintain their greatness for that entire time and do it again multiples times and they only get one medal for winning despite having to actually compete more and for longer periods.

Matt-

so what sport would someone have to dominate to where you'd feel ok with calling them the most successful ever?

i mean the same could be said for track and field events. "oh he just runs distance, then another distance, then teams up with other dudes. maybe does a long jump or high jump...." ala Carl Lewis. there will be holes in any argument that you can make.

and if someone like jackie joyner can win some heptathlons. but even still that's just considered 1 medal. she's not dominating each particular event, she was just very good at them all.

and even if he has more chances than most participants, he still has to win. and be dominant at different distances and types of swims. I guess its the equivalent of a runner being able to compete in 100m, 200m, 400m, and maybe even 800m

Gooner

@matt- include some hurdles in there and long jump...it takes a great athlete to b great at so many different events

Matt-

actually, no matter what people say, to be the most decorated olympian in the history of the world speaks for itself. i don't think there is any way to overstate or exaggerate it. and the legitimacy of that title doesnt even need to be defended.

pralims

i said it in the other thread....dude was hungry in the last olympics. but this time aound he just cruising. he already been called out for not training hard an sitting on talent with turns out to be becuz hes lanky.

i think the nigga is selfish...hes not motivated to really bury ppl he just wants to get by an get his medals an say hes the best ever...

i hate niggas like that....he should be 100% at all times. in boxing he would have got knocked the fukk out if you dont train properly.

SocialAssassinRati

pralims wrote: »

i said it in the other thread....dude was hungry in the last olympics. but this time aound he just cruising. he already been called out for not training hard an sitting on talent with turns out to be becuz hes lanky.

i think the nigga is selfish...hes not motivated to really bury ppl he just wants to get by an get his medals an say hes the best ever...

i hate niggas like that....he should be 100% at all times. in boxing he would have got knocked the fukk out if you dont train properly.

I was saying the same thing dude is using this Olympiad as his farewell tour…he's barely even competing it seems…

it seems like he was content on just getting ANY medal in any event and he only TRIED during the relays…

in the relays nigga looked like 2008 Phelps in the indy events nigga look like he just out there cuz he can be

gum989

"Aging" means "not trying".

gum989

gum989 wrote: »

"Ageing" means "not trying".

Will Munny

he's just another "great white hope" athlete pushed by white media.

gum989

Will Munny wrote: »

he's just another "great white hope" athlete pushed by white media.

Word 2 Gee

IamtheVILLE

Will Munny wrote: »

he's just another "great white hope" athlete pushed by white media.

this is true cause if niggaZ swam we wouldnt even be talking bout phelps

NothingButTheTruth

Yes you are. This is a straight up hate thread.

What Phelps is doing is equivalent to Bolt placing (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) in 100M, 200M, 400M dash then placing in the hurdles in all of those distances, and then placing in the relays of all of those distances. Shit like that is unheard of.

P.S. The basketball comparison was a bad one, since we all know basketball is a 100% team sport.

Will Munny

you sayin Bolt ain't shit?

SocialAssassinRati

I think combat sports don't get enough shine…Judo,Fencing,Tae Kwon Do,Boxing,Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling…these cats get their asses beat day in and day out for one medal…to me that is more impressive than a cracka swimming or a nigga running fast.

edit: they need to go ahead and make MMA an olympic sport too...

Will Munny

SocialAssassinRati wrote: »

I think combat sports don't get enough shine…Judo,Fencing,Tae Kwon Do,Boxing,Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling…these cats get their asses beat day in and day out for one medal…to me that is more impressive than a cracka swimming or a nigga running fast.

edit: they need to go ahead and make MMA an olympic sport too...

I agree totally.

Dan Gable went through entire olympic tournament unscored upon. He gets no shine for that and he's possibly being the greatest wrestler of all time.

I personally think wrestling and boxing are the two most brutal sports on earth.

SocialAssassinRati

Will Munny wrote: »

SocialAssassinRati wrote: »

I think combat sports don't get enough shine…Judo,Fencing,Tae Kwon Do,Boxing,Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling…these cats get their asses beat day in and day out for one medal…to me that is more impressive than a cracka swimming or a nigga running fast.

edit: they need to go ahead and make MMA an olympic sport too...

I agree totally.

Dan Gable went through entire olympic tournament unscored upon. He gets no shine for that and he's possibly being the greatest wrestler of all time.

I personally think wrestling and boxing are the two most brutal sports on earth.

exactly and you rarely hear about wrestlers getting any major endorsements or anything…at least boxers can go pro…wrestlers don't really have that option I guess they can go into MMA but still…Michael Jordan was the Dan Gable of basketball

Will Munny

Wrestling is boring if you don't know whats going on, especially at high levels. I'm just happy ESPN has the division 1 finals live on primetime.

SocialAssassinRati

Will Munny wrote: »

Wrestling is boring if you don't know whats going on, especially at high levels. I'm just happy ESPN has the division 1 finals live on primetime.

just like when Im watching MMA and my boys be getting mad when they are tryna get dominant position or are hand fighting…they be talking shit…I'm like y'all niggaz have no fucking idea how hard those dudes are going at it right now…I hate watching sports with niggaz that don't know shit…

those the types that say shit like "Man if that was me I would…"

pralims

gum989 wrote: »

"Aging" means "not trying".

fukk the aging shit....this nigga aint trying...he even admitted to not working in training and being lazy on his turn and flips. if he knows he sloppy at somwthing when is he going to correct it.

hges content with not fixing shit. this dude is talking about retiring before the shit is over. well then why be there? someone else could have been in his place that wants to be there. all the investments into creating a great swimmer could have went to someone else.

even when he didnt place...he expression was like...oh well.

coop9889

O/P is exactly why Phelps is the most decorated olmpyian of all time, not necessarily the greatest. It can be argued though.

Will Munny

Huh?