Is Michael Phelps The Greatest Olympic Athlete?
No doubt Edmond residents were glued to their seats this last week as American swimmer Michael Phelps not only tore down swimming records but did it on his way to eight gold medals, a record for one Olympics.
His feat broke the record held by Mark Spitz since 1976- something pundits thought would never happen.
But is Phelps the greatest Olympic athlete ever? Sports columns and talk shows are filled with debate. Is Phelps the greatest? Greater than Jim Thorpe, greater than Carl Lewis, greater than Nadia Comaneci? Remember Jesse Owens? I think the easiest way to settle this is to choose your words carefully.
Naming someone the greatest of all time is subjective. We all have biases, prejudices and favorites when considering which is the toughest sport – therefore some may say naming the greatest might depend on the physicality of the contest.
For example: if a football player is an athlete, would you consider a golfer to also be one? The similarity is they compete but one is a member of a team and must train months to be in shape to play in a game that is punishing on the body. The golfer competes against the course but his or her training is completely different and the demand on the body is not as severe. So does the golfer depend on athleticism or skill? I say its more skill. Hand and eye coordination, balance, swing. Take for instance golfer John Daly. Is he an athlete or someone with great skill?
No one would say Daly has an athletic body or is in any kind of shape except bad. But he sure can hit the ball. So do you count out the competitor because his or her contest is not as physically demanding? It’s all subjective.
So is Phelps the greatest? Right now, yes he is, until someone can top his feat of 8 gold medals in one Olympics. But for the sake of keeping the peace, lets say he is the most celebrated and decorated and has the most face time on American TV of any athlete.
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