To be honest, do you believe that Michael phelps wins 8 golds in Beijing?

[Rapper]

believe or not?


a week ago

Ian thorpe said that:"I think Michael phelps can't achieve 8 golds in the Olympics,'cause there are some great swimmers in Beijing olympics as well, i think that he will win 4 or 5 golds, but if you ask me who is able to achieve 8 golds in a Olympics,the one should be Michael phelps. it's hard for him, but not impossible."

[T Park]

Yes.

Dude has some of the most amazing stamina of a swimmer I've ever seen.

[Brutalis]

Yes! I love him so so so much! He is awesome swimmer!

-girl from at&t phelps commercials

[Trainwreck2100]

The only events he doesn't have control over, are the relays

[Rapper]

The only events he doesn't have control over, are the relays

But your USA men's swimming team won the 4x100 relay already~

[mommaDONEraisedaTHUG]

Yes.

Dude has some of the most amazing stamina of a swimmer I've ever seen.
:lmao

[Trainwreck2100]

But your USA men's swimming team won the 4x100 relay already~

Which they were a fingertip away from losing, and the 4x200 is tomorrow

[marini martini]

Yes, yes he will!

[duncan228]

I'm rooting for him. He's tied now for the most Golds in a career. I'd love to see him get the 8. He's incredible, he's brought a lot to the sport. And he's something to watch in the water.

[KEDA]

Yes, the dude is a fish, he will win 8 golds!

He has a diet that is a anywhere from 8-10 THOUSAND calories a day!

Being a fat guy, I admire that most of all!

[travis2]

The man could out-Spitz Mark Spitz...

8 golds and 8 WRs?

[Slomo]

I find it hard to believe, because it's such an incredibly difficult thing to achieve. So many things can happen that could prevent it and make him win like "only" 7.

But from what I have seen I have to say the guy is a monster in the water. He does what he does with incredible ease.

I do admit that if anybody can do it he can - I'll be rooting for him do achieve it despite my skepticism.

[lebomb]

I say he will lose the next relay and one individual event......Im saying 6. I could be wrong though.

[ATRAIN]

He is unstopable

[Mark in Austin]

the crazy thing is on his individual events the finals haven't even been close - on his final last night in the freestyle he broke his own world record and is now over a full second faster than anybody else has ever been. Just unbelieveable.

I think it all comes down to stamina - if he was just swimming it would be one thing; but as we saw last night it's swimming, medals ceremonies, interviews, distractions, and then swimming again. But I wouldn't bet against him.

[PeterBurns]

They said that the 1st 2 events were going to be the toughest.
So it's going to come down to the wire.

The guy is a freak of nature

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Thorpedo's just another hater.

[phyzik]

Phelps is not human. What he does in the water defies the physical limits of the Human body.

[mrsmaalox]

I believe he can do it!

[GaryJohnston]

believe or not?


a week ago

Ian thorpe said that:"I think Michael phelps can't achieve 8 golds in the Olympics,'cause there are some great swimmers in Beijing olympics as well, i think that he will win 4 or 5 golds, but if you ask me who is able to achieve 8 golds in a Olympics,the one should be Michael phelps. it's hard for him, but not impossible."

The Thorpedo is just jealous of Aquaman.

[Anti.Hero]

That Condor Swing he does before each race is ridiculous. He can literally clap behind his back haha.

I wonder if Duncan would have gotten to this Olympic level.

[whottt]

He's already won the gold in the only 2 races he didn't win in the last Olympics.

He's also already won the race that kept him from tying Mark Spitz in the last Olympics.


Still...I think he's going to be tired by the time some of those last races come up.



Too bad he's talking about reting after this...if he came back in 2012 he'd be in what is generally considered his athletic prime...


He's already tied the marks for medals in a signle olympics, career gold medals, probably getting close to total medals...and he's going to win some more medals in these Olympics...imagine if he came back and won another buttload of medals.

[duncan228]

I wonder if Duncan would have gotten to this Olympic level.

To me it's not even a question. Duncan is a Champion. His work ethic is incredible. That inner burn to be the best was in him then. He was already on the radar when he gave up swimming. I think he would have been a Gold Medal contender if he had stayed with it. Would he be on Phelps' level? Hard to say. But imo he would have been an Olympian.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/family/wtricia.jpg

[Rapper]

Hey,,,,,,,,dudes

Michael Phelps is learning Mandarin

i think he speaks not bad~

the pronunciation is standard~

k_S2inzb7R4

[phyzik]

To me it's not even a question. Duncan is a Champion. His work ethic is incredible. That inner burn to be the best was in him then. He was already on the radar when he gave up swimming. I think he would have been a Gold Medal contender if he had stayed with it. Would he be on Phelps' level? Hard to say. But imo he would have been an Olympian.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/family/wtricia.jpg

Come on D228... We are all Duncan fans but there is no WAY he would be a gold medal contender, let alone anywhere near the level Phelps is on. :lol

Duncan was a damn good swimmer.... but Olympic caliber swimmer? I think not.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Come on D228... We are all Duncan fans but there is no WAY he would be a gold medal contender, let alone anywhere near the level Phelps is on. :lol

Duncan was a damn good swimmer.... but Olympic caliber swimmer? I think not.

With a seven foot frame it's unlikely he would make an Olympic swim team, but he was well on his way when the hurricane blew away the pool he practiced in. IIRC from the Inside the NBA piece he did with Ahmad Rashad there was a story of him putting up a top ten record time for his age group in some event.

[smeagol]

Why would he retire? Isn't he still young?

Fucking quitter!

[duncan228]

Come on D228... We are all Duncan fans but there is no WAY he would be a gold medal contender, let alone anywhere near the level Phelps is on. :lol

Duncan was a damn good swimmer.... but Olympic caliber swimmer? I think not.

To each their own opinion. :toast

I didn't say he'd be Phelps' calibur, but I do think he would have made an Olympic team.


With a seven foot frame it's unlikely he would make an Olympic swim team, but he was well on his way when the hurricane blew away the pool he practiced in. IIRC from the Inside the NBA piece he did with Ahmad Rashad there was a story of him putting up a top ten record time for his age group in some event.

A piece about his swimming days:


Like his older sisters, Cheryl and Tricia, Tim had a long, supple athletic body. On St. Croix, that doesn’t make you a basketball player, it makes you a swimmer. Tricia in particular was a great one. She was internationally ranked in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke, and competed in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. She believed her little brother would eventually surpass her.

Tim had already decided he wanted to be an Olympic champion, and his parents fully supported the decision.

Tim’s specialty was the 400-meter freestyle. In his early teens, he was already known in the international swimming community. He broke several records at 12 and 13, his times were on par with the top swimmers is age in the U.S., and he was only getting longer and stronger. Think Ian Thorpe with longer legs and bigger arms and feet. Tim’s physical gifts were obvious, but it was his focus and concentration that enabled him to stay at the top of his game. He had the ability to break down every stroke and analyze what he was doing right, and what he could be doing better. He was a coach’s dream.

Even though the Barcelona Olympics were three years away, Tim was a lock to make the VI swimming squad in the 50, 100 and 400 meters. What he really wanted was to make the U.S. team, for which Crucians are technically eligible.

On September 17, 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into St. Croix and everything changed.

http://jockbio.com/Bios/Duncan/Duncan_bio.html

[Tippecanoe]

Too bad he's talking about retiring after this...i

i really hope he doesnt. it'd be a huge blow to the sport. he's the only reason im staying up late to watch swimming.

[whottt]

I just read another interview...he will be competing in 2012, but he's not going to be going for 8 medals again...so I was wrong about him retiring, he's just not going to have this big of a program again.

[florige]

Phelps>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Everyone else in the world......


I think it's safe to say that he has been the face of these last two Olympics easy. I'm really surprised he wasn't carrying the flag for the US. I was sure it was either going to be him or Carmelo Anthony. Both Baltimore heroes.

[MannyIsGod]

I just read another interview...he will be competing in 2012, but he's not going to be going for 8 medals again...so I was wrong about him retiring, he's just not going to have this big of a program again.

Yeah I was going to reply with this to your above post but you already beat me to it. :lol

From what I've heard the swimming experts say he won't be able to pull this off in 2012 because of how hard it is. Its not just swimming the final races but you have to swim in all the qualifiers for each event (except the relays since the lesser swimmers do that so they main guys don't get too tired) but its pretty hardcore.

The relays will be the toughest because he's not in total control of course, but the US men are favored in the remaining relays.

[musicnotes16]

he'll be able to do it, no problem

[Kriz-Maxima]

No, but I'm hoping he does. He is amazing.

[DannyT]

and then there was one...he stands alone

[mommaDONEraisedaTHUG]

and then there was one...he stands alone

:lobt2:

[RashoFan]

Phelps is just incredible! I have seen that Condor swing of his...good lord that boy has some long arms. I just got home from work and I don't know if he has tied Spitz record yet or not. If he has not (yet) ...he will. What an athlete!

[Clandestino]

Then Again>>> Who Really Gives A Fuck>>> It Is Just Swimming!

[RashoFan]

Men's Swimming 200x4 relay results: Team USA takes Gold and they have the new Record!
:cheer

[DannyT]

I have been rooting for the dude since it started and was blown away by the first Team USA Freestyle where they stunned France in the last leg of the race...but what kills me in watching all these world records being shattered is I cant help but wonder who's on roids and who is sincerely clean. Sports has been tainted in my mind by the actions of some in the past. Its just crazy how bad Phelps is blowing away the comp....especially in that second Team USA Relay

[marini martini]

Hip Hip Hooray:lobt2:

[J.T.]

I am getting mother fucking sick of the sports journalism cliche "I don't think [team/athlete] will do it, but if anyone can, it's [same team/athlete]." That's just a cop out way of saying "I don't know shit about the job I'm in."

[manufor3]

yes

[mrsmaalox]

Well tonight was very cool.

[Cry Havoc]

I have been rooting for the dude since it started and was blown away by the first Team USA Freestyle where they stunned France in the last leg of the race...but what kills me in watching all these world records being shattered is I cant help but wonder who's on roids and who is sincerely clean. Sports has been tainted in my mind by the actions of some in the past. Its just crazy how bad Phelps is blowing away the comp....especially in that second Team USA Relay

Phelps has volunteered himself for the new method of supertesting for drugs. There is no way he could possibly be doping. They are keeping his blood from 5 years into the past to compare his body chemistry, ensuring nothing is out of the ordinary (well as ordinary as it gets for a guy like Phelps). He's the most dominant swimmer of all-time, and he's clean. Period.

[Rapper]

Michael Phelps got the fifth golds on the road~~~~~~

and also broke the world record~~~~~~~

[BRHornet45]

sons I find myself cheering in front of the tv whenever he is swimming screaming "go whitey!!! go whitey!!!"

[tlongII]

I'm starting to believe. And I remember watching Spitz. I never thought this could be done, but it just might.

[T Park]

I could've heard wrong, but I thought I heard today that he submits to drug testing twice a day.

I think hes clean.

[TDMVPDPOY]

dude is good, but he aint a legend...come back to me when he can triumph jesus walking on water or moses hackn a river down the middle.....ORLY

[Slomo]

I could've heard wrong, but I thought I heard today that he submits to drug testing twice a day.

I think hes clean.

Even if he doesn't I'm pretty sure he's under a very close scrutiny. I doubt he could be taking anything that wouldn't trigger all sorts of alarm bells.

Of course there's still a small possibility he's really an alien, I mean it's more plausible than the fact that he might be so much better than anybody else...
:p: :lol

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I swear that dude is part fish... 5 world records in as many events... anybody seen Waterworld? Fuck drug testing! check for gills!

[travis2]

It must be the breakfast...

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

"Will win", not "wins" - please learn English.

And yes, yes he will. He and Thorpe are the smothest movers through water the planet has ever seen. The guy is part dolphin fer cryin' out loud!

Yes, he will win 8 gold medals barring injury or random death.

[Anti.Hero]

Thorpe ain't got no shit on Phelps!

[Slomo]

It must be the breakfast...

I dunno, I'm eating a similar breakfast myself, and the results are not nearly the same!
:p:

[angel_luv]

I dunno, I'm eating a similar breakfast myself, and the results are not nearly the same!
:p:

Speaking of medals... I think it's awesome that the first Slovenian to claim a medal in the 2008 summer olympics is a woman.
And she is even younger than me . :gpower

:)

[phyzik]

Speaking of medals... I think it's awesome that the first Slovenian to claim a medal in the 2008 summer olympics is a woman.
And she is even younger than me . :gpower

:)

Rasho is in the Olympics? and he won a medal? :downspin:

[angel_luv]

Rasho is in the Olympics? and he won a medal? :downspin:

There was a reason I directed my comment to Slomo. I knew a response like yours was likely to come from the rest of you.


The athlete I was referring to is Sara Isakovic and she won the silver medal in the Women's 200M Freestyle.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Rasho is in the Olympics? and he won a medal? :downspin:

:lol I think Beno got the silver in rhythmic gymnastics with his purse routine.

[baseline bum]

:lol I think Beno got the silver in rhythmic gymnastics with his purse routine.

Turkoglu got the gold I'm assuming.

[angel_luv]

:lol I think Beno got the silver in rhythmic gymnastics with his purse routine.

It is really hard to not laugh, therefore encouraging you, when your remarks are so funny.
And since picturing it in my mind, it is impossible not to laugh.

So sorry Beno :lol

[angel_luv]

Turkoglu got the gold I'm assuming.

Leave Hedo out of this. :lol

[Oh, Gee!!]

Why is he getting so much publicity? He's from a small market. It's a conspiracy against the Spurs.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

It is really hard to not laugh, therefore encouraging you, when your remarks are so funny.
And since picturing it in my mind, it is impossible not to laugh.

So sorry Beno :lol

If it makes you feel any better I actually thought of that when I first read your comment and bit my tongue. But once someone else made a joke I couldn't hold off.

[Slomo]

:lol I think Beno got the silver in rhythmic gymnastics with his purse routine.

You're an idiot!

















The rhythmic gymnastic competition hasn't started yet... :lol :spin

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

You're an idiot!

















The rhythmic gymnastic competition hasn't started yet... :lol :spin

My apologies Slomo. I meant no disrespect to your country.

Beno's a lock for the gold.

[angel_luv]

If it makes you feel any better I actually thought of that when I first read your comment and bit my tongue. But once someone else made a joke I couldn't hold off.

The person you owe an apology to is the poster whose joke you outdid. :lol

I needed the laugh; so thanks. :)

[Slomo]

My apologies Slomo. I meant no disrespect to your country.

Beno's a lock for the gold.

:lol :lol :lol

[bdictjames]

And Phelps won another gold medal.

[manufor3]

woohoo!!!!

[IceColdBrewski]

He's not just winning. He's smashing the competition and world records along the way. It would take an injury or illness to stop him from getting 8 at this point.

[T Park]

its like the mid 90s bulls going against an injury depleted grizzlies team....

[FromWayDowntown]

its like the mid 90s bulls going against an injury depleted grizzlies team....

That's not even remotely close. The guys Phelps is swimming against are faster, on the whole, than the swimmers who were winning medals in Athens. He's not whipping up on a bunch of poor swimmers or competitors, as you're suggesting. Don't diminish his accomplishment by misstating the quality of his competition.

[T Park]

No no no no I didn't mean it like that.

Just the way hes blowing them out, makes it seem like that.

[duncan228]

Damn. The guy is just a swimming machine. It was exciting to think about the possibilities of what he could do this Olympics, it's been incredible watching him actually do it. He's unreal. A joy to watch.

[florige]

He is on the brink of making Ian Crocker look like a real idiot come tomorrow night's 100m Butterfly final. Ian Crocker had better come up with something...... FAST....:lol

[marini martini]

WoW. Six down 2 to go!:toast

[Wild Cobra]

I have been rooting for the dude since it started and was blown away by the first Team USA Freestyle where they stunned France in the last leg of the race...but what kills me in watching all these world records being shattered is I cant help but wonder who's on roids and who is sincerely clean. Sports has been tainted in my mind by the actions of some in the past. Its just crazy how bad Phelps is blowing away the comp....especially in that second Team USA Relay
Sports attire and gear has come a long way. Speedo has been making that "sharkskin" fabric for some time in various degrees of success, and my understanding is they have dramatically improved it just before these olyimpics. Nike is even allowing their paid athletes who swim to wear the new Speedo swimsuits, rather than their own racing suits!

Take a great athelete and new technology... Records will be broken!

[IceColdBrewski]

The new suits are seamless, which helps reduce drag in the water, but they also work similarly to a girdle and make the swimmers tighter and thinner, apparently they are extremely uncomfortable.

Another thing they talked about was that the pools are different these days. In Spitz time, they were 8 lanes wide and all lanes were occupied. Apparently (the ones in China anyhow, didn't catch if all "Olympic" pools are this way) they are now 10 lanes wide with the outside lanes being unoccupied. They said this helps dissipate the roil and raucous in the water and makes it smoother for the swimmers.

[FromWayDowntown]

The new suits are seamless, which helps reduce drag in the water, but they also work similarly to a girdle and make the swimmers tighter and thinner, apparently they are extremely uncomfortable.

Another thing they talked about was that the pools are different these days. In Spitz time, they were 8 lanes wide and all lanes were occupied. Apparently (the ones in China anyhow, didn't catch if all "Olympic" pools are this way) they are now 10 lanes wide with the outside lanes being unoccupied. They said this helps dissipate the roil and raucous in the water and makes it smoother for the swimmers.

I'm pretty certain that I heard Rowdy Gaines say last night that all pools used in international competitions have to be constructed to house 10 lanes. Beyond that, there are other built-in technologies in modernly-constructed pools that make the water "faster" and more conducive to establishing fast times.

By the way, it's not as if any of this is new: the pool used in Sydney in 2000 was built for speed (http://artemis.crosslink.net/~cherylw/sydneypool.htm) as was the pool built for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials (http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/08-04-2004/0002225320) (it was a success in 2004,as shown by this study comparing times at the 2000 trials with those at the 2004 trials (http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=769&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en)).

The swimmers are better conditioned today and stronger; they have better equipment available to them; and they swim in pools built to be conducive to record-breaking. It's hardly surprising that records are falling so regularly.

[MannyIsGod]

Fucking WOW.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Holy Shiiiiiit.... Wow

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

That was amazing... is it 100% official yet?

[Bigzax]

2 more and i'll be a believer! good for him...good for usa...but no props til 8...no jinx ya know...

[ace3g]

I don't think he touched the wall first, I have a few theories: and I am a big Phelps fan to but he was still on his back stroke when the other guy was on his forward stroke hitting the wall

First: I'm going to look at where the sensors are located on the wall because maybe the guy ahead of him didn't touch the wall where the sensor were but still touched the wall first

Second: The guy ahead of phelps did touch the wall first but only touched it with his finger tips but Phelps finished with his Palms, and that is the proper finish

Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic by a hundredth of a second to win the 100m butterfly and tie Mark Spitz with seven golds.

50.58 to 50.59


There will be some questions and possible protests about this race, so be on the look out for news updates

[MannyIsGod]

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj247/oddly808/olympics_leo.gif

:lol

[ace3g]

lol, that icon is awesome, but I'll wait till there is an official announcement on that race

[JoeChalupa]

Cavic would have won had he taken the extra stroke at the end. But shoulda, coulda woulda doesn't win you a Gold.

[MannyIsGod]

I don't think he touched the wall first, I have a few theories: and I am a big Phelps fan to but he was still on his back stroke when the other guy was on his forward stroke hitting the wall

First: I'm going to look at where the sensors are located on the wall because maybe the guy ahead of him didn't touch the wall where the sensor were but still touched the wall first

Second: The guy ahead of phelps did touch the wall first but only touched it with his finger tips but Phelps finished with his Palms, and that is the proper finish

Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic by a hundredth of a second to win the 100m butterfly and tie Mark Spitz with seven golds.

50.58 to 50.59


There will be some questions and possible protests about this race, so be on the look out for news updates

the above replay showed them touching at about the same time because Cavic coasted way too long. I believe the sensors are huge along a big ass panel. Obviously my eyes can't distinguish between .01 and a tie so I can't say for sure but he looked at least to tie.

[baseline bum]

It definitely looked like Phelps touched first on the super-slo-mo underwater cam.

[JoeChalupa]

I wouldn't say definitely. At least I don't think so but GO USA!!!!

[ace3g]

typically you gain more ground under water, that is usually where Phelps makes up his ground is under water after he flips and hits the wall; and this is the first race this Olympics I saw 2 swimmers that are tied right at the wall where the swimmer (Phelps) doing his back stroke beats the guy on his forward stroke reaching the wall

[ace3g]

It definitely looked like Phelps touched first on the super-slo-mo underwater cam.

yeah I was waiting for them to show that camera angle but never saw it, so when I see that angle I'll be a believer

[MannyIsGod]

They just showed it. Pretty crazy but it basically looks like they touch at the same time which is as close as you're going to see.


Ahhh, Serbs are filing a protest.

[Dex]

The other guy was gliding underwater, and stuck with whatever forward momentum he had.

Phelps was coming out of a stroke, and therefore had the room to thrust his arms out with more velocity. Even though the other guy was technically ahead in the pool, he was just gliding in. Phelps was able to punch his hand through the air on that last stroke and get it in on the sensor first.

If you can't understand that, go try to jog in the pool and let me know if you're limbs move faster through air or water.

Go Phelps.

[JoeChalupa]

I'm a believer.

[ace3g]

I finally saw the underwater view, so close but I'll give the tie to Phelps, just I was only seeing those above water views and it wasn't even close from those views, Cavic touched first

thank god for instant replay,

they just said Cavic's coach is protesting in the review room

[JoeChalupa]

The other guy was gliding underwater, and stuck with whatever forward momentum he had.

Phelps was coming out of a stroke, and therefore had more room to thrust his arms out with more velocity. Even though the other guy was technically ahead in the pool, he was just gliding in. Phelps was able to punch his hand through the air on that last stroke and get it in on the sensor first.

If you can't understand that, go try to jog in the pool and let me know if you're limbs move faster through air or water.

Go Phelps.

I concur. Cavic will be kicking himself in the head for the rest of his life. The race was his to win..........or lose.

[MannyIsGod]

They can protest all they want, but how would they be able to overturn it? The sensor said what it said and video evidence shows they touched at virtually the same time.

[ace3g]

The other guy was gliding underwater, and stuck with whatever forward momentum he had.

Phelps was coming out of a stroke, and therefore had the room to thrust his arms out with more velocity. Even though the other guy was technically ahead in the pool, he was just gliding in. Phelps was able to punch his hand through the air on that last stroke and get it in on the sensor first.

If you can't understand that, go try to jog in the pool and let me know if you're limbs move faster through air or water.

Go Phelps.


I understand what you are saying but every single close race this Olympics like that one the swimmer in Phelps position lost because they took that last stroke, and that maybe true but like I said earlier, Phelps usually makes up ground underwater off the wall when he is behind because of his hard push off the wall and dolphin kick when the other swimmers are already out of the water beginning their stroke again

[Bigzax]

they should have a swim off...

[Dex]

They can protest all they want, but how would they be able to overturn it? The sensor said what it said and video evidence shows they touched at virtually the same time.

Exactly.

What is the basis of their argument? That they don't like the decision?

Good luck winning that fight against the USA Darling of this Olympics.

[Bigzax]

are there no rules in case of a tie???!!!

[Dex]

they should have a swim off...

Too simple.

Let's decide this with Ping Pong.

[ace3g]

if Cavic would have kicked his legs a few more times under water he would have won, but still it was clear from the underwater replays that Phelps won , so congrats to him

they were saying that he will probably anchor on the last relay

[MannyIsGod]

are there no rules in case of a tie???!!!

They both would have gotten a gold in the event of a tie and there would be no silver.

[FromWayDowntown]

I think the worst that happens to Phelps at this point is that they declare the race a tie, award two golds and no silver. I do think that Phelps' extra stroke allowed him to extend his reach and move quickly enough to touch the wall, at worst, simultaneously with Cavic.

For whatever it's worth, the entire wall is a sensor. The question might be how much pressure is necessary to register on the sensor -- there's no doubt that Phelps touches with more force than Cavic -- but even at that, it would be nearly impossible (given the super-slo-mo replays that I've seen) to say definitively that Cavic touched the wall before Phelps did.

I suppose it's possible that Cavic will be declared the winner outright, but I think that would be nothing more than a guess and it would really shock me if that ended up being the result; and before anyone drops the homer tag on me, I'd think that if that race had come down to an Australian and a Russian.

In any event, Phelps is a virtual lock to win gold in the medley (I'd think the USA wins absent disqualification), so he's going to get 7 -- the only real question is whether he gets 7 or 8 golds.

[IronMexican]

I would say definitely, probably, maybe, doubtful, hell no.

[IronMexican]

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/d/3/7/d375bcb7ff19525cf7c67cc873e850bd.gif

[Bigzax]

They both would have gotten a gold in the event of a tie and there would be no silver.


well, there you go...justice served as far as i'm concerned...:tu

[IronMexican]

:lmao:lmao

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j104/peixemacaco/futeis/michael-phelps-sayajin.gif

[MannyIsGod]

:lmao:lmao

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j104/peixemacaco/futeis/michael-phelps-sayajin.gif

:lmao no clue what the fuck that is but I love it.

[MannyIsGod]

haha fuck you Serbs.

[FromWayDowntown]

I guess the U.S. 4x100 Medley team will be Peirsol, Hansen, Phelps, and Lezak.

For what it's worth, the 4x100 medley has been competed in every Olympics since 1960; the only time the USA hasn't won gold in the event was 1980.

[SpursWoman]

no clue what the fuck that is but I love it.

It's Dragonball Z :lol

[InRareForm]

http://i38.tinypic.com/2lxcu0w.gif

[MannyIsGod]

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj247/oddly808/olympics_leo.gif

I still like this one better though.

:lol

[whottt]

http://i38.tinypic.com/2lxcu0w.gif

Phelps got him...I don't know what that guy was thinking by coasting like that.



One thing is that Phelps is definitely starting to run out of gas...I am not sure if it's the best idea for him to swim in the relay if he actually wants to win the gold and set a WR. Maybe he should do what he did in Athens and let one of his teamates swim on his place. He's definitely slowing down.....and he hasn't been as good in the relays as he has been in the individuals anyway. He was arguably the reason Team USA was trailing in that relay that Lezak won.

[dave]

Phelps got him...I don't know what that guy was thinking by coasting like that.



One thing is that Phelps is definitely starting to run out of gas...I am not sure if it's the best idea for him to swim in the relay if he actually wants to win the gold and set a WR. Maybe he should do what he did in Athens and let one of his teamates swim on his place. He's definitely slowing down.....and he hasn't been as good in the relays as he has been in the individuals anyway. He was arguably the reason Team USA was trailing in that relay that Lezak won.

nah, i think the 3rd guy was more responsible for them trailing
the second swimmer had them in 1st, the 3rd guy then proceeded to lose the lead

[florige]

Man they need that NFL angle where they show that from like 10 different angles. Preferably a super slow wallshot with just the wall and the finger tips of the two swimmers.That is too close to call from those angles.....

[MannyIsGod]

nah, i think the 3rd guy was more responsible for them trailing
the second swimmer had them in 1st, the 3rd guy then proceeded to lose the lead

It wasn't that he was slow it was that France's 3rd swimmer was incredibly fast.

[florige]

Phelps got him...I don't know what that guy was thinking by coasting like that.



One thing is that Phelps is definitely starting to run out of gas...I am not sure if it's the best idea for him to swim in the relay if he actually wants to win the gold and set a WR. Maybe he should do what he did in Athens and let one of his teamates swim on his place. He's definitely slowing down.....and he hasn't been as good in the relays as he has been in the individuals anyway. He was arguably the reason Team USA was trailing in that relay that Lezak won.


See the thing is that Phelps thrust his hands out of nowhere. If anything it should be a tie IF they are going by that replay anyway.

[whottt]

See the thing is that Phelps thrust his hands out of nowhere. If anything it should be a tie IF they are going by that replay anyway.

Sensor don't lie.

[florige]

Hopefully he wins the 8 golds now and doesn't lose it because of some other slow person.

[Dex]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/raverdex/AHjnX.jpg
Here is the frame before either hand makes verifiable contact. Neither swimmers fingertips have started to flex from touching the wall at this point.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/raverdex/s3DzW.jpg
In the next frame, you can see Kazac's finger start to flex and make contact, but Phelp's is hand is making better contact and it is obvious, from the change in position relative to timing, that it was moving with much greater velocity.

I honestly don't see how they could find enough evidence to overturn it.

[Crookshanks]

Here's the latest - Phelps keeps the gold!

Serbian protest denied; Phelps keeps gold

BEIJING (TICKER) —A protest on behalf of Milorad Cavic was denied by FINA, swimming’s international governing body, after the Serbian swimmer finished .01 seconds behind American phenom Michael Phelps in the men’s 100-meter butterfly final on Saturday.

Phelps, who touched in with an Olympic-record time of 50.58, took home his seventh gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, tying him with countryman Mark Spitz for the most golds in a single Olympiad. Spitz earned his haul at the 1972 Games in Munich.

While the Baltimore native has trounced the competition in most races, he trailed for much of the 100 butterfly before lunging to the wall just ahead of Cavic, who claimed the silver with a European-record time of 50.59.

The victory by .01 was almost indiscernible, with television replays needing super-slow motion to capture affirmation that Phelps touched in ahead of Cavic, who easily finished in front of Australian bronze-medalist Andrew Lauterstein.

[whottt]

They ruled in favor of Phelps before he even got off the medal stand.

If you watch the slow-mo gif you can see pretty clearly that Phelps gets the touch first. It's fast but he does it. He's already got the palms of his hands on the sensor just as the other guys fingertips are touching.

[Rapper]

7 down~~~~

who can give him a loss?

[Rapper]

Phelps swims into history, winning 7th gold medal

http://image3.chinanews.com.cn/08p/PhotoN/080816/080816096ta_3.jpg


By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP National Writer
22 minutes ago


Michael Phelps Gallery BEIJING (AP)—With history hanging in the balance, Michael Phelps decided to take one more stroke. His long arms soared above the water, windmilled past his ears and slammed into the wall.

In the next lane, Milorad Cavic was gliding to the finish, just inches from the gold, his arms no longer driving but just reaching for the end.

That’s all Phelps needed. He didn’t have to be the fastest. Just first.

Phelps swam into history with a magnificent finish Saturday, tying Mark Spitz with his seventh gold medal by the narrowest of margins in the 100-meter butterfly.

He got his hands on the wall a hundredth of a second ahead of Cavic—a finish so close the Serbians filed a protest and swimming’s governing body had to review the tape down to the 10-thousandth of a second.

“I was starting to hurt a little bit with probably the last 10 meters,” Phelps said. “That was my last individual race, so I was just trying to finish as strong as I could.”

Phelps’ time was 50.58 seconds, the only time in these Olympics that he won an event without breaking the world record.

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Not to worry. The 23-year-old from Baltimore has now pulled even with the greatest of Olympic records, matching Spitz’s performance in the 1972 Munich Games.

“One word: epic,” Spitz told The Associated Press from Detroit. “It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he’s maybe the greatest athlete of all time. He’s the greatest racer who ever walked the planet.”

Call it the Great Haul of China—and it’s not done yet.

Phelps will return on Sunday to swim in his final event of these games, taking the butterfly leg of the 400 medley relay. The Americans will be heavily favored to give him his eighth gold, leaving Spitz behind.

Phelps slapped his hands on the water and let out a scream after the astonishing finish. The crowd at the Water Cube gasped—it looked as though Cavic had won—then roared when the “1” popped up beside the American’s name.

Cavic’s time was 50.59.

The Serbian delegation filed a protest, but conceded that Phelps won after reviewing the tape provided by FINA, swimming’s governing body. USA Swimming spokeswoman Jamie Olson said the tape was slowed to one frame every 10-thousandth of a second to make sure Phelps actually touched first.

It was impossible to tell on regular-speed replays.

“We filed the protest but it is already over,” said Branislav Jevtic, Serbia’s chief of mission for all sports. “They examined the video and I think the case is closed. The video says (Phelps) finished first.

“In my opinion, it’s not right, but we must follow the rules. Everybody saw what happened.”

FINA referee Ben Ekumbo of Kenya said there was no doubt who won after a review of the super-slow replay.

“It was very clear that the Serbian swimmer touched second after Michael Phelps,” he said. “One was stroking and one was gliding.”

Cavic still wasn’t sure he actually lost, but said he would accept FINA’s ruling.


BEIJING - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Ma…

Getty Images - Aug 11, 1:25 am EDT
“I’m stoked with what happened,” Cavic said. “I don’t want to fight this. People will be bringing this up for years and saying you won that race. If we got to do this again, I would win it.”

Cavic watched the replay himself.

“It’s kind of hard to see,” he said. “I know I had a long finish and Michael Phelps had a short finish.”

A notoriously slow starter—Phelps was seventh out of eight at the turn— he really turned it on with the return lap, his long arms gobbling up huge chunks of water as he closed the gap on Cavic and fellow American Ian Crocker, the world record-holder.

As they approached the finish, with Phelps’ head in line with Cavic’s shoulder, the Serb took his final big stroke and glided underwater toward the gold. Phelps, his timing a bit off but fully aware of where he was, did another mini-stroke, propelling his upper body out of the water, swooping his arms in a huge circular motion and slamming the wall with his hands on the follow-through.


BEIJING - AUGUST 11: Jason Lez…

Getty Images - Aug 11, 1:27 am EDT
“I actually thought when I did take that half-stroke, I thought I lost the race there, but I guess that was the difference in the race,” Phelps said.

It was reminiscent of the 100 fly finish at Athens four years ago, where Crocker appeared to have the race won but Phelps got him at the wall by 0.04.

“My last two Olympics I’ve been able to nail my finishes, and it’s been by four one-hundredths and one one-hundredths,” he said. “I’m happy and kind of at a loss for words.”

As if Phelps needed any extra motivation, his coach, Bob Bowman, took note of Cavic’s reported comments a day earlier that it would be best for the sport if the American lost.

On their way to breakfast, Bowman brought it up.

“I wasn’t going to at first, then I was saying to myself, ‘This race is going to be very tight and I’m going to use everything I got,’ so I put it out there,” Bowman said, chuckling. “Maybe it was worth a hundredth.”

Just enough.

“It fires me up more than anything,” Phelps said. “I always welcome comments. It definitely motivates me even more.”

He also collected a $1 million bonus that Speedo, one of his sponsors, first offered four years ago if he could tie or break Spitz’s record. Phelps failed to cash in at the Athens Games, where he won six golds and two bronzes, but he got it on his second try.

What’s left? Already the winningest Olympian ever with 13 golds and most likely a 14th before he leaves Beijing, Phelps will have another thing to shoot for at the 2012 London Games. Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina captured a record 18 medals in her career: nine golds, five silvers and four bronzes.

Phelps set world records in his first six events, some of them by ridiculously large margins. He merely settled for a personal best and Olympic record in the 100 fly, which will at least give Spitz’s supporters some reason to gloat: all seven of his wins in Munich were with world records.

But, like Spitz, Phelps is 7-for-7 with a chance for one more.

Or maybe that should be 6.99-for-7.

“I’m so proud of what he’s been able to do,” Spitz said. “I did what I did and it was in my day in those set of circumstances. For 36 years it stood as a benchmark. I’m just pleased that somebody was inspired by what I had done. He’s entitled to every second of what’s occurring to him now.

“I feel a tremendous load off my back.”

Andrew Lauterstein of Australia won the bronze medal in 51.12. Crocker was again denied the first individual gold of his career; he didn’t even win a medal, finishing fourth by a hundredth of a second in 51.13.

“It was a tight one,” Crocker said. “I saw my short differential between getting a medal or not, but then I realized Michael’s was pretty close, too. I’m really glad that he came out on top.

“It was everything that an Olympic final should be. It doesn’t matter who’s in the heats, you just got to get out and race and it’s anybody’s game. It was one of the more intense races that I’ve been in, which makes it a great way to end the meet.”

While the medley relay figures to be nothing more than a coronation, Phelps isn’t ready to talk about No. 8.

“It’s not over yet,” he said. “I really think the Australian team looks great for the relay. It’s going to be a race.”

Lauterstein was just thrilled to be part of history.

“It was an amazing final,” he said. “Every time you race Phelps, you’ll have a great race and a great time. Just hearing his arms slap on the block gets your heart racing, he’s amazing. I’m so happy to get the medal.”

Overshadowed by Phelps, two more world records fell on the next-to-last day of swimming—the 22nd and 23rd of a lightning-quick week.

Rebecca Adlington of Britain won gold in the 800 freestyle, breaking Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world record—the oldest in swimming.

Adlington touched in 8:14.10 to crush the mark of 8:16.22 set by the American in Tokyo on Aug. 20, 1989. Alessia Filippi of Italy took the silver and Lotte Friis of Denmark the bronze.

Adlington completed a sweep of the women’s distance events in Beijing, having upset American Katie Hoff to win the 400 freestyle. There were no Americans in the field after Hoff and Kate Ziegler were shockingly eliminated in the preliminaries.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe finally won a gold in Beijing, defending her Olympic title in the 200 backstroke with a world record of 2:05.24. She lowered the mark of 2:06.09 set by Margaret Hoelzer at the U.S. trials last month.

Hoelzer not only lost her record but had to settle for silver. Reiko Nakamura of Japan earned the bronze.

No one was happier that Cesar Cielo, who won Brazil’s first swimming gold with an upset in the 50 freestyle. He broke down crying on the medal stand and was mobbed by his teammates on deck.

He won in 21.30, lowering his own Olympic mark of 21.34 that he set in the semifinals. Amaury Leveaux of France took the silver in 21.45. Alain Bernard of France, the 100-meter champion, won bronze in 21.49.

World champion Ben Wildman-Tobriner of the United States was fifth and Aussie Eamon Sullivan, the world record-holder and silver medalist in the 100, could only manage sixth.

Also, 41-year-old Dara Torres of the U.S. cruised into the final of the 50 free with the fastest semifinal time, 24.27. Australian teenager Cate Campbell was second at 24.42.

The final is Sunday, the wrapup to a thrilling competition at the Water Cube.

But the legacy of these Olympics is already assured.

The Phelps Games.

AP Sports Writers Beth Harris, Andrew Dampf and Steve Wilson and AP National Writer David Crary contributed to this report.

[whottt]

I just watched the interview between Phelps and Mark Spitz.

I gotta give Spitz props...

First of all, he was a legit badass. Phelps has made what Spitz did seem commonplace, but prior to Phelps it was just freaking insane looking at what Spitz did compared to anyone else in any sport in Olympic History. Really any sport period. 7 events, 7 gold medals, 7 world records. That was the peak, the summit...it would never be matched by anyone in any sport again. And the way he did it...it was as much of a freak then that he had a mustache, longhair, and didn't wear a cap or have shorthair, as it would be now..


That said...he is one of the biggest egotistical asses in the history of the World. I've thought this every time I've ever seen him interviewed. This guy literally thinks he is the greatest thing ever. The reason no one has ever talked about how great he was, is because he was always busy pointing it himself.


Tonight however, he was as classy as it is humanly possible for a man who thinks he is god to be...he was really trying hard. The fact that he said he would tie Michael Phelps is a huge concession for him...I don't think he really believes it. Funny interview but he really put Phelps over...and I am sure it was for hard for him to do.

[ploto]

He was arguably the reason Team USA was trailing in that relay that Lezak won.

Michael Phelps set an American record in the 100m freestyle in the first leg of the relay that he swam. The US was second at that point behind a guy who set the World Record in the 100m swimming the first leg of that relay.

[whottt]

Michael Phelps set an American record in the 100m freestyle in the first leg of the relay that he swam. The US was second at that point behind a guy who set the World Record in the 100m swimming the first leg of that relay.


Even if he did set an American record, he was still one of the slowest guys going up against his man. He got outraced worse than anyone on his team by that Aussie except for Jones getting outraced by the French guy. Weber Gale and Lezak were the reason they won that race....they won their legs. Michael Phelps did not...he got smoked by that Aussie.


Observe ploto:




Rank Lane NOC Names Time Notes
United States
Michael Phelps (47.51 )
Garrett Weber-Gale (47.02)
Cullen Jones (47.65)
Jason Lezak (46.06) 3:08.24 WR OR

France
Amaury Leveaux (47.91)
Fabien Gilot (47.05)
Frederick Bousquet (46.63)
Alain Bernard (46.73)

Australia
Eamon Sullivan (47.24 WR)
Andrew Lauterstein (47.87)
Ashley Callus (47.55)
Matt Targett (47.25)

[FromWayDowntown]

The medley relay is a very different creature than the freestyle relay. Almost no nation has the depth to compete with the Americans across the four strokes; that's not as true in the free relay.

The American team that swims the final will have the gold medalist in the 100 back, the gold medalist in the 100 fly, the bronze medalist in the 100 free, and Brendan Hansen, who was shockingly shut out of the medals in the 100 breast. Only the Australians can come close to that -- they have the 4th and 5th place swimmers in the 100 back; the 5th place swimmer in the 100 breast, the bronze medalist in the 100 fly, and the silver medalist in the 100 free.

And Phelps has no choice but to swim the final for the Americans if he's to win gold in the medley. The prelims were yesterday -- the Americans qualified 1st and will swim in lane 4 tonight -- and Phelps was not on the prelim team. If he's to get a gold in the medley, he has to swim in the final.

Finally, don't forget that Phelps swam a semifinal in the 200 free about an hour before his swim in the 4x100 free relay final. He won't have that double to deal with tonight, so I would expect that his butterfly leg of the medley will be a strong final swim for this meet.

[FromWayDowntown]

Even if he did set an American record, he was still one of the slowest guys going up against his man. He got outraced worse than anyone on his team by that Aussie except for Jones getting outraced by the French guy. Weber Gale and Lezak were the reason they won that race....they won their legs. Michael Phelps did not...he got smoked by that Aussie.

Perhaps that explains why Phelps doesn't try to compete in the 100 free in meets like this one. He put up a time at the trials to prove his worthiness to compete in the relay at the Olympics, but didn't even swim the final of the 100 free at the trials because he knows (everyone knows) that he's not a 100 free specialist -- certainly not to the same extent that Eamon Sullivan (who won silver in the 100 free in Beijing) is.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Go Phelps Go!!!!!!!

[MannyIsGod]

Go go go !

[Pistons < Spurs]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo o!!!!

[Pistons < Spurs]

8.

[Tippecanoe]

he's done it. unbelievable. :tu

[MannyIsGod]

awesome!

Wow - I actually yelled yes and did a fist pump lol

[manufor3]

He did it!!!

[marini martini]

Oh? I think it's believable!:toast

Too bad we didn't have a V-bookie on this!:p:

[Kriz-Maxima]

Awesome!

8

[IronMexican]

Judging by your guys responses, he did it! wooooo

now back to the dodger game:downspin:

[DynastyBuilder]

That mofo is unreal.

[angel_luv]

OMG- incredible. That was so cool! :)

LOL. Visa already had an 8 medal congrats commercial made for Phelps. It just aired. hehe

[manufor3]

Michael just triggered my new sig.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

To be honest, do you believe that Michael phelps wins 8 golds in Beijing?
Yes.

[MannyIsGod]

I absolutely love his mother. She's so adoreable.

[Crookshanks]

CONGRATULATIONS Michael! The greatest olympian ever! :toast And it really wasn't even close. Lezak did an awesome job again in achoring the relay.

Go USA!

[Pistons < Spurs]

I absolutely love his mother. She's so adoreable.

I prefer his sisters.

[Tippecanoe]

hell yes i am ordering a dvd

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

I prefer his sisters.

:lol

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

lol, Kobe & Lebron

[Pistons < Spurs]

I wasn't really looking forward too much for these Olympics, but Phelps has been amazing and made it 'must watch TV' for me. What an amazing, inspiring freak of nature!!! Dude is so crazy good!

And now the ratings for these games drop off the map...

[Tippecanoe]

well, that's the end of the olympics, at least for me. what else is there to watch? other than bball of course.

[angel_luv]

Look at the footage of Phelps hometown- so many people cheering him on.
It makes me want to cry- so awesome. :)

[MannyIsGod]

These olympics have been so great that there's no way I'm even close to being done watching.

We have both mens and women's beach volleyball, women's soccer, women's and mens bball, all the track and field, the diving, the gynastics individual events for both men and women.

There's still tons I want to see.

[Hank the Tank]

that was sweet....man i cant believe how nervous i was for his last event....my heart was pounding cuz it woulda been awful if he lost now.

amazing though.

[angel_luv]

well, that's the end of the olympics, at least for me. what else is there to watch? other than bball of course.

Time for Manu to win gold and I will call it an Olympics. :)

[KEDA]

Greatest single athletic performance ever!

I for one am glad I got to see it, something to tell my kids.

[Crookshanks]

Not only is this so unbelievably awesome for Michael, just think what it means for his teammates to say they were a part of olympic history. Something that may never be done again.

And it's even more incredible that Michael did this all in one week! 17 swims in 8 days - he really is an incredible machine.

[Tippecanoe]

Time for Manu to win gold and I will call it an Olympics. :)

Argentina?? screw that.

[MannyIsGod]

Time for Manu to win gold and I will call it an Olympics. :)

Whatever. My boys are going to beat the hell out of Manu and his band of namby pambys.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Time for Manu to win gold and I will call it an Olympics. :)


Argentina?? screw that.

I concur.

[Tippecanoe]

And it's even more incredible that Michael did this all in one week! 17 swims in 8 days - he really is an incredible machine.

Muhammad, Michael, Lance, Tiger, and now another Michael...

This feat puts him up there with America's greatest of all time.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Time for Manu to win gold and I will call it an Olympics. :)

:vomit::vomit::vomit:

Go USA!

[IronMexican]

Muhammad, Michael, Lance, Tiger, and now another Michael...

This feat puts him up there with America's greatest of all time.

Joey Chestnut, Kobiyashi, Fernando Valenzuela, and Dirk Nowitski

[Hank the Tank]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm27/i_s2_nismo/1218685300987.gif


...quite possibly the coolest thing i've ever seen.

[timvp]

Props. Damn impressive.

[dickface]

what he did was great, but there are way too many swimming events. You don't think Jordan could have been the greatest Olympian ever if he had Olympic events for team basketball, dunk contest, one-on-one, 3 point shooting, best fadeaway, 21, free throw shooting, and crotch scratching?

[florige]

I wasn't really looking forward too much for these Olympics, but Phelps has been amazing and made it 'must watch TV' for me. What an amazing, inspiring freak of nature!!! Dude is so crazy good!

And now the ratings for these games drop off the map...



Same here. I wasn't looking forward to it much either. The ratings would be up if we could watch Bolt race every other day...

[marini martini]

I concur.

Do you have a license for that??????:lol

[phyzik]

My friend, who is a big time cycling nut, says it still doesnt touch what Lance Armstrong did in the tour 'de france... :rolleyes

FYI... Cool Runnings is on TBS right now... just started! :lol

[FromWayDowntown]

What's most stunning about the end of this is that it's not as if Phelps just bandwagoned his way to #8 -- his turn and the second 50 of his fly leg were absolutely incredible and gave Lezak enough breathing room to hold off Sullivan's charge.

His cumulative results over the last week might be the most amazing athletic achievement I've ever seen.

[duncan228]

Just saw it here on the west coast. Phelps is incredible and it's been a blast watching him make history.

[T Park]

Save the Sports Illustrated you get in the mail with Phelp's 8 medals on his chest.

You will probobly never see it broken.

[T Park]

These olympics have been so great that there's no way I'm even close to being done watching.

We have both mens and women's beach volleyball, women's soccer, women's and mens bball, all the track and field, the diving, the gynastics individual events for both men and women.

There's still tons I want to see.


I agree 1000%.

This has easily been the most fun Olympics I've ever seen.

Its really a cool set of sports. Like today, I've never seen water polo before, and it was actually kinda cool :lol

[v2freak]

Phelps is phenomenal but there is an excessive amount of nut-kissing going on. The media should just let him breathe for 2 minutes.

[duncan228]

Save the Sports Illustrated you get in the mail with Phelp's 8 medals on his chest.

You will probobly never see it broken.

He's been on 2 covers already in the last few weeks. I guess the SI Cover jinx didn't apply to him.

What a performance.

[timvp]

what he did was great, but there are way too many swimming events. You don't think Jordan could have been the greatest Olympian ever if he had Olympic events for team basketball, dunk contest, one-on-one, 3 point shooting, best fadeaway, 21, free throw shooting, and crotch scratching?You didn't execute the explanation well but you do have a point. While I think Phelps deserves major, major props, I do think it's unfair to automatically label him as the best Olympian ever.

What other sport is it even possible to get eight gold medals? Swimming is unique in that it has so many races and that it is almost totally non-contact. It's exhausting for sure but there's no pounding of joints or contact with opposing players.

Seriously, is there even another sport that one could conceivably win eight golds? Most every sport it is mathematically impossible to even compete in eight events. Perhaps there is a combination of track and field events that would be possible but I'm not sure.

Phelps is no doubt the best swimmer of all-time but if other athletes don't even have a chance to accomplish what he accomplish, I don't see how it is fair to say what Phelps did was the most impressive feat.

[T Park]

He's been on 2 covers already in the last few weeks. I guess the SI Cover jinx didn't apply to him.

What a performance.

Yeah, but the cover with him with 8 will be a collectors item. I can't wait.

[duncan228]

Yeah, but the cover with him with 8 will be a collectors item. I can't wait.

It will be nice to have. This is the first time in a long time that I'm glad I subscribe to it when it's not basketball season.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Do you have a license for that??????:lol

:lol

[manufor3]

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/d/3/7/d375bcb7ff19525cf7c67cc873e850bd.gif

:lol:lmao

[whottt]

What other sport is it even possible to get eight gold medals?

Track and Men's Gymnastics.



Swimming is unique in that it has so many races and that it is almost totally non-contact. It's exhausting for sure but there's no pounding of joints or contact with opposing players.

Swimming can pound your joints...




Seriously, is there even another sport that one could conceivably win eight golds? Most every sport it is mathematically impossible to even compete in eight events. Perhaps there is a combination of track and field events that would be possible but I'm not sure.

It's possible to win like 13 medals just in the running events...you throw in the pole vault and high jump and I think you can win about 17 medals.






Phelps is no doubt the best swimmer of all-time but if other athletes don't even have a chance to accomplish what he accomplish, I don't see how it is fair to say what Phelps did was the most impressive feat.


Well then who is the greatest athlete? Really the only way to judge them is by the way they dominated their peers and events, historical and contemporary. And Phelps is pretty much in a class by himself in that dominating multiple events category, although truthfully I don't think he was a dominant as Mark Spitz was...none of Mark Spitz' races were even close.



But as far as athletes from different sports...

Definitely an apples and oranges thing...



For instance you can say Jordan would have won every competition if they had them...but would he have won 8 medals as a swimmer? Probably not.


Phelps has more gold medals than anyone, career and single Olympics...I guess that's the primary judge of an Olympian...if there's a better way to judge I'd like to see it.

[whottt]

Personally I think for a guy to be considered the greatest athlete ever, he'd have to be dominant in multiple types of sports...not just one.


For instance...Bo Jackson or Deon Sanders.


If that is the judge...then Jim Thorpe is beyond all doubt the greatest athlete in history.

He was a professional:

Football player
Basketball player
Baseball player


And he was a multiple Olympic Gold Medalist, in the Decathlon, and the Pentathlon....track competitions featuring every form of track event.

No one else comes close to this guy...he is the greatest athlete IMO.


Out of recent times, maybe Dave Winfield, who was drafted by an NBA team, NFL team and a MLB team...he only played baseball but still...being drafted in 3 sports is pretty amazing.




If you translate this to the Olympics...

I'd say the greatest Olympian was someone who won both the Summer and Winter Olympics...or at the least entirely different fields of competition in the Winter or Summer...and there aren't any as far as I know.

But there are some that have medaled in Summer and Winter Olympics...

Only one athlete in history has won Gold medals in the Summer and Winter Olympics:


Eddie Eagan, USA–Light Heavyweight Boxing gold (1920) and Four-man Bobsled gold (1932).




Only 3 other athletes have won medals in both the Winter and Summer Olympics:


Jacob Tullin Thams, Norway–Ski Jumping gold (1924) and 8-meter Yachting silver (1936).

Christa Luding-Rothenburger, East Germany–Speed Skating gold at 500 meters (1984) and 1,000m (1988), silver at 500m (1988) and bronze at 500m (1992) and Match Sprint Cycling silver (1988). Luding-Rothenburger is the only athlete to ever win medals in both Winter and Summer Games in the same year.

Clara Hughes, Canada—Individual Road Race Cycling bronze and Individual Time Trial Cycling bronze (1996) and 5,000 m Speed Skating bronze (2002).


Is what they did greater than what Phelps did? Arguably...but they probably wouldn't have won 8 medals as swimmers either.

[florige]

Track and Men's Gymnastics.



Swimming can pound your joints...




It's possible to win like 13 medals just in the running events...you throw in the pole vault and high jump and I think you can win about 17 medals.







Well then who is the greatest athlete? Really the only way to judge them is by the way they dominated their peers and events, historical and contemporary. And Phelps is pretty much in a class by himself in that dominating multiple events category, although truthfully I don't think he was a dominant as Mark Spitz was...none of Mark Spitz' races were even close.



But as far as athletes from different sports...

Definitely an apples and oranges thing...



For instance you can say Jordan would have won every competition if they had them...but would he have won 8 medals as a swimmer? Probably not.


Phelps has more gold medals than anyone, career and single Olympics...I guess that's the primary judge of an Olympian...if there's a better way to judge I'd like to see it.



Did Spitz swim the same type of program Phelps swam?

[florige]

Look at the footage of Phelps hometown- so many people cheering him on.
It makes me want to cry- so awesome. :)


They will probably have to shut down Dulles or whatever airport he will return to Baltimore in. After Athens he had a street named after him. Now they might just rename a section of Baltimore for him. I'm hearing they have this huge parade set up for him. I'm sure he will probably flip the coin at the first Ravens game being as though he is a huge Ravens fan.

[duncan228]

Did Spitz swim the same type of program Phelps swam?

I don't know the answer to that, but if it matters, Spitz only swam 2 strokes, the free and the fly, Phelps swam all 4.

[DANILO DRASKOVIC]

do we really need 17 swimming events?

[T Park]

They will probably have to shut down Dulles or whatever airport he will return to Baltimore in. After Athens he had a street named after him. Now they might just rename a section of Baltimore for him. I'm hearing they have this huge parade set up for him. I'm sure he will probably flip the coin at the first Ravens game being as though he is a huge Ravens fan.

:lol

Yeah he was all "I can't wait to get back home and just watch football" :lol

I could see where hes coming from, being over there for as long as he has has got to have been painfull.

[duncan228]

Spitz's races in '72:

100 m freestyle [00:51:22]
200 m freestyle [01:52:78]
100 m butterfly [00:54:27]
200 m butterfly [02:00:70]
4 x 100 m freestyle relay [03:26:42]
4 x 200 m freestyle relay [07:35:78]
4 x 100 m medley relay [03:48:16]

I don't know how many actual swims he did. (Phelps did 17 this week).

[florige]

:lol

Yeah he was all "I can't wait to get back home and just watch football" :lol

I could see where hes coming from, being over there for as long as he has has got to have been painfull.


Too bad we probably are gonna suck this year.....:lol

[florige]

Spitz's races in '72:

100 m freestyle [00:51:22]
200 m freestyle [01:52:78]
100 m butterfly [00:54:27]
200 m butterfly [02:00:70]
4 x 100 m freestyle relay [03:26:42]
4 x 200 m freestyle relay [07:35:78]
4 x 100 m medley relay [03:48:16]

I don't know how many actual swims he did. (Phelps did 17 this week).


Thanks for that research Duncan228. 17 counting the qualifying swims right?

[duncan228]

17 counting the qualifying swims right?

Yes.

[florige]

Spitz's races in '72:

100 m freestyle [00:51:22]
200 m freestyle [01:52:78]
100 m butterfly [00:54:27]
200 m butterfly [02:00:70]
4 x 100 m freestyle relay [03:26:42]
4 x 200 m freestyle relay [07:35:78]
4 x 100 m medley relay [03:48:16]

I don't know how many actual swims he did. (Phelps did 17 this week).



It looks like Spitz was also the fastest swimmer in the world back then as well. Pretty impressive. Not sure how Phelps would fair in the 100m freestyle.

[duncan228]

It looks like Spitz was also the fastest swimmer in the world back then as well. Pretty impressive.

All 7 of Spitz's Gold Medals were World Records in '72.

[florige]

All 7 of Spitz's Gold Medals were World Records in '72.


Only if we could have a time machine two see these to square off against each other in their prime.

[T Park]

Only if we could have a time machine two see these to square off against each other in their prime.

Spitz would get smoked.

[florige]

Off topic, but that US Gymnast Alicia Sacramone is freakin gorgeous!!!!!

[lefty]

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/d/3/7/d375bcb7ff19525cf7c67cc873e850bd.gif

:rollin

[travis2]

Well then who is the greatest athlete? Really the only way to judge them is by the way they dominated their peers and events, historical and contemporary. And Phelps is pretty much in a class by himself in that dominating multiple events category, although truthfully I don't think he was a dominant as Mark Spitz was...none of Mark Spitz' races were even close.


I don't know how you can say Phelps wasn't dominant in his wins. Considering he's a 200/400 swimmer with a couple of 100s thrown in for kicks.

The only races of his that were even close were his 100s (relays included) and a 200m race that proved he doesn't even need to see to break world records.

[samikeyp]

Off topic, but that US Gymnast Alicia Sacramone is freakin gorgeous!!!!!

Easy brother....isn't she is like 16 or something? I am sure you want to give her the Flo Experience but you could get into trouble! :lol

[travis2]

She's 20 and a student at Brown University. Johnson is 16, Liukin is 17 or 18 (can't recall).

[florige]

Easy brother....isn't she is like 16 or something? I am sure you want to give her the Flo Experience but you could get into trouble! :lol


Yeah trust me I checked first. :lol She was talking about how she was the mother figure for the rest of the younger girls there.

[Fabbs]

Spitz would get smoked.
oly women gold medal winner of past on radio spoke how superior the equipment and training methods Phelps has over Spitz.
Couple specifics were the googles. She said Spitz could only train a couple hours a day in the pool because the chlorine would do a number on ones eyes. Todays swimmers apparantly spend much more time in the water.
Also the NASA designed suits are definitely increasing times.
Last but not least, she said they added a foot of depth to the pools. This greatly cuts down on turbulence, she elaborated that the waves caused by the swimmers go to the bottom of the pool and bounce back. She said this one extra foot makes a lot of difference, not as many waves to cut thru.

Cumulatively these all add to much faster times.
Spitz with access to the same training and a great race would be had.

Like comparing 1960s baseball players to the steroid munchers of today and especially the 1998-2004 Barroid Bonds-McGuire years of all-you-can-eat 'roids. Not a fair comparison.

[v2freak]

what he did was great, but there are way too many swimming events. You don't think Jordan could have been the greatest Olympian ever if he had Olympic events for team basketball, dunk contest, one-on-one, 3 point shooting, best fadeaway, 21, free throw shooting, and crotch scratching?

Excellent point. There is a discrepency here. That point alone should shut all of this "greatest olympian" talk because like another poster said, it's comparing apples and oranges.

[whottt]

I don't know how you can say Phelps wasn't dominant in his wins. Considering he's a 200/400 swimmer with a couple of 100s thrown in for kicks.

The only races of his that were even close were his 100s (relays included) and a 200m race that proved he doesn't even need to see to break world records.


I didn't say he wasn't dominant....I said he wasn't as dominant as Spitz was. He really wasn't...Spitz was much more dominant.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics



Just sayin'...Spitz had much more impressive margins of victory, in every single race. No one got within a half second of him...and only one guy did that. Every one else got beat by 1-2 seconds.

[Kermit]

Plus he had that stache which added to his time. Imagine what he could've accomplished by manscaping.

[whottt]

And he had long hair...no swim cap.

[whottt]

Seriously...they should have given him an extra medal for winning with a stache.

[Kermit]

He was a hairy, pornstache wearing man's man without a technologically enhanced swimsuit. Plus instead of ingesting 12,000 calories, he would bang broads during his break for the adrenaline.

[travis2]

I didn't say he wasn't dominant....I said he wasn't as dominant as Spitz was. He really wasn't...Spitz was much more dominant.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics



Just sayin'...Spitz had much more impressive margins of victory, in every single race. No one got within a half second of him...and only one guy did that. Every one else got beat by 1-2 seconds.

Again, I'm going to disagree with you. Let's look at those times.

First, let's ONLY compare INDIVIDUAL events...neither Spitz nor Phelps was in complete control of the margin of victory in the team events.

Now then...Spitz swam 4 individual events. They were (with margins of victory in seconds):

100m free -- 0.43
200m free -- 0.95
100m fly --- 1.29
200m fly --- 2.16


Phelps swam 5 individual events. They were (with margins of victory in seconds):

200m free -- 1.49
100m fly --- 0.01
200m fly --- 0.67
200m IM --- 2.29
400m IM --- 2.32

Comparing the numbers directly, only ONE time "doesn't belong", and that's Phelps' 100m fly. All other times are comparable AND dominant. Further, Phelps' 2nd lowest score was a WR set with his goggles full of water.

Finally, I repeat the point I made earlier...Phelps and Spitz are not precisely the same class of swimmer. Spitz was a sprinter, pure and simple...he even said himself that if there had been a 50m free he'd have competed in it. Phelps is a short/middle distance (200/400) swimmer, who just happens to have enough 100m speed to hold his own.

One last point, which someone already made. Spitz was a 2-stroke swimmer. Phelps competed in all 4 strokes.

[whottt]

The other thing about it is he's jewish and he did his feat in the same Olympics where the Israeli athletes were brutally slaughtered by the PLO.

[samikeyp]

Yeah trust me I checked first. :lol She was talking about how she was the mother figure for the rest of the younger girls there.

Ahh...then by all means, go get her! :toast

[whottt]

Again, I'm going to disagree with you. Let's look at those times.

First, let's ONLY compare INDIVIDUAL events...neither Spitz nor Phelps was in complete control of the margin of victory in the team events.

Now then...Spitz swam 4 individual events. They were (with margins of victory in seconds):

100m free -- 0.43
200m free -- 0.95
100m fly --- 1.29
200m fly --- 2.16


Phelps swam 5 individual events. They were (with margins of victory in seconds):

200m free -- 1.49
100m fly --- 0.01
200m fly --- 0.67
200m IM --- 2.29
400m IM --- 2.32

Comparing the numbers directly, only ONE time "doesn't belong", and that's Phelps' 100m fly. All other times are comparable AND dominant. Further, Phelps' 2nd lowest score was a WR set with his goggles full of water.

Finally, I repeat the point I made earlier...Phelps and Spitz are not precisely the same class of swimmer. Spitz was a sprinter, pure and simple...he even said himself that if there had been a 50m free he'd have competed in it. Phelps is a short/middle distance (200/400) swimmer, who just happens to have enough 100m speed to hold his own.

One last point, which someone already made. Spitz was a 2-stroke swimmer. Phelps competed in all 4 strokes.


I don't think they are that much different of swimmers...how many gold medals and WR does Phelps have in backstroke and breaststroke? How many of anything does Phelps have in breaststroke?

They are both basically butterfly and front crawl swimmers...and Spitz dominated more in their 2 dominant strokes.

I only see Phelps competed in one 400m race...same as the number of 100m races he competed in...so I don't really see how you can argue that he is more of a 100m guy than a 400m guy. One could argue that with 2 dominant strokes, that's all you need to win a medley. To me it's not out of the realm of possiblity that Spitz could have won the medleys, where it is pretty much out of the realm of possiblity that Phelps could have won any 50m race..


I look at the 3 exact same races they competed in together and Spitz clearly was more dominant in 2 of the 3 races, and the one where Phelps was more dominant, the 200m free, the only shared race where Phelps was more dominant, it's not like Spitz was a scrub, since he beat his man by nearly 1 second.


In short, no one came close to beating Spitz and he set the WR record in every primary stroke event he entered...and someone did come close to beating Phelps and he didn't set the WR in every primary stroke event he entered.

I think Spitz was easily and obviously the more dominant swimmer in the shared individual events that are their strengths.


I think an argument can be made the Phelps is the better swimmer...but I don't think he was as dominating in these Olympics as Spitz was in 72 especially in the main events. No one came close to beating Spitz.....

[travis2]

I don't think they are that much different of swimmers...how many gold medals and WR does Phelps have in backstroke and breaststroke? How many of anything does Phelps have in breaststroke?

They are both basically butterfly and front crawl swimmers...and Spitz dominated more in their 2 dominant strokes.

I only see Phelps competed in one 400m race...same as the number of 100m races he competed in...so I don't really see how you can argue that he is more of a 100m guy than a 400m guy. One could argue that with 2 dominant strokes, that's all you need to win a medley. To me it's not out of the realm of possiblity that Spitz could have won the medleys, where it is pretty much out of the realm of possiblity that Phelps could have won any 50m race..


I look at the 3 exact same races they competed in together and Spitz clearly was more dominant in 2 of the 3 races, and the one where Phelps was more dominant, the 200m free, the only shared race where Phelps was more dominant, it's not like Spitz was a scrub, since he beat his man by nearly 1 second.


In short, no one came close to beating Spitz and he set the WR record in every primary stroke event he entered...and someone did come close to beating Phelps and he didn't set the WR in every primary stroke event he entered.

I think Spitz was easily and obviously the more dominant swimmer in the shared individual events that are their strengths.


I think an argument can be made the Phelps is the better swimmer...but I don't think he was as dominating in these Olympics as Spitz was in 72 especially in the main events. No one came close to beating Spitz.....

Did you not bother to read (TWICE) where I said that the 200m fly was the one he swam with GOGGLES FULL OF WATER? You think MAYBE that might have made a difference? And he STILL set the WR in that race...counting strokes instead of watching where he was.

I don't think there's anything easy or obvious about it. I think they were comparable in their dominance in their shared events, with the exception of the 100 fly, which I already conceded.

As far as "not setting the WR record" in every primary stroke event...Spitz set 4/4 WR, Phelps set 4/5 + 1 OR. That is NOT "easily and obviously" better.

[JoeChalupa]

I'm just glad I got to witness, via TV or course, both Spitz and Phelps awesome performances. Go USA!!

[whottt]

Did you not bother to read (TWICE) where I said that the 200m fly was the one he swam with GOGGLES FULL OF WATER? You think MAYBE that might have made a difference? And he STILL set the WR in that race...counting strokes instead of watching where he was.

Mark Spitz didn't wear goggles:

http://www.photomediagroup.com/archive/2005-summer/img/rc-markSpitz.jpg





I don't think there's anything easy or obvious about it. I think they were comparable in their dominance in their shared events, with the exception of the 100 fly, which I already conceded.

As far as "not setting the WR record" in every primary stroke event...Spitz set 4/4 WR, Phelps set 4/5 + 1 OR. That is NOT "easily and obviously" better.

To me it is...and like I said, Spitz didn't wear a swim cap and had long hair, unlike the guys he was swimming against. He was more dominant in his 4, being completely unchallenged in any of them without goggles...unlike Phelps, who was challenged in what was one of his strongest events.


I don't see much argument that Phelps is the better swimmer...the # of medals he has now pretty much hammer that point home...I just don't think this was as dominant as Spitz was in 72.

[travis2]

Mark Spitz didn't wear goggles:

http://www.photomediagroup.com/archive/2005-summer/img/rc-markSpitz.jpg




To me it is...and like I said, Spitz didn't wear a swim cap and had long hair, unlike the guys he was swimming against. He was more dominant in his 4, being completely unchallenged in any of them without goggles...unlike Phelps, who was challenged in what was one of his strongest events.

Not wearing goggles and wearing goggles full of water are NOT the same thing. Not even close.

[whottt]

Sounds like Phelps should maybe lose the goggles then...why do you suppose he wears them? To give himself a disadvantage?

[travis2]

Oh puh-leeze...I know you know better than that...

[whottt]

Look we can split hairs on it all day long...

IF you look at the 3 freestyle and butterfly races, the best strokes of both swimmers, and the two strokes where they set the majority of their records, Spitz clearly beat his opponents by a larger margin of victory than Phelps did....and he did it with what could definitely be argued as a technological disadvantage, even by the standards of 1972 compared to his peers.


Phelps swam one more event...Spitz swam better, IMO.

[travis2]

And I think they were comparable for their times. IMO.

[FromWayDowntown]

As TPark predicted:

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/oly.michael.phelps.covers/images/00.arch.jpg

[JudynTX]

As TPark predicted:

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/oly.michael.phelps.covers/images/00.arch.jpg

:cheer That's a bad ass cover. I plan to buy that one.

[florige]

Seriously...they should have given him an extra medal for winning with a stache.


Exactly! Him winning all those programs and records with "the Stache" puts him above whatever Phelps did imo.

[DarkReign]

http://i36.tinypic.com/31681hu.jpg

[DarkReign]

http://i36.tinypic.com/qox1y1.jpg