I've ****ing Had It!!!

[ljshorty89]

I don't think he's the greatest athlete ever, but he IS an athlete, and he is high on my list. Maybe not top 5, but he's up there. The guy, just looking at this ONE olympics, has 6 gold medals in 6 events, and 6 world records. He can't do any more than that.

Just like in MLB you can only beat the team you're playing that day...he can only win the events he's entered in. And he's done that, and done it in dominating fashion.

[realmofotalk]

Michael Phelps just happens to play in an Olympic sport that allows him to earn 8 gold medals, whereas Kobe has a chance at only one gold medal. If the Olympics held altogether the dunk contest, 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, half court, full court, 3-point contest, free throw contest, skills competition, HORSE, and 21, Kobe would surpass Phelps' gold medal count.

[HollywoodLeo]

HORSE as an Olympic event would be

[DirtyKash]

And if track and field had the 50m, 60m, 70m, 80m, 90m, 100m, 110m, 120m, 130m, 140m, 150m, 160m, 170m, 180m, 190m, 200m races, Usain Bolt would have 16 gold medals!!!

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Michael Phelps just happens to play in an Olympic sport that allows him to earn 8 gold medals, whereas Kobe has a chance at only one gold medal. If the Olympics held altogether the dunk contest, 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, half court, full court, 3-point contest, free throw contest, skills competition, HORSE, and 21, Kobe would surpass Phelps' gold medal count.

THANK YOU. that's what i've been saying for weeks now. such as:

Dude, I can't agree more. He's amazing. And I do think swimming is a sport. But here's my beef:

all the announcers have annointed Michael Phelps the "Greatest Olympian Ever" because of how many medals he's won. However, that is bullshit. What about all the other sports that you can only win one medal in like volleyball or basketball? You can only win one medal. What if someone is just as good as what they do, but they only win one or two medals in their career? It's just not a fair comparison.

[cjkalt]

So if you specialize in 1 sport and are one of the best you can't be a great athlete. Drew Henson played both football and baseball at the pro level but wasn't a great athlete.

Michael Phelps is way too early in his career to make an accurate determination, but swimming conpetitively is definitely a sport.

[mntwinsfan]

Bolt needs to leave Jamaica and live in the USA. Phelps is going to get they say about 60 million dollars to endorse products. If that's the case what would the fastest man in the world get? Bolt is a freak of nature! Someone needs to get him signed in the NFL.. No one could cover him.

[Hardy Blonde]

Ok first off I have to agree with a lot of what Leo said. I am a Phelps fan, I watched every race he was in. In my book anyone who competes with someone else is an athlete whether it be 1 or 5 other people.

So if you specialize in 1 sport and are one of the best you can't be a great athlete. Drew Henson played both football and baseball at the pro level but wasn't a great athlete.

Michael Phelps is way too early in his career to make an accurate determination, but swimming conpetitively is definitely a sport.

This will probably be his last Olympics anyway so let him have it whether you think he's an athlete or not.

Yes..But now when I see synchronize swimming I don't know..Granted that takes muscle and what not but is it not just dancing in water ???

Someone mentioned volleyball, I have to give major kudos to the May/Walsh beach volleyball team...THEY ARE FRICKEN FANTASTIC!! To be undefeated in 108 or 118 consecutive matches is just phenomenal...They defiantly deserved their golds!

[Foster]

Any props for the modern pentahlon here?

The modern pentathlon simulates the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: he must ride an unfamiliar horse, fight with pistol and sword, swim, and run. The events...

* épée fencing
* pistol shooting
* 200 metre freestyle swimming
* show jumping on horseback (the horse is picked for you)
* 3 km cross country running