Phelps is now the most decorated Olympian
 

Yep, in terms of the amount of gold medals won in Sydney, Athens and Beijing he is now the greatest Olympian ever :-D

What a machine. *Applauds. :thumbup:

Phelps is a machine, but I don't think you can call him the greatest. He's won golds at only two Olympics only, and he's had a greatly disproportionate amount of opportunities given that he's qualified for a truckload of events each time, some of them (e,g, relays) by default. Other sportsmen are just as talented but only have the opportunity to win one gold medal each go. Fantastic stamina, but if he can win golds at two more Olympics, then he'll be undoubtedly the greatest.

Well said.
That has logic to it. E.g - an Olympic track sprinter - might be the fastest in the 100, 200 meter races, but is let down in the 2 relay events by team mates?
Having a strong support team for those relays (which can equal a lot of medals over two olympics) is vitally important, which Phelps has been fortunate to have.

Would Carl Lewis be up there with "the best"? Who else?:?::thumbup:

I stand corrected that his best effort in the Sydney Olympics was to finish 5th in the 200M fly (at age 15 though :mrgreen:).

It remains a fact however, that he has won the most gold medals of any athlete in Olympic history, and surely if anyone is to be given the title of greatest Olmpian ever then it has to be him.

^Oh, eventually, yes, I have no doubt. He's simply unstoppable and getting towards the peak of his ability.

If Phelps isn't the greatest athlete yet, why hasn't anybody else attacked 8 gold events, to swim in 17 specific races (including pre-lims) in over 100 years of Olympic competition? 6 Down, 2 remaining. If he succeeds, and never swam again. how would you argue that he is still not the greatest olympian since the resurgence of the modern olympic games?

A trap shooter has to fire lots of bullets and if he wins he only gets a single gold medal. Similar consistency and stamina needed. The fact still remains that swimmers get more opportunities than other sportspeople. Statistically, Phelps is the most successful, but whether he is the greatest ever at this point is still unclear. Besides, it's all subjective.

you are comparing the kind of training that somebody such as Phelps does to the training that a trap shooter does? Stamina?....... STAMINA?

I can go out and trap shoot for the first time in 3 years, and still hit over 60% of them; and I'm no olympian.

Next they are going to introduce Halo as an Olympic event, and there will be a gold in each mp style... individual events, team events etc. ..... are they then going to be the greatest atheletes? LOLL

Matt, there is a reason why it hasn't been done before... because the previous best did not do it.

He is certainly the greatest swimmer of all time. But I think to be the all time world's greatest athlete, he has to show abilities in other fields. I think thats why in America, Bruce Jenner is still thought of more than Mark Spitz.

My vote is for Jesse Owens for all time worlds greatest athlete.

Speaking of great athletes, Usain Bolt was ridiculously good today at the 100 meter finals. Watch it, you'll see what I mean.

Really? I guess, since we hear about him more since he and his family are regulars on reality TV and D-list celebrity gossip news.

Now, Bruce Jenner isn't thought of better than Mark Spitz though. ;-)

I saw Mark Spitz on TV and I didn't know who he was. Bruce got more fame after the Olympics than Mark, thats why he's a D list celebrity today. That and his daughters.;-)

Phelps is better looking than Mark Spitz I think he will do well. So far Lance Armstrong seems to be doing the best of all the non BB, BB, FB stars.

Phelps had a fan base going long before the Olympics, so we will probably see him alot after the Olympics.

He wins eight.