Phelps or Bolt

Susan · Post #381 » by **Susan** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:56 pm

The real question is Michael Johnson or Usain Bolt.

Joker · Post #382 » by **Joker** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:02 pm

Unless Bolt can win a gold in the 4x100m relay, his Olympic performance will be inferior to that of Stephanie Rice's, Chris Hoy's, and Kai Zou's.

Post #383 » by **dougthonus** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:04 pm

Susan wrote:The real question is Michael Johnson or Usain Bolt.

Career I'd probably go Michael Johnson so far, but Bolt has at least one more Olympics left in him to change that and if he stays on top of things should be able to. Johnson got gold in 3 separate Olympics though which I think is impressive for a sprinter (though one was a relay).

I'm not sure if doing the 200 and 400 is tougher or the 100 and 200 is, but I'd probably take Bolt's performance over Johnson's Atlanta games as a single performance.

Joker · Post #384 » by **Joker** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:05 pm

If you compare athletes purely based on accolades and how dominant they are in their respective sport, then there are probably lawn bowlers and darts players out there who are more accomplished/impressive than the likes of Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, or Usain Bolt, for that matter. The point is that hockey, basketball, track and field, etc., are given more attention, more reverance, and more respect than lawn bowling and darts players, so the fact that some darts player won 20 straight world championships is moot.

Patterns · Post #385 » by **Patterns** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:56 pm

Fairview4Life wrote:
SportsWorld wrote:
tracey_nice wrote:So I guess Usain just ended this argument.

Thanks for the link eyeatoma.

Yes Bolt is 6 medals away from tying Phelps' mark. Plus Bolt got a 4 day rest. I'm wondering how much better. Phelps would look if he got 4 days rest between each of his 8 races.

The medal count thing is still silly. How many medals would Bolt have if he could run the 125m race? and the 150? and the 200 relay?

Agreed.

How about the 90m race? 100m relay?

People say that Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever. I disagree. In some sports, you can only get 1 medal such as Basketball.

Patterns · Post #386 » by **Patterns** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:57 pm

Joker wrote:Unless Bolt can win a gold in the 4x100m relay, his Olympic performance will be inferior to that of Stephanie Rice's, Chris Hoy's, and Kai Zou's.

Really? So the fastest human in the history of man kind is inferior to those you mentioned?

Joker · Post #387 » by **Joker** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:00 am

Patterns wrote:
Joker wrote:Unless Bolt can win a gold in the 4x100m relay, his Olympic performance will be inferior to that of Stephanie Rice's, Chris Hoy's, and Kai Zou's.

Really? So the fastest human in the history of man kind is inferior to those you mentioned?

You don't get out of the house much, do you? :lol:

Post #388 » by **TheGlyde** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:32 am

What Bolt has done here is phenomenal.

But to reach the heights of Michael Johnson or Carl Lewis he needs to stay at the top for 4-5 years.

He could easily do that, he is 22 today.

Frosty · Post #389 » by **Frosty** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:17 am

Susan wrote:The real question is Michael Johnson or Usain Bolt.

That chump Johnson who pulled up and claimed injury when challenged to prove who the fastest man in the world was? Once it was clear he was going to lose he suddenly comes up hurt. Yah, try and steal the title "world's fastest man" (goes to 100m champ) and can't back it up.

As for Phelps, I read an article that said only one other Olympics saw as many swimming records fall as this one. It was in Montreal, the reason? They allowed swimmers to wear goggles which allowed them to see the wall much better. It was a huge advancement in swimming and now we have this suit that gives another huge boost to swimming times.

I'll take bolt.

Post #390 » by **TheGlyde** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:38 am

lol, big deal, Bailey owned MJ over 150m

That doesn't cheapen his achievements over 200m or 400m.

High 5 · Post #391 » by **High 5** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:02 am

Ok, NOW you can make this a real discussion. Bolt still needs to come back in 2012 and do work, but he's right on Phelps' heels.

tracey_nice · Post #392 » by **tracey_nice** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:06 am

High 5 wrote:Ok, NOW you can make this a real discussion. Bolt still needs to come back in 2012 and do work, but he's right on Phelps' heels.

I wonder what the last 26pgs were...

High 5 · Post #393 » by **High 5** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:09 am

A pointless discussion.

GQStylin · Post #394 » by **GQStylin** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:10 am

With some Phelps supporters MIA since the 200m finals......

High 5 · Post #395 » by **High 5** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:16 am

I said from the beginning the Bolt needs to win more than one race for this to be a legitimate comparison. Now that he has won the 200m I'm here giving him is props. If he wins at least 1 more gold in his life then I think I'd give him the edge. Barring some insane dominance in London by a 27 year old Phelps.

Post #396 » by **5DOM** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:39 am

hopefully jamaica wins the relay.

deNIEd · Post #397 » by **deNIEd** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:57 am

dougthonus wrote:I'm not sure if doing the 200 and 400 is tougher or the 100 and 200 is, but I'd probably take Bolt's performance over Johnson's Atlanta games as a single performance.

I've ran track extremely competitively for about 6-8 years, and I can tell you, along with pretty much any other track athlete that the 400 is the hardest event out there.

Anyone can run the 100, its not that long. It's all about acceleration and top speed. It's more about physical limitations, how fast am I, how long does it take me to get that fast.

vs the 400

Which is all about strength, stamina and speed. In the 400, you're sprinting the entire way, there is no pacing and no easy stretch. The entire race is simply hell.

200/400 is without question harder to do than the 100/200.

shawngoat23 wrote:The majority of American fans or swimming/water polo fans will support Phelps.

The majority of non-Americans or track-and-field enthusiasts will support Bolt.

I'm a former track runner and American, and I think Phelps' accomplishment is more phenomenal. But I am more in awe of the ability of Bolt.

*I'm still waiting to see if Bolt is on drugs or not lol*

Post #398 » by **Geddy** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:13 am

Bolt has run the 400m when he was younger, and there are some that think that he could possibly dominate that event as well. It will be interesting to see what he does from now til the next olympics.

Post #399 » by **Doctor MJ** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:19 am

High 5 wrote:Ok, NOW you can make this a real discussion. Bolt still needs to come back in 2012 and do work, but he's right on Phelps' heels.

Exactly what I was going to come in to say. Bolt has now had one of the great Olympics of all time, so he now joins Phelps for a real discussion for the best of the games. If I had to give a nod to just one, I'm actually leaning toward Bolt.

Though to be clear, to surpass Phelps on a greatest Olympian list, he's at the very least got dominate in 2012 too.

Post #400 » by **5DOM** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:41 am

Doctor MJ wrote:
High 5 wrote:Ok, NOW you can make this a real discussion. Bolt still needs to come back in 2012 and do work, but he's right on Phelps' heels.

Exactly what I was going to come in to say. Bolt has now had one of the great Olympics of all time, so he now joins Phelps for a real discussion for the best of the games. If I had to give a nod to just one, I'm actually leaning toward Bolt.

Though to be clear, to surpass Phelps on a greatest Olympian list, he's at the very least got dominate in 2012 too.

agreed on all counts