RealGM

So now that Bolt has finished his events, in your opinion which athlete has accomplished the more impressive feat in the Beijing olympics?

Phelps 8 gold, 7 world records in the pool?

Or

Bolt 3 gold, 3 world records onthe track?

9.69 in 100m
19.30 in 200m
37.10 in 4x100m relay

Still Bolt.

Bolt!

I'd go with Bolt now. After the 100m I'd have said Phelps, but T&F records mean much more than the swimming ones given the new suits and the special pool. 8 medals vs 1 record/medal would have still been better IMO, but now that he's got 3 golds and 3 WRs, I think Bolt takes it pretty decisively.

Phelps gold medal record is impressive as hell, but 3 WRs in T&F is pretty awesome. I'd take Phelps career as an Olympian over Bolt's so far, dominating 2 Olympics is incredible, but if Bolt can come back in 4 years and dominate again then he has a chance to be one of the all time great Olympians himself (Phelps is already in that category and can extend his role in it with a great 2012 as well).

Just my 2c.

Strictly on paper, it's Phelps.
Overall, factoring in the two respective sports, the optics of what Bolt did, the historical context and prior records, it's Bolt.

I don't even know whose world records Phelps (and his team) broke, and I can't even recall the specifc events Phelps won. The historical significance and the prestige is just not there with swimming events.

How many T&F WR have been broken other than Bolt?

The only one I know is the Russian pole vault chick broke WR.

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

21 world record were broken in swimming -- wowzas.

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

5 world records in athletics were broken.

3 of them by Bolt.
1 women's pole vault.
1 women's 3000 m steeplechase.

I don't think many people gave too much emphasis to Phelps broken WRs. I think most people understood those records were very breakable due to the suits/pool. I think Phelps case is strictly about the medals.

8 medals has only been done twice before (once by Phelps last Olympics)
8 golds has never been done
5 golds in individual events has never been done

It's more about the endurance and ability to compete in so many events successfully and do things medal wise that no one has done than it was about breaking WRs because of the suits/pool.

I'm still saying Bolt (see above), but I don't think the WRs are really that big a part of the case for Phelps.

swimming WR's means LITTLE nowadays. As far as I am concerned, WR's before this game and the WR's set during this game are not comparable. The pool and suit "broke" the old WR's, not the swimmers.

Each of Bolt's 3 WR's is solid, worth every oz of the gold.

Forgot to say, I think it is Bolt without a doubt now. It is an easy call after he broke 3 WR's.

I'll give Phelps 100% credit for the endurance and ability compete in all of these events over such a small period of time, however, the merit of the medal count is weakened by virtue of the fact that swimmers are prone to getting 5+ medals at any given Olympics.

Usain Bolt

Phelphs had an impressive Olympics
Bolt just had a more impressive Olympics.

Phelphs will get the last laugh, as he will get way more endoresement $$$$, plus Lindsey Lohan wants to meet him lol... so perhaps his rein at the top is coming to a close

Phelps wins in terms of greatest Olympian.. but Bolt wins in terms of prestige associated with track and field that swimming simply does not have.

If I were to equate their performances into medal counts this is how it would go...
3-4 phelps golds : 1 100 m Gold
2 phelps golds : 1 200 m gold
1 phelps gold : 1 relay gold

jTF2 wrote:Phelps wins in terms of greatest Olympian.. but Bolt wins in terms of prestige associated with track and field that swimming simply does not have.

If I were to equate their performances into medal counts this is how it would go...
3-4 phelps golds : 1 100 m Gold
2 phelps golds : 1 200 m gold
1 phelps gold : 1 relay gold

I would equate 3-4 Phelps golds to one Bolt's 200m gold. Not that 200m is as prestigious as 100m, but MJ's 200m WR was considered the safest WR in T&F.

yeah i'm going with prestige.. 100m is numero uno

Phelps

the ways bolt broke the WRs are just impressive.

100m: well we all know what happened.
200m: against 0.9 headwind

all 3 events were won with significant lead.

5DOM wrote:the ways bolt broke the WRs are just impressive.

100m: well we all know what happened.
200m: against 0.9 headwind

all 3 events were won with significant lead.

Yes, all three wins were so frickin' dominant and clean.

Phelps had a couple of really ugly, incredibly lucky, laughable wins, where the silver medallist delivering a choke job of epic proportions.

Joker wrote:

5DOM wrote:the ways bolt broke the WRs are just impressive.

100m: well we all know what happened.
200m: against 0.9 headwind

all 3 events were won with significant lead.

Yes, all three wins were so frickin' dominant and clean.

Phelps had a couple of really ugly, incredibly lucky, laughable wins, where the silver medallist delivering a choke job of epic proportions.

i never said phelps' wins werent impressive. why so mad?