Phelps or Bolt

[The Duke]

The Title of Worlds Fastest Swimmer doesnt even belong to Phelph's .....

[Typhoon20]

At least 5 of the 7 people who have said Bolt are from somewhere other than the US. Jealous?

At least 3 of the 3 people who have said Phelps are white AND probably from the US.

I think it's just two, but both of us have backed up what we have said and have logic on our side.

So saying Phelps is better cause he has more medals than Bolt when Phelps has clearly 8 chances at medal and Bolt only 3 and that Phelps has more world records because he participates in 8 events as opposed to Bolt who doesn't have that many opportunities is logic by your books ?

[Kurtz]

Again, it's ridiculous to compare the gimmick stuff Phelps excels in to what Bolt has done.

It's like placing the speed walk champ on par with the sprint champ. Sure, they both have the same medal, but they mean very different things.

Fastest man in the world: Bolt.

Fastest swimmer in the world: Bernard. Or Cielo.


Phelps is the best at what he does, but what he does is a gimmick, pure and simple. Breastroke/Butterfly? Wtf is that? Why not have doggie-style races too, they'd be just as valid.

[Dry_Fish]

The Title of Worlds Fastest Swimmer doesnt even belong to Phelph's .....

yeah. The 100 meter is a premiere event and the nature that bolt wins it makes it a debate with the quantity of metal Phelps get. Swimming WR with the pool/suits doesn't really compare to track.

[High 5]

So saying Phelps is better cause he has more medals than Bolt when Phelps has clearly 8 chances at medal and Bolt only 3 and that Phelps has more world records because he participates in 8 events as opposed to Bolt who doesn't have that many opportunities is logic by your books ?

I never said Phelps was better, only that he was more impressive. Bolt has won only one Olympic medal race, Phelps has won 12. Bolt needs to win a few more before this should even become a discussion.

And Phelps has the title of the best swimmer of all time. Is Bolt the best runner of all time?

[High 5]

You can try to discredit swimming because you don't like it, but it's just as big a deal as any track event. These days it's bigger.

[Doctor MJ]

Hmm. I'm right there with everybody in recognizing Bolt as a talent that may surpass Phelps, but I think it's too soon to actually rate him above Phelps. First off let's consider that while Phelps has more opportunities to get gold than Bolt, Bolt is not going to get as many golds this time around as Carl Lewis did in 1984. Add in the relative lack of pressure Bolt face as a relative newcomer (while all eyes have been on Phelps for years). Then, as impressive as it is that Bolt broke the world record while clearly running an imperfect race, until he is actually running a 9.5, I'm not going to credit him with it.

Last of course, to have Bolt worth any mention at all among the greatest athletes of all time, he's got to continue to improve and dominate for at least another 4 years.

So right now, Phelps. But damn am I excited about Bolt.

[Kurtz]

You can try to discredit swimming because you don't like it, but it's just as big a deal as any track event. These days it's bigger.

It's only bigger in the States, and only because the US doesn't have a dominant runner at the moment.


Swimming is great. 50m,100m,200m,400m...freestyle. That's what it's about, a real, no-nonsense race in the water. Whoever wins is the fastest swimmer in the world, no questions asked.

But giving so many medals for the gimp swimming styles is pretty weak. I mean they have similar idiocy in speed-walking, but at least there u can only walk away with one medal, and it's (Please Use More Appropriate Word) enough to prevent actual runners from even entering.

[High 5]

Hmm. I'm right there with everybody in recognizing Bolt as a talent that may surpass Phelps, but I think it's too soon to actually rate him above Phelps. First off let's consider that while Phelps has more opportunities to get gold than Bolt, Bolt is not going to get as many golds this time around as Carl Lewis did in 1984. Add in the relative lack of pressure Bolt face as a relative newcomer (while all eyes have been on Phelps for years). Then, as impressive as it is that Bolt broke the world record while clearly running an imperfect race, until he is actually running a 9.5, I'm not going to credit him with it.

Last of course, to have Bolt worth any mention at all among the greatest athletes of all time, he's got to continue to improve and dominate for at least another 4 years.

So right now, Phelps. But damn am I excited about Bolt.

My thoughts exactly.

[nyu3]

Phelps is more impressive, because he is breaking so many records.

However, the 100m sprint is one of the most important Olympic events, so the 100m record is more important than any individual swimming record.

[Heat3]

Can't compare. Swimmer vs Runner. They both are the most impressive in their respective sports!

[Ming Kong!]

Phelps is more impressive, because he is breaking so many records.

However, the 100m sprint is one of the most important Olympic events, so the 100m record is more important than any individual swimming record.

The fact he's won every race is more impressive than the fact he's got all those records. On many races multiple swimmers are breaking the previous best times, thanks in part to the suit.

[eyeatoma]

The Mens 100m is the crown jewel of the Olympics. Its one of the top 10 most watched events in the world. For Usain Bolt to absolutely obliterate the competition, and have enough time to spare that he can celebrate mid race, speaks volumes of this mans god given abilities...

This is the first year he's running the 100 metres. The first time he competed in New York, he broke the world record.

Michael Phelps is incredible, but I'm sorry to say being the fastest man on the planet is much more impressive than the best swimmer. (Notice how I said best swimmer, and not fastest). I mean come on, humans don't live in the water, we live on land. This too coming from a huge supporter of Phelps...I do hope he wins his 8th gold...

But even more, I hope that Bolt can win the mens 200 and 400 metre finals...

[Typhoon20]

The Mens 100m is the crown jewel of the Olympics. Its one of the top 10 most watched events in the world. For Usain Bolt to absolutely obliterate the competition, and have enough time to spare that he can celebrate mid race, speaks volumes of this mans god given abilities...

This is the first year he's running the 100 metres. The first time he competed in New York, he broke the world record.

Michael Phelps is incredible, but I'm sorry to say being the fastest man on the planet is much more impressive than the best swimmer. (Notice how I said best swimmer, and not fastest). I mean come on, humans don't live in the water, we live on land. This too coming from a huge supporter of Phelps...I do hope he wins his 8th gold...

But even more, I hope that Bolt can win the mens 200 and 400 metre finals...

Well said.

[5DOM]

No, but why do people believe Bolt is more impressive? Is it the medals? Phelps has won more. (14 to 1) Is it the world records? Phelps owns more. (6 to 1 I believe) Is it the ease of his victories? Phelps wins just as comfortably more often. Is it the difficulty? Phelps dominates multiple strokes in the water, short and long distances, Bolt just sprints for 10-20 seconds on a track.

Bolt is great, but he has a lot more he needs to do A LOT more before he can hang with Phelps. If Phelps wasn't American I feel more people would agree with that.

Bolt apparently had the second worst reaction time among the finalists, plus he didnt give full effort. Yet, we see the WR sign. I know Phelps has broken a lot of WRs, but so have many other swimmers in this Olympics. That is more dominant than anything I've seen from Phelps. (no offence to phelps though).

and I don't agree with you saying that swimming is harder than running.
Winning 100m sprint is probably harder than winning any swimming event.
6 billion people run, not everyone swims/ attempted swimming

[Da Schwab]

Yeah, no. Gimmick swim contests? Anyone can run a sprint. You have to spend time in the pool to master all the different strokes like Phelps has.

It's Phelps for me.

Ditto. Exactly what I would've said.

[nesta]

Phelps until Bolt wins 200 M in record time(I think he can do it). I also think Bolt will soon crush the 400 M world record. This dude is a legit freak(no steroids)

[Doctor MJ]

The Mens 100m is the crown jewel of the Olympics. Its one of the top 10 most watched events in the world. For Usain Bolt to absolutely obliterate the competition, and have enough time to spare that he can celebrate mid race, speaks volumes of this mans god given abilities...

This is the first year he's running the 100 metres. The first time he competed in New York, he broke the world record.

Michael Phelps is incredible, but I'm sorry to say being the fastest man on the planet is much more impressive than the best swimmer. (Notice how I said best swimmer, and not fastest). I mean come on, humans don't live in the water, we live on land. This too coming from a huge supporter of Phelps...I do hope he wins his 8th gold...

But even more, I hope that Bolt can win the mens 200 and 400 metre finals...

I'd agree that the Mens 100m is the crown jewel. Interestingly after that, I'd probably say the Women's Gymnastics All-Around, and I wouldn't put any individual swimming event clearly above others. It's very interesting how that works.

But let's also be clear, the winner of the Mens 100m isn't always the star of the Olympics. It's the most prestigious event, but it doesn't dwarf the other events *that* much.

[eyeatoma]

^^It does when the winner of the race breaks the world record, and was apparently coasting 3/4's of the way through...

Swimmers have gotten better over the years mostly due to technology. Granted physically, they're in better shape, and train harder. But deeper pools, faster suits, and lane separators that provide lower resistance have all benefited these athletes. I believe these suits are more water resistant and aerodynamic than the human skin.

What advantages to the runners have? Wind? Spiked shoes? (Those have been around for years) The track suits are highly advanced, but I don't believe they have nearly the same effect when compared to the new suits the swimmers use.

[Al n' Perk No Layups!]

I also think Bolt will soon crush the 400 M world record.

There's no chance that happens, he's not even racing the 400m. He's in the 100m, 200m and probably the 4x100m relay though I'm not sure if Jamaica is in that.