Phelps or Bolt

[Doctor MJ]

Bolt a bigger star than Phelps? Joke?

In the global aspect yes. Just like soccer is bigger than football.

I'd be really curious to hear more about where you are, and how you're getting this perspective that swimming is an American thing. I mean, I see medal winner from countries all over the globe, and I hear hype for Phelps from sources all over the globe. I agree with you that track is bigger than swimming, but the analogy of swimming to American football seems completely without basis.

[JWizmentality]

Phelps beat the best of the best in swimming, but Bolt DESTROYED the best of the best in running and made everyone else look SLOW!

When you put it like that, I wonder if you've been watching Phelps. Yeah he's had some close races, but he's had some where he utterly slaughters the field, and honestly doesn't look like he breaks a sweat. When he's beating the field by 2 seconds in a 200m race, that's absolutely comparable to what Bain won by, and he's doing it while pacing him for a marathon and not focusing on perfecting any particular race.

I really don't want to rain on Bain's parade, as I'm very excited about him, but I find it remarkable how matter-of-fact Phelps accomplishments are being portrayed.

Agree with you there, can't take nothing away from Phelps. In the grand scheme of things, he has accomplished more. However, Bolt will be remembered and revered far more than Phelps. How many people knew who the hell Mark Spitz was before Phelps put the limelight back on him? Yet everybody knows who Michael Johnson, Donovan Bailey, Carl Lewis etc are. Swimming just isn't as big as track. It's like somebody arguing that the winner of the 3pt contest is bigger than the winner of the Allstar game MVP.

[Doctor MJ]

The difference between the elite sprinters and the elite swimmers is that the only time you hear of swimmers is during the Olympics. Sprinters can actually make headlines during non-Olympic years for great performances.

If you could say where you're from that would be cool. In the US, breaking the 100m record gets you a mention at any time, but its still a very small mention. During non-Olympic times, I doubt track would be in the top 10 sports in terms of coverage here.

And going back to swimming, no its not in the top 10 either. Americans really don't spend their non-Olympic time thinking about any sport thought of primarily as an Olympic sport.

[The Duke]

Phelphs is not the Worlds Fastest Swimmer.

The Crown for that status had long time been the winner of the 100m Freestyle (up till 1988, when the 50m Freestyle became an Olympic Sport) ... but the 100m Freestyle still has the most history associated with it.

FYI: Phelphs did not compete in either of this events, and will not medal in them if he did

[JWizmentality]

Bolt a bigger star than Phelps? Joke?

In the global aspect yes. Just like soccer is bigger than football.

I'd be really curious to hear more about where you are, and how you're getting this perspective that swimming is an American thing. I mean, I see medal winner from countries all over the globe, and I hear hype for Phelps from sources all over the globe. I agree with you that track is bigger than swimming, but the analogy of swimming to American football seems completely without basis.

It's not just an American thing, I'm just saying that overall track is bigger than swimming. There's no way in hell you're going to challenge me about soccer are you???

[Doctor MJ]

Agree with you there, can't take nothing away from Phelps. In the grand scheme of things, he has accomplished more. However, Bolt will be remembered and revered far more than Phelps. How many people knew who the hell Mark Spitz was before Phelps put the limelight back on him? Yet everybody knows who Michael Johnson, Donovan Bailey, Carl Lewis etc are. Swimming just isn't as big as track. It's like somebody arguing that the winner of the 3pt contest is bigger than the winner of the Allstar game MVP.

Was with you there until you quoted the specific names. While you're right that track athletes generally are bigger than swimmer, how many people do you think could tell you who won the 100m in the Olympics where Spitz won his 7 golds?

In other words, nobody's going to remember Bailey a quarter century, so let's not get carried away.

(Bain on the other hand, should be remembered for a very long time, but where he actually is well be dependent not on his work today, but his work in the tomorrows to come)

[Doctor MJ]

It's not just an American thing, I'm just saying that overall track is bigger than swimming. There's no way in hell you're going to challenge me about soccer are you???

No, in fact my point is the opposite. For you to try to attach a relatively minor sport like track to the 800 lb gorilla that is soccer is what I'm saying is unfair.

[Doctor MJ]

To put it in perspective, imagine if this was Phelps' first Olympics, if the butterfly was relatively knew to him, and he was leisurely coasting in on the last 10 meters of his races and still getting world records.

Now this I can agree with, except to add in what we all know: That the 100m is much more important than any specific swimming event.

[JWizmentality]

It's not just an American thing, I'm just saying that overall track is bigger than swimming. There's no way in hell you're going to challenge me about soccer are you???

No, in fact my point is the opposite. For you to try to attach a relatively minor sport like track to the 800 lb gorilla that is soccer is what I'm saying is unfair.

Touche.

By the way, in case you haven't already deduced it...*rips off shirt to reveal Jamaican body paint*

JA 1 USA 0

Booyah!!!

[The Duke]

Heres a WOW Factor:

This was only Bolt's 6th Major Race at the 100m ever

[GQStylin]

When you put it like that, I wonder if you've been watching Phelps. Yeah he's had some close races, but he's had some where he utterly slaughters the field, and honestly doesn't look like he breaks a sweat. When he's beating the field by 2 seconds in a 200m race, that's absolutely comparable to what Bain won by, and he's doing it while pacing him for a marathon and not focusing on perfecting any particular race.

I really don't want to rain on Bain's parade, as I'm very excited about him, but I find it remarkable how matter-of-fact Phelps accomplishments are being portrayed.

I've watched every finals that Phelps has raced in and while he has beaten the competition decisivly in a few races, in every finals race he's had to put 100% effort into doing so. What made me go WOW about Bolt is that in the single most important and famous event in the olympics, he was able to go only about 80% or so and still break a world record and win like it was nothing.

There have been many people that have won multiple medals in the pool, just not as many as Phelps. There is NO ONE that's ever done what Bolt did in the 100m where they put it on cruise control at 80m in the finals going for gold. That to me is what makes what Bolt did more impressive. And as someone mention above, I think that while Phelps will be well remembered, the Beijing Olympics has now been defined by Usain Bolt jogging to a 100m world record. Much like when people talk about the Atlanta games way back when, 90% of the time its referring to Donovan Bailey and his 9.84.

I'm looking forward to see what Bolt can do in the 200m and the relay. If he's just as dominate in those two events, then there's absolutely no question that I think that what he's done is more impressive than Phelps, 8 gold or not.

[The Duke]

There is light whipers that Bolt might aid his countrymen in the 4x400 meters also.

100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m??

[Doctor MJ]

Touche.

By the way, in case you haven't already deduced it...*rips off shirt to reveal Jamaican body paint*

JA 1 USA 0

Booyah!!!

Congrats! I'll dedicate my next meal of jerk chicken and ginger beer to the Thunder Bolt!

[Rasho Brezec]

Bolt...but yeah I'm biased. Frankly though, Bolt is the bigger star. Nobody gives a **** about Phelps or swimming outside the US. For the US to be the only country that never braodcasted the 100m final live is a travesty. I've been force fed swimming, swimming, and gym rats for the past week. The worst coverage of the Olympics I've ever seen.

That's just nonsense. Phelps is the biggest story in the olympics right now over here as well. Swimming may not be as popular as track and field internationally, but it's not that far behind.

Yeah, I'd be curious to see how others view the Olympics sports. When I think of them I think:

1. Track & Field
2. Gymnastics
3. Swimming
4. ???

What do y'all think of?

Not realy. More leik this:

1. Track & Field
2. Swimming
3. Basktebal

[Doctor MJ]

When you put it like that, I wonder if you've been watching Phelps. Yeah he's had some close races, but he's had some where he utterly slaughters the field, and honestly doesn't look like he breaks a sweat. When he's beating the field by 2 seconds in a 200m race, that's absolutely comparable to what Bain won by, and he's doing it while pacing him for a marathon and not focusing on perfecting any particular race.

I really don't want to rain on Bain's parade, as I'm very excited about him, but I find it remarkable how matter-of-fact Phelps accomplishments are being portrayed.

I've watched every finals that Phelps has raced in and while he has beaten the competition decisivly in a few races, in every finals race he's had to put 100% effort into doing so. What made me go WOW about Bolt is that in the single most important and famous event in the olympics, he was able to go only about 80% or so and still break a world record and win like it was nothing.

There have been many people that have won multiple medals in the pool, just not as many as Phelps. There is NO ONE that's ever done what Bolt did in the 100m where they put it on cruise control at 80m in the finals going for gold. That to me is what makes what Bolt did more impressive. And as someone mention above, I think that while Phelps will be well remembered, the Beijing Olympics has now been defined by Usain Bolt jogging to a 100m world record. Much like when people talk about the Atlanta games way back when, 90% of the time its referring to Donovan Bailey and his 9.84.

I'm looking forward to see what Bolt can do in the 200m and the relay. If he's just as dominate in those two events, then there's absolutely no question that I think that what he's done is more impressive than Phelps, 8 gold or not.

Well first off, am I going crazy with my Bailey amnesia? I remember the Atlanta games to be all about Michael Johnson (whose shattering of the 200 was on a scale neither Phelps or Bolt have touched thus far). Bailey was just the guy who happened to win the 100m, somebody has to do it. Johnson was an athlete for the ages. Am I wrong?

Beyond that though, your arguments for Bain don't seem unreasonable. He is an extraordinary champion by any standards. The thing I just keep thinking back to is Carl Lewis. I really don't see any way Bain's performance in these games matches what Lewis did in '84, and when people are debating about Phelps' accomplishments, they do so with Lewis firmly in mind.

[JWizmentality]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo6pHs0-3bQ

My sentiments exactly. Phelp's who??

[The Duke]

Great Reaction.... By Johnson

"When does anyone shut it down in the Olympic Finals... no one can compete with him.... Michael Phelphs? Michael Who? at this point... its all about Bolt and deservingly so"

[shawngoat23]

Bolt, of course, and this is coming from an American. The 100 m race in the crown jewel of all Olympic events.

If track events were similar to swimming (i.e. more opportunities for gold by flailing your arms in different directions), Bolt would dominate the medal count as well. It's not fair to compare total medal just because there are so many different similar events in swimming.

[shawngoat23]

The Mens 100m is the crown jewel of the Olympics.

Wow, we used the same exact phrase! =)

[GQStylin]

Well first off, am I going crazy with my Bailey amnesia? I remember the Atlanta games to be all about Michael Johnson (whose shattering of the 200 was on a scale neither Phelps or Bolt have touched thus far). Bailey was just the guy who happened to win the 100m, somebody has to do it. Johnson was an athlete for the ages. Am I wrong?

Beyond that though, your arguments for Bain don't seem unreasonable. He is an extraordinary champion by any standards. The thing I just keep thinking back to is Carl Lewis. I really don't see any way Bain's performance in these games matches what Lewis did in '84, and when people are debating about Phelps' accomplishments, they do so with Lewis firmly in mind.

Yes Michael Johnson was great too, I'll give you that, but being a Canadian I guess Bailey is the first thing that pops into my mind when I think of the Atlanta games. And I'm betting that most people who think back to each past olympics also thinks to who won the 100m first above any other event.

As for Bolt, I don't think he's the greatest of all time yet or anything. But most definitely what he did in the 100m is one of the most impressive, if not the most impressive feats I've ever seen in any olympics. Again Phelps winning 8 gold is great feat as well, but the fashion that Bolt won the 100m is what makes it so mind blowing. By shutting it down at 80m and cruising to a world record while showboating, I don't think anyone would believe it if they didn't see it with their own eyes. That's what makes Bolt's feat so insanely astounding and much more impressive than Phelp's 8 golds. What Phelps has done, Mark Spitz and a few other swimmers in the past have already accomplished, just not on the scale of 8 gold. And again, what Bolt has done, NO ONE in any previous olympics has ever even had the balls to try.

Also everyone keeps talking about how easy it is to break world records in the pool, which is true. But look at the 100m. Since Bailey's 9.84, the 100m record has only been lowered 3 times since 1996 before Bolt did it today. Also Bailey's olympic record has held for 12 years until today, while every swimming record has been shattered time and again in that same timespan.

So in terms of world records, Bolt breaking the world record on cruise control in the 100m is much more impressive than anyone breaking a world record in the pool, at least to me.

Also consider this:

1) Bolt is only 21
2) His starts on the 100m aren't the best
3) He only started running the 100m in the past year or so
4) He wins olympic gold destroying the field

And here's a new one. Bolt's left shoes' laces were coming undone at the end of the race and that was no problem either.