Is Michael Phelps more impressive than Tiger Woods?

Question

I've seen this argument being tossed around and I thought it was kind of comical. I think what Phelps has done in the past two Olympics is simply amazing, but I think his long term impact to swimming won't even come close to what Tiger Wood's has done for golf.

Sure, for a few weeks folks may swim a few extra laps at their local gym but at the end of the day golf still rules the day. Americans (and the rest of the world for that matter) only care about swimming for one week every four years. Bravo Phelps, but don't kid yourself. You're no Tiger Woods.

Answer 1

Honestly, I like Tiger and I think over the long haul as a professional golfer once he breaks all the records... I'm sure that will be looked upon as one of the greatest careers... to be on top that long is a GREAT accomplishment.....

HOWEVER, I'm actually probably MORE impressed with Michael Phelps...... to swim SO MANY times in a short amount of time and be able to STILL be at his PEAK for EACH FINAL and win them ALL (in dominating fashion at times).....  it HAS to take a toll on you and has to be VERY physically demanding....     once I saw how much this dude had to eat in order to keep himself physically strong enough to train and race at this level....   That is something.

Answer 2

tigerwoods is a hero in golf and world of sports and phelps is an olympic hero and a national hero.

but phelps cannot be compared with tiger, Tiger is more of a life long global sports hero.

Answer 3

Phelps may has gone down in history as the greatest Olympian ever, but Tiger Woods remains the best golfer the world has ever seen. He is incomparable.

Answer 4

It's like comparing apples to oranges really. Why can't we just celebrate what each has done for his sport and for athletics in general? Why do we have to rank their accomplishments? They will both go down in history as phenomenal athletes who have raised the profile of their sports.

Answer 5

Is that a question or a statement

Answer 6

I agree 100%. His accomplishment is one I will never forget, but as athletes get bigger, stronger and quicker it will be broken one day as he broke the previous record. Tiger Woods is a once in a lifetime athlete and Michael Phelps feat doesn't compare to Woods' career.

Answer 7

It depends on how you look at it.If you consider swimming more interesting than golf,it would be highly probable that you would enjoy watching Michael Phelps tear up the pool rather than watch Tiger Woods.  

Answer 8

Since you appear to already "know" the answer to your "question," I'll just make a few comments of my own.

I don't know how to compare these two men.  Phelps impresses me MUCH more in terms of sheer athletic ability.  I'll get lots of thumbs-down for this, but I just don't see much athleticism being required in golf.  It's a very hard game, and Tiger is amazing at it.  But I can't imagine how someone could argue that golf requires the same kind of physical strength and endurance that competitive swimming requires.  Not to mention the fact that Phelps did all this in eight days.  When was the last time that Tiger had to play 17 matches in eight days?

But your answer seems to be more interested in the impact that these men have/will have on their sport's exposure to the general public.  I want to agree that Tiger probably does have the edge on that, but I'm just not sure.  Don't you think that the YMCA will probably see increases in their swimming class enrollments this year?  Don't you think there could very well be a burst in competitive swimming at the youth levels, because kids have seen Michael Phelps be amazing, and want to emulate that?  Or that high school swimming teams might be a bigger deal during the upcoming school year? It seems like the impact could very easily be a generational thing.  I would love it if this gave competitive swimming a bigger audience.  It's WAY more exciting to watch than golf...

What's with your snide "you're no Tiger Woods" comment??  I must have missed it, but when did Michael Phelps "kid himself" and tell us all that he's Tiger Woods?  Don't confuse media hype with real life.

So to answer your question: Yes, Phelps is more impressive to me.

Answer 9

I agree with you, Tiger Woods has had more of an impact in golf, he has won more championships and has tens times more money that Phelps does but I think Tiger has made a LONGER impact. Michael Phelps did more in his sport and in the entire Olympics, that no one has ever done or will likely do in the next 30 years, but what he did was in one week. But you're right, it is only 1 week every 4 years so it's really hard to decide who is more impressive.

Answer 10

His impact on swimming will be nowhere near what Woods has done for golf but he is by far the better athlete between the two.  Golf does not take a fraction of the physical strength and effort that just one swimming event does much less being good enough to come in first in every one.

Answer 11

I'm sure no one is Tiger Woods; except himself of course!  But each in their own way is pretty d**n outstanding.

Answer 12

since when did americans care about GOLF? for every golf fan in america, there are probably 20 basketball fans.

that makes kobe bryant more impressive than tiger woods. Bravo Woods, but don't kid yourself. You're no Kobe Bryant.

Answer 13

Phelps has a 100% percentage and Tiger?

Answer 14

I don't know, I'd say he's at least on par with Tiger Woods. Where I live, people swim a hundred times more than they golf, but then again I live in a desert.