Is Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian ever?

Question

Setting aside that fact that he won all his medals in the pool (one trick pony?), what is your opinion, if not him, then who?

I have my own answer and will share it later.

Answer 1

a wouldn't say winning all the swimming events as a 'one trick pony' each race are different techniques and hes perfected them all

and i would say hes not the ultimate athlete (swimmer probably)

i think a title like that should be given to athletes in the decathlon like someone above said or some one who competes in events that completely different  

Answer 2

The greatest swimmer without a doubt greatest Olympian another matter.Bitains greatest probably daley thompson.I would say jesse owens would take some beating for what he did in his time.

Answer 3

In swimming yes there more events to consider.

Answer 4

Open to intepretation.

No one can say because all events are different.  However, eight at once is pretty impressive to me.

Answer 5

Can't remember who it was, but one American athletics guy hit the nail on the head.

If you could run all the events on the track in different styles,  running backwards and forwards and hopping, it's quite possible someone on the track would have won as many golds as Phelps by now.

The very fact that there is such a wide range of different medals achievable is the primary reason why Phelps has won so many.

Answer 6

Might be the greatest swimmer but I don't think he would be considered the greatest athlete. That title is usually reserved for the the winner of decathlon.  So I guess you should look at the greatest decathlon athlete.  

Answer 7

no

Answer 8

He's certainly the best swimmer in terms of medals won - of that there's no doubt. However, I'd say a swimmer who had a long career and won medals throughout it would also be good - someone who went to 4 (or more!) olympics and won medals start to finish (or at least AT the start and finish) is certainly a great olympian.

However, let's face it, swimming is a bit of a farce. If there was a 100m running backwards race and a 100m hopping race then I'm sure Bolt would be pretty good at those too; he just doesn't get the chance to do them because they're ridiculous. Why swimming slow(er) strokes such as breaststroke or the ridiculous butterfly stroke qualifies for greatness whereas running backwards doesn't is a bit mystifying.

Plus that's ignoring other great olympians. I'd say any decathlete is simply astonishing (I mean - 10 sports!), let alone those who win loads of medals. In addition there's all those who changed society through their win, Jesse Owens or Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

Answer 9

Impossible to answer.

We all use different standards.

Answer 10

He is in terms of medals alone.

Daley Thompson however ...

http://www.daleythompson.com/

Answer 11

Impossible to answer - all the events are different - he may be the greatest olympic swimmer of all time - but that is only swimming.

What about all the other greats - Steve Redgrave etc etc

Answer 12

In terms of medal, yes. But my vote would go to Dean Macey for his incredible guts.

Answer 13

No but Rebecca Acklington is certainly one of the greatest ever.