Is it fair that an athlete does say ten hours of heats/races to get a gold and M. Phelps gets nine?

Question

golds for about fifteen minutes equivalent. For example sailing requires about five races each about three hours to determine one gold. ( the heats in smimming are about two minutes in comparison.)

Answer 1

Yea. =)

Answer 2

Yes it is fair. Swimming requires big bursts of energy in short amount sof time, while sailing might require less energy over an extended period. Every sport has its thing.

Answer 3

It's just the nature of the sport.  That's why there are different medals for different sports.  You can't award a gold medal to a runner who ran a 100m in 10 seconds, and the silver to a swimmer who swam the 100m in 12 seconds.

So yes, it's fair.  Every olympian works just as hard as the next during training and competitions...

Answer 4

yes i agree and also that he had a lot more events to get gold meaning a lot more chances and opportunities

Answer 5

I am sure they all work hard, after all its the pinnacle of ones life to gain a place, let alone win an Olympic medal. However i am not sure how you compare say the rowing which looks absolutely back breaking.  Steve Redgrave 5 gold medals over 5 Olympics, that 20 years out of your life, which when you think about it is phenomenal dedication.  

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

They are doing different things and racing against like minded people so of course it is fair.  Maybe the gold that has taken ages to get will mean more to the recipient though

Answer 8

Every athlete chooses their discipline according to what the excel at, not how quickly they can get a gold medal!

Answer 9

How is that not fair?

They're two very different sports.

Swimming is just more heated and competitive nowadays.

Sailing is more about strength and teamwork.

Swimming is more about technique and endurance.

It's very difficult to swim for 3 hours alone, yet it's not that difficult when you're sailing with a group.

Phelps deserves every last one of those medals. He has worked just as hard if not harder than those who sail.

And for the record, he got 8 medals, not 9.

Answer 10

Ok well you are talking about two different sports. Both do have heats, and both are determined by who finishes first. He won those fair and square, and not all of them were single medals. Remember he was part of two relay teams.

Answer 11

It's an entirely different kind of race. You can't judge them solely on length. Michael Phelps is using only his body and that is more physically taxing and exhausting then you know. And he has to swim more than one race for each medal he wins. He has to swim the quarterfinals, then the semifinals, and then the finals to medal. Plus, he swam 17 races in 9 days. That is a herculean feat in and of itself, even if he hadn't medaled. Sailing isn't anywhere near that kind of physical exertion. It's all about the kind of sport you're doing. Personally, I think Michael Phelps' race is harder.