Michael phelps and mark spitz.?

Question

I am a fan of phelps but i did research on the 1972 olympics and i found out that in 1972, they didn't have the 50m freestyle like they do now. I'm 100% sure that Spitz would've gotten that medal(i mean c'mon, he broke every world record that was available for him to break) and gotten 8 medals too.

Also, back iin the day, they had speedos and NO swimming cap like they do now.<<--haha just additional info i found.

If u don't believe me

1972:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics

now:(well actually 2004, but didn't have it...still the same as this year though.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics

Therefore, it would be a tie, not a broken record. I'm not bashing on anyone, i just sorta feel bad for spitz.

Answer 1

Yes, you are right on the 50m event.  Spitz, if I&#039;m not mistaken, had the fastest 50m splits on the field in the Olympics by a pretty large margin.  Perhaps we should not make superlative claims of athletes of different eras.  As you correctly mention, the events and technology was very different back in the 70s.  The claim of greatest Olympian as well simply doesn&#039;t make sense either.  All of the Olympic champions are great and are the best in their individual events.  For non-swimmer Olympians, there is simply no chance to win nearly so many medals unless competing in distinctly different sports, which would be truly remarkable.  That being said, both Phelps and Spitz are great champions: for their eras, each the fastest man in the pool at the 50, 100, and 200m distances.

Answer 2

Spitz wouldn&#039;t have been assured of a 50M Gold

Sprinter usually specialise in the 50 &amp; 100

Spitz won at 100 &amp; 200, the 50 may have been too short for him.

Answer 3

It&#039;s just too bad that Spitz didn&#039;t have that chance.  Phelps is fun to watch.  He swam a great leg in that relay.