Bryan Clay or Michael Phelps?

Question

I don't see all the hulla-ballo over Michale Phelps being the greatest athlete of all time. Has anyone looked at Bryan Clay? He is the current Decathlon champ, winning gold in 10 different sports over a period of 2days i.e (100m, Shot put, Discus, Javelin, High jump, 400 Meters, Pole Vault, 110 Meter Hurdles, Long Jump & 5000 meters). All Phelps does is swim. What do you think? (Mature minds only please)

Answer 1

Michael Phelps rocks!

Answer 2

MP broke a 36 year long record and also has more medals than any other athelete, that is why the big deal.  

Answer 3

There are two ways to look at it, one is who is the most athletic, and two, who is the most dominant in his sport.  Bryan Clay, being a decathlete, is of course more athletic than Phelps, a specialist(swimmer).  But Phelps, is more dominant in his sport than Clay.  

Problem is of course, the Decathlon is not as popular as Swimming in the US.  That is why Phelps is more popular.  

Answer 4

was very surprised and disappointed over how little media coverage there was for Bryan Clay. Obviously, it's difficult to break world records in a particular sport, and not to take away from Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt, but it DOES take more to train in so many categories: more knowledge, more muscle groups, and more equipment to get used to. Bryan broke the world record for the discus, but would you know it? The only reason I can think of for the lack of media hype is that perhaps Bryan has a quieter personality, and that doesn't make as good a story as Phelps' fingertip win, or grab the camera's attention as much as Usain Bolt's (somewhat controversial) antics and picture-says-a-thousand-words crossing of the finish line ahead of everyone else. I stumbled upon your question by researching Bryan Clay. NBC-TV showed a bit of video shot at his home, and showed that during the Olympics. That is how I found out that this World's Greatest Athlete (as decathlon winners are traditionally called) lives in my hometown of Glendora. *That's*  how quiet the press coverage has been. I really think it's a case of the media forming our impressions. Bryan Clay, you ARE great. NBC, you were remiss.