Who is considered the "BEST" athlete of an Olympics? Phelps, Bolt, or someone else?

Question

I see everyone debating...Phelps won 8 golds so he's the best athlete. (Impressive). Usain Bolt is the best athlete because he won the "fastest man on earth" title and he coasted to the finish. (Impressive indeed). But when you think about it, Phelps won 8 golds because his sport allowed 8 different ways to win a gold medal. Running, has multiple events, but a 100 m specialist can only run realistically, the 100 m, 200 m, 4 x 100 m, etc. But you're not going to see the 100 m champion run the hurdles, and the 400, and the 4 x 400. Sooo...it comes back to my first question. Who is the best athlete? Personally, I think the decathlon would be the sport which identifies the "Best athlete" of the Olympics. What do you all think?

Answer 1

Your argument has holes in it.

The Decathlon winner is given the title of 'World's Greatest Athlete'.

It would be more accurate to give them the title of 'World's Greatest Track and Field Athlete'.

The winner of the 200/400 IM might be given the title of 'World's Greatest Swimmer' by the same argument.

Track and Field athletes have 26 events to chose from whereas Swimming athletes only have 16 events to chose from. Therefore the Track and Field athletes actually have more of an opportunity to win 8 gold than swimmers.

The argument that Bolt can 'only run realistically, the 100 m, 200 m, 4 x 100 m, etc' is stating that he's limited to only the sprint running events. You're not going to see the 100 m champion run the hurdles, and the 400 simply states that the 100 m champion is more 'one dimensional' than Michael Phelps is.

Michael Phelps won sprint races (100 fly, 4x100 relay), distance races (400 IM, 200 Fly), mid-distance races (200 Free, 200 Fly, 200 IM) and specialized stroke races (100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM).

Michael Phelps is also a past National champion (from the #1 swim power in the world) in the 100 (holds the American record), 400 Free, 100 Back, and 200 Back (held the World Record).

To be this dominant in a single sport with such varying events is simply remarkable and is unheard of. We will never see a swimmer/athlete such as Michael Phelps again in our lifetime.

It's unfortunate if one cannot appreciate or understand the magnitude of what this athlete did.

Thanks for the question and your opinion on this. I'm sure you'll have much deliberation both for and against your stance.

Enjoy!

Answer 2

I have had a problem with people called in Phelps the best olympic athlete ever but he is really only the most decorated athlete, and that is because his sport puts emphasis on being good in multiple strokes and the way training works, athletes practice and are prepared to race in the "sprints" and the "distance" races so they have an opportunity to compete in 8 different events. I am not try to say that Phelps is not a great athlete because with so many world records and  gold medals he is obviously great, but there are track athletes who are also great and unlike in swimming you don't see track runners going for the 100 m and the 800 m. there are also teams like misty may and kerri walsh  that are very good and go seasons undefeated. What about the all around gymnasts for both men and women, they may not be able to swim the 100 butterfly but I don't think phelps would last a day in the gymnastics gym.

simply put, athletes from different sports cannot be compared, and it is unfair to say phelps in the best olympic athlete every when he just has more opportunity and is more decorated

Edit: what about athletes like Mia Hamm who may not be so decorated but they stayed on top of their game for what was it, 4 olympic games, thats 16 years that she was able to stay on top

Answer 3

the best olympic athlete of all time was Jim Thorpe or Jesse Owens...google both names and you will see why they were better all around Olympic atletes than Phelps. They competed and won in more than just one sport.

Answer 4

The decathlon was conceived as a test for the best all-around athlete, and I think that is valid.

I would give triathlon an honorable mention, except that the current draft-legal format makes it nothing more than a 10k run with a long warmup.  (I'm a triathlete......)

As for individuals regardless of sport,  Phelps is certainly up there, along with Alexander Karelin.  

Someone like Bolt who only does a couple of really short races isn't even on my radar.  

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Edit:  I'm not much of a gymnastics fan, but now that I think about it, I have to give them some props too, especially those that compete in team, all-around, AND individual events.  That requires an awful lot of focus and discipline over several days of competition.

Answer 5

Triathlon and Marathon are pretty tough also and those are 1 day events

Answer 6

Definitely Bolt ... props to Phelps for an amazing accomplishment, but Bolt definitely is the star of the games given the nature of the events.  

While the decathlon winner may make sense as the best athlete, that sport doesn't require an athlete to be the best at any one event, but rather to be good at most, if not all of the events.  For purposes of best athlete, it should be someone who is "the best" of one or more events ... especially a premiere event (such as the 100 m sprint) and if coupled with other successes, the more reason to be considered best athlete ... in this case Bolt then Phelps!

Remember, Phelps has the advantage that swimmers "typically" come from first world countries (typically excludes most third world countries) whereas track and field involves more countries around the world.  Most third world countries don't even have swimming pools to swim in, let alone facilities to train and compete in.  Track is available to everyone, therefore, a more competitive field as compared to swimming.

Answer 7

I think you are right about how many medals each sport allows you to realistically do.  I think it all depends on preference and opinion because while I watched some of swimming and some of track, I was mostly glued to the TV only when gymnastics was on.

Answer 8

I agree with you actually. Best in class or best all around? The decathlon athletes push most borders

Answer 9

Mark Spitz - He won 7 Gold by a larger margin in fewer events. He wore no special suit, had no special pool, had a thick head of hair and a kickin mustache.

Answer 10

I AGREE!! I been saying that forever....the decathlon is a true test of an athlete..whoever wins that is the best athlete of the Olympics, hands down