Why do people call phelps the best ever?

Question

the pool was designed to break records, the swimming suit was designed to break records......ya phelps kicked butt...today- but it will be years before a conclusion can be reached as to how much of an impact those two factors played...today

Answer 1

Because by Olympic standards, he is. He has made history. There isn't really much of an argument.

Answer 2

A lot of people had those suits, and every Olympic swimmer obviously raced in that pool, so if they were why he broke all the records etc. why didn't everyone get the same as him or something like that? He was phenomenal compared to other swimmers this year, not just those of history.

Answer 3

Because as of right now, he is the first olympian to win 8 gold medals in one Olympic year.

Answer 4

Hard to say who is the best period.. but the swimmers definitely have an advantage over most athletes do to the number of events. Still having just won 8 gold medals and so many medals over all, including the other golds, is pretty impressive.

I will say the fact he goes to Michigan drops points for me, lame school! Lmao.. just kidding, although I really don't like the Michigan :D

Answer 5

Well in the earlier years they may not have had the special suits or special pools but, they also didn't have the same kind of competition they do now. MIcheal Phelps is really good and when he competes he competes against people who are wearing the same special suits and swimming in the same special pool.

My point being is "The Suit doesn't make the swimmer the person makes the swimmer", Yah I know that special suits and special pools can help but he's a great swimmer no matter what.

~AtA~

Answer 6

Even Mark Spitz, whose record for Gold medals in swimming Phelps broke, said that even with all those factors you mention being taken into consideration, Phelps is the greatest swimmer ever.  I'll take his word for it.

Answer 7

While the pool and the suit definately contributed to Phelps' amazing performance, keep in mind that the other countries had the same benefits. Phelps has shattered the records for the most career Olympic gold medals, 6 of them won in Athens. He has also broken the record for gold medals won in a single games. And he swam 17 races in 8 or 9 days. I would have to say that he is certainly one of the best Olympians ever, because I think we'll see even more out of him come the London games in 2012.

However, I think it's hard to call Phelps "the best athlete ever" because it's impossible to objectively rate athletes from other disciplines. Kobe Bryant could beat the tar out of him on a basketball court, but Michael Phelps definately has the edge in the pool. Carl Lewis was amazing on the track, but I can't see him winning any prizes in gymnastics.

Michael Phelps will probably be remembered as one of the best swimmers in history.  

Answer 8

Most all time gold's(14) most single olympic golds(8) and i got a secret for ya... the competition had the same suits... they were also in the same pool...

Answer 9

ummm id like to see you try and do what he did with just a swimming suit-----ya moron it wasnt the suit it wasnt the pool it was him......

why when somone does something amazing there is always some idiot that has to do this and be jelious

GO USA!!

Answer 10

NOBODY has EVER won 8 gold medals in one Olympics. It's practically impossible.  

Answer 11

I understand what you mean about the pool and the swimming suit. But if thoes two things had that BIG of an impact then many people would be doing what Phelps just did.. and they havent.

PROVING PHELPS IS THE BEST!!!!

Answer 12

Simply because he is the best, so far.

Answer 13

But he broke records.

He won the most gold.

He is the fastest.

and if he wasn't the best, wouldn't have won, or broken records.

so no one can deny that he is not the best athlete of all time.

Answer 14

It wasn't as if the pool & suit were the ones breaking records. They weren't made just for Phelps, either. Everyone who made it in th Olympics has a fair shot. Phelps is just a great swimmer who puts forth a lot of effort & time.