Why do they cheapen the value of Olympic swimming medals by awarding so many medals in so many swim events?

Question

Why do they cheapen the value of Olympic swimming medals by awarding so many medals in so many swim events?

Answer 1

They have not cheapened the value of ANY Olympic swimming medals. There are many different events in swimming. They each get a medal for first, second, and third place. The swimmers have to compete in preliminary swims to continue towards the medal round (the finals). To medal in multiple swimming events is a lot of hard work! For instance, Michael Phelps will be racing over 2 miles in just a few days time. There are swimmers who finish a finals swim, and turn around within thirty minutes to swim another finals. You think it is easy to set a world record then turn around and do it again a half hour later in a different stroke, or distance???!

This is what you consider "cheapening" the value of swimming medals? Seriously...why don't you go to your local pool...swim as fast as you can for 800 meters. Then get back into the pool thirty minutes later, change the stroke, and swim as fast as you can for another 800 meters. Get back into the pool a few hours later and try to conserve enough energy so you can post a winning time later, but swim fast enough to continue in the racing for a 200 meter event...then tell me how cheap it would be for you to win three medals.