Why does swimming have so many medal events, isn't it unfair to other athletes?

Question

I just look at the all time gold medal list when they show that and Phelps beats Carl Lewis by a long shot, I'm not sure if that's totally fair, but they make a big deal out of it, chances are the only one who can ever break his record now is another swimmer, like he broke the other swimmers record before.. I think... Way too much emphasis is placed on swimming in my views...

Answer 1

I don't think it is 'unfair' to other athletes.  It is just the media making him out to be a 'greatest ever Olympian'.  Most people know that Swimmers have the ability to win far more medals then in any other sport.

In my opinion, it is a far bigger achievement to win the same event in 3 consecutive olympics, because that shows you have dominated your chosen area for 12 years, and it gives a fair chance to ALL sports.

Answer 2

There are lots of events in gymnastics and track and field as well.  Why people are calling him the greatest athlete is because of how he dominates every aspect of swimming.  Him winning the 200, 400, and 800 is comparable to a sprinter winning the 100, 200, and 400.  Which has never happened.  Most Olympic athletes specialize in 1 area to try and be the best in the world at that 1 thing.  The people he was going up against in the various races, typically only did that one thing, like the breast stroke.  Most of the people he competed against in the breast stroke only practice their breast stroke, they do not work on all of the other strokes, they focus on that 1 thing.  The fact that he can beat all of these people that spend all their time training for 1 event is what makes him so great.  There are plenty of events in track and field.  It is possible for an athlete to compete in the 100, 200, and 400 dash and then go for the hurdle versions of those events, and then also go for the longer distances like the 1500 or something.  No one is that talented that they can compete at an Olympic level in that many different areas.  Swimmers do not have a higher chance of winning more medals.  They are not given more opportunities than others.  No one is saying Kobe Bryant is not allowed to train for and compete in the Javelin toss, he just is not as good as the people that spend their whole lives throwing javelins.

Answer 3

I totally agree! with that. but at the same time, props to the man for going out there and achieving so much for his country.  and big ups to my country man Usain for putting out as well-SO PROUD TO BE JAMAICAN RIGHT NOW

Answer 4

If it were easy to get 8 gold medals, everyone would do it.

In track and field, if an athlete wanted to run the 100m, the 200m, 400m, relay events, the marathon, etc... he would have a chance to win 8 gold medals. If nobody does it is because it is really difficult, so what Phelps did in swimming is a huge achievement.

In gymnastics they can aspire to win medals in the team all-around, individual all-around, and the four apparatus. Why nobody has done it? Because it's not so simple.

In shooting, you can win medals in different events - different guns (rifle, air pistol), different distances and different positions. Why nobody did it? Again, it's not easy.

Basically basketball is just one more in a huge list of sports. When you think about basketball, you think about the NBA, not the Olympics. Swimming is a discipline representative of the Olympic Games, as is athletics.

Answer 5

I was thinking about this earlier, then I realized America would win ALL of them.

International teams only win because of their teamwork, not their individual skills.

Shooting? Redd would tear it up

Pass?Any of our pgs

Jumping?Lebron, h**l even Dwight

Block?Dwight

Track also has a lot of events, but that's just how it is.

Answer 6

There are 4 strokes in swimming

Should they have the 100m hop