Why was Michael Phelps described as being the best 'olympic athlete'?

Question

Why was Michael Phelps described as being the best 'olympic athlete'?

Answer 1

How about 11 Gold medals for a start. He WILL add 3 more. 14 Gold medalist---the greatest swimmer of ALL TIMES.

Answer 2

are you under a rock

Answer 3

I don't know. They think because he has the most gold medals, that he is the best ever olympian. That's a load of c**p. He is the most decorated, but not the best all time. I think for those you have to look at atheletes who can do the events like the pentathalon and the decathalon. They have to be great at all sorts of events, not just one. Someone like Jim Thorpe.

Answer 4

He can have another 20. People will only recognize him as someone who can swim really well.

Answer 5

Because of all the medals he won!  

Answer 6

The man is a dolphin with 11 Gold medals and counting.  He has the most Golds by any Olympian in totals and if he wins all 8 this year, in one Olympic year. (Swimmer by the name of Spitzer had 7 in the 70's).Not to mention he hold numerous world records and keeps breaking them.  When he swims, it's not a matter of whether he'll win, but rather how much he'll break the world record by.

Answer 7

he has the most gold medals by any single olympic athlete-- 11 and counting. he has 3 more events in this olympics.  

Answer 8

he got the most medals

i hate elves

Answer 9

To some people, it's all about winning the Gold.  So to those people, if he wins more Gold than anyone else, then he must be "the best."

ricesoul:  Phelps doesn't have the most medals.  That record still belongs to Larissa Latynina.

BBHunter.  His name was Spitz, not Spitzer.

Answer 10

American Icon totally unbeatable competitor and with a powerful country. Had won a lot of medals and gain natural superiority. Born to swim, a one lucky person who was chosen to be a champion.

Answer 11

because yesterday (8-12-08) he surpassed the total amount of gold medals ever won by anyone in any sport in the olympics- which was 9- he now has eleven. =]. this is under debate by many ppl however, because many ppl dont believe he should b the greatest olympian ever if he "only" swims.

http://outsports.com/olympics2008/2008/0...

Answer 12

Probably because he holds the record for the most gold medals in Olympic history!!!!!!

Answer 13

This Olympics alone might qualify him for that status. As of last night it was 6 gold metals each broke world records. He has more Olympic gold metals than anyone EVER! That is a record in it's self. There are many champions in the Olympics and all are awesome athletes. His record has blown them all away! That qualifies him as the best!

Answer 14

It is just a reference to his many gold medals.  11 and counting...

But he is actually the best swimmer.  Calling him the best overall athlete is stupid.  Being the best overall athlete would require more diversity than just swimming.

For example, if some guy won 12 golds (or 1 more than Phelps) for archery would that mean he is now the greatest Olympic athlete?  Bah.

Answer 15

uh bc he's amazingly amazing!