Good Blog Concerning Michael Phelps

[Peter Parka]

:clap:clap:clap

Tanni vs Phelps?

• Posted by Vaughan
• 13 Aug 08, 9:51 AM

I've been interested - but also rather irritated - by the coverage of US swimmer Michael Phelps' achievements at the Beijing Olympics this week. For those of you who don't know, he's just broken the record for winning Olympic gold medals by winning his 10th and 11th early this morning (Wednesday). By all accounts, he's going to rack up some more too - and the next record he's aiming for is the most gold medals won during one Olympic Games.
It's impressive stuff, and the news coverage keeps telling us that he's surpassed the nine golds previously won by names such as Paavo Nurmi, Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz and Larysa Latynina, making Phelps the greatest Olympian ever. Even Sir Steve Redgrave got a mention in some reports, despite the fact that he won a comparatively paltry five Olympic golds.
Hmm. But isn't there a name missing? What about Tanni Grey-Thompson?
Tanni won 11 Paralympic golds during her illustrious career, yet her name doesn't seem to have figured in these comparisons at all. Is this where the Paralympics stops being part of 'the Olympic movement', and becomes that 'other' Games that takes place after the main event, and is for (whisper it) disabled people?
So I'd like to offer Ouch's congratulations to Michael Phelps - on equalling Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson's tally of golds. Just for the record, you understand.

 

[PinkZebra]

I had never heard of Tanni Grey-Thompson before. I'm just happy that Mark Spitz is finally getting some air time! He held the record for 30 some years, right?

It is cool to see history unfold with Phelps unbelieveable athletic abilities.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Wel, the Paralympics are completly different games then the regular olypimycs that's like trying to compare competitors in soccer and basketball, completly different people and games. When you here someone reporting about recodrs on the olympics you expect to here names and records from the olympics not paralympics. And if you heard a reporter talking about Paralympics you shouldn't expect to here anyone talking about Phelps because they are different games.

Anyways what phelps did will probably stand along in Olympian history--forever. I'm just glad I got to watch it all unfold on the tv lol

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Anyways didn't she get her eleven through out different events? Phelps is amazing because he did it all--and correct me if I'm mistaken but doesn't Phelps have 16 medals over all? So even if they were comparable wouldn't Phelps still have made a greater feet?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Ya, I think petey here was a wee bit confused, maybe he thought Tanni got 11 in one event or that Phelps just had 8 over all...

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Well, I think what petey was referring to was Tanni winning more than 9 gold (which had previously been the record until Phelps won 10 total), but the attention on Phelps is much more for his 8 events and 8 possible golds then on his total golds. He also won 6 golds in 2004 (in addition to a silver and bronze). Just competing in 8 events let alone 8 golds in one Olympics and 6 golds in another is unbelievable simply because to qualify for all of those he had to swim tired while other athletes were fresh.

And let's not forget he will swim in 2012 and given his tenacity and work ethic, he has a good chance at 20 golds and over 20 total Olympic medals.

It really is unbelievable.

That would be so awesome!

 

[Peter Parka]

No, I was in no way confused. If you see the date of this blog, it was written when Phelps equalised Tanni's record. I think it's unfair to say you cant compare the two either. The Olympics are made up of many widely different sports so by your reasoning, Phelps may have got it because he was competing in an easier sport than other major record holders and therefore cant be called the greatest Olympian ever. I would also say it's harder to achieve the record over many Olympic games where you would have to maintain how good you are for years.
Anyway, I think you're missing the point. The point of this wasn't to belittle Phelp's achievment, it was to draw attention to a great Olympian whose record was strangely absent when the comparisons were being made to Phelps.