Originally posted by shortcircuitYes, I think you are right. I change my vote.
Michael Phelps ....hands down!!! Never been done before, probably won't be done again.
Here's a breakdown of his performance during the 2008 Olympics:
Gold - 400 individual medley; 4:03.84 (WR)
Gold - 4×100 freestyle relay; 3:08.24 (WR)
Gold - 200 freestyle; 1:42.96 (WR)
Gold - 200 butterfly; 1:52.03 (WR)
Gold - 4×200 freestyle relay; 6:58.56 (WR)
Gold - 200 individual medley; 1:54.23 (WR)
Gold - 100 butterfly; 50.58 (OR)
Gold - 4×100 medley relay; 3:29.34 (WR)
Originally posted by Traveling Againand consider he had to do all this (along with all the qualifying heats) within a week's time - against opponents who were mostly focusing only on one or two races.
Yes, I think you are right. I change my vote.
Here's a breakdown of his performance during the 2008 Olympics:
Gold - 400 individual medley; 4:03.84 (WR)
Gold - 4×100 freestyle relay; 3:08.24 (WR)
Gold - 200 freestyle; 1:42.96 (WR)
Gold - 200 butterfly; 1:52.03 (WR)
Gold - 4×200 freestyle relay; 6:58.56 (WR)
Gold - 200 individual ...[text shortened]... ey; 1:54.23 (WR)
Gold - 100 butterfly; 50.58 (OR)
Gold - 4×100 medley relay; 3:29.34 (WR)
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Originally posted by Melanerpesgot stats to back that statement up?
against opponents who were mostly focusing only on one or two races.
if we're talking about performer of the decade then you have to look at tiger woods, lance armstrong, roger federer, micheal phelps. anyone else?
personally i'd have to go with lance armstrong. what he has done in the past 10 years is nothing short of incredible. backed up by a third place at last years tour de france after coming out of retirement. i don't think people understand what it actually takes to win a tour de france never mind finish it and it has won 7 of them.
Originally posted by sloppybHe didn't have relations with all those women last month. It was simply made public.
that couldnt make up what he did in the last month.
Kind of ironic isn't it. When he was doing all the stuff that got him in trouble, he was as popular as ever. When he got caught and probably hasn't misbehaved since, he is looked down upon.
Just goes to show that it really doesn't matter what you do. It only matters what people believe.
For greatest accomplishments in individual sports, I'd go with
1) Lance Armstrong
2) Tiger Woods
3) Roger Federer
4) Michael Phelps
I'd put Phelps #1 easily for performance in a single event- the 2008 Olympics. But the others had to show much more consistency over a long period of time; and so their accomplishments are more impressive.
Bolt has a few great races, but that doesn't raise him to the level of to these 4.
Originally posted by sh76good point- there is a tendency for people to only look at or remember the last few years, but we are talking here about the whole decade ie Jan 2000 to dec 2010 and u cant put phelps there- nor Bolt- both did their stuff in the later part of the decade.
For greatest accomplishments in individual sports, I'd go with
1) Lance Armstrong
2) Tiger Woods
3) Roger Federer
4) Michael Phelps
I'd put Phelps #1 easily for performance in a single event- the 2008 Olympics. But the others had to show much more consistency over a long period of time; and so their accomplishments are more impressive.
Bolt has a few great races, but that doesn't raise him to the level of to these 4.
for me its
1.federer
2.woods
3.armstrong
3 edits
Originally posted by sh76I will have to strongly disagree there. While the 2008 Olympics was the highlight of Phelps decade and most watched on TV by the general public, let's not forget he also won 6 Golds in 2004 (8 medals total) and has been dominating the International Swimming circuit since 2003 when he was 18 years old. Since 2003, he has set 37 world records.
I'd put Phelps #1 easily for performance in a single event- the 2008 Olympics. But the others had to show much more consistency over a long period of time; and so their accomplishments are more impressive.
From Wiki:
"World Swimmer of the Year Award in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and American Swimmer of the Year Award in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. He has won a total of fifty-four career medals thus far in major international competition, forty-five gold, seven silver, and two bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships."
Michael Phelps is by far the most dominant athlete in his sport this decade and that is saying a lot considering this is the decade that has seen the rise and fall/plateau of Roger Federer and Tiger Woods. I do like the Lance Armstrong vote though, and I would likely put him second to Phelps. Had he not been inactive for the latter half of the decade, I might consider him first.
1. M. Phelps
2. L. Armstrong
3. R. Federer
4. T. Woods