Top Individual Performances of the Decade

Originally posted by darvlay
I 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.

From Wiki: ...[text shortened]... ade, I might consider him first.

1. M. Phelps
2. L. Armstrong
3. R. Federer
4. T. Woods

Almost entirely agree except I give it as follows:
1. Phelps/Armstrong
2. Federer
3. Woods
4. Bolt

1. Eddie Izzard
2. Phelps
3. Armstrong
4. Federer
5. Woods

Bolt's 100m for me.

Originally posted by Palynka
Bolt's 100m for me.

If we are talking about a single event - a single race - a single athletic moment - then I
would agree that Bolt's 100 was by far the sporting highlight of the decade.

If we're talking about it in any broader of the sense - an accumulation of races at one
meet - a single season - or even the athlete's portfolio over the entire decade - then I
don't think Woods or Federer or Armstrong can match the absolute dominance that
Phelps had. Single meet, single Olympics, single year, or the entire decade...Phelps
wins all of those. But Bolt had the single greatest race.

Phil 'The Power' Taylor anyone?

He won 7 of the ten world championships in the noughties.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Phil 'The Power' Taylor anyone?

He won 7 of the ten world championships in the noughties.

I refuse to consider anybody this pear-shaped:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00074/phil_taylor_74941t.jpg

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Phil 'The Power' Taylor anyone?

He won 7 of the ten world championships in the noughties.

He has my second place vote.

Originally posted by darvlay
I refuse to consider anybody this pear-shaped:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00074/phil_taylor_74941t.jpg

It's just bad lighting!!

Originally posted by Traveling Again
If we are talking about a single event - a single race - a single athletic moment - then I
would agree that Bolt's 100 was by far the sporting highlight of the decade.

If we're talking about it in any broader of the sense - an accumulation of races at one
meet - a single season - or even the athlete's portfolio over the entire decade - then ...[text shortened]... , or the entire decade...Phelps
wins all of those. But Bolt had the single greatest race.

No argument there. I agree wholeheartedly.

The scary thing is I think the best is yet to come from Bolt.

Originally posted by trev33
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?

Ricky Ponting

Originally posted by Traveling Again
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)

Lucky for him he had the opportunity to enter so many similar events. Most olympians can do one event, two perhaps, occasionally three. He may be good, but I don't value his contribution to sport in any way.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Phil 'The Power' Taylor anyone?

He won 7 of the ten world championships in the noughties.

Yes.

Originally posted by darvlay
I refuse to consider anybody this pear-shaped:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00074/phil_taylor_74941t.jpg

The thread is about sporting achievement, not waist measurement.

Originally posted by darvlay
I refuse to consider anybody this pear-shaped:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00074/phil_taylor_74941t.jpg

He probably had 10 cameras pointing at him, all adding 10 pounds...