Micheal Phelps
Discussion
Is that guy a machine? He's won 4 golds, in the 4 events he's entered so far, and in 3 of those races he's broke the world record.
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/29032007/2
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/29032007/2
He'll find it difficult to beat Ian Crocker in the 100 fly to get the 8 he's going for, Crocker is the 100 fly specialist and has tended to have the Indian sign over Phelps in recent years. Also, if Phelps doesn't win the 100 fly, he's not assured a place in the medley relay team, unless they ditch Lezak and give him the freestyle leg.
His 200 free was awesome, I thought that Thorpe's record would stand for years, plus to beat his WR in the 200fly by nearly two seconds is incredible.
Scary thing is, his coach says he's not even in hard training yet and there is much more to come in Beijing.
Phelps is taking apart the world at the moment, but it's getting no press in his home country at all - all hyped up on college basketball and baseball spring training :yawn:.
His current domination is really only paralleled by that of Woods and Federer that I can think of currently in sport. His achievements in swimming are above those of Spitz and Thorpe. Spitz swam in an era where swimmers were less specialised than they are now, so for Phelps to be so far ahead in several strokes and across the distances is a greater achievement - swimming has moved on so much from the 70s that it almost defies comparison. Thorpe was (is) a great swimmer, but he was limited really to freestyle, whereas Phelps is world class in at least three of the four strokes and is by far the best all-rounder.
Nice to see Liam Tancock win the bronze in the 100 backstroke, in a bloody good time. I remember seeing him swim as a 9 year old ages ago and it's good to see him come through. I think there is a PHer who used to swim for Exeter, so must know (of) him.
His 200 free was awesome, I thought that Thorpe's record would stand for years, plus to beat his WR in the 200fly by nearly two seconds is incredible.
Scary thing is, his coach says he's not even in hard training yet and there is much more to come in Beijing.
Phelps is taking apart the world at the moment, but it's getting no press in his home country at all - all hyped up on college basketball and baseball spring training :yawn:.
His current domination is really only paralleled by that of Woods and Federer that I can think of currently in sport. His achievements in swimming are above those of Spitz and Thorpe. Spitz swam in an era where swimmers were less specialised than they are now, so for Phelps to be so far ahead in several strokes and across the distances is a greater achievement - swimming has moved on so much from the 70s that it almost defies comparison. Thorpe was (is) a great swimmer, but he was limited really to freestyle, whereas Phelps is world class in at least three of the four strokes and is by far the best all-rounder.
Nice to see Liam Tancock win the bronze in the 100 backstroke, in a bloody good time. I remember seeing him swim as a 9 year old ages ago and it's good to see him come through. I think there is a PHer who used to swim for Exeter, so must know (of) him.
staceyb said:
I've watched bits and pieces but mainly when there is nothing else on. I would agree most of the time its very boring.
Did you know that Ian Thorpe retired November last year? He must be 25 max.
Did you know that Ian Thorpe retired November last year? He must be 25 max.
He was 24 when he retired, said his heart wasn't in it anymore and wanted to concentrate on other things in life. How much of this is true I don't know, but he must have seen that Phelps was turning into some serious competition in his best events (200 free and if Phelps entered it, the 400), plus he never really topped the world in the 100 and the Aussie relay teams aren't as good as they were five years ago.
Given the level of reverence he enjoys Down Under and how much the Aussies love their winners, I'm not sure he wanted to be remembered as losing in Beijing and future World Championships. But to be fair, he's set for life down there, is extremely intelligent and can probably do great things in other spheres.
Highway Star said:
Nice to see Liam Tancock win the bronze in the 100 backstroke, in a bloody good time. I remember seeing him swim as a 9 year old ages ago and it's good to see him come through. I think there is a PHer who used to swim for Exeter, so must know (of) him.
That might be me. Liam came a long time after my time - I'm 41 now and gave up competitive swimming almost 20 years ago! I've followed him through the local rag and even as a nipper he was always fast. He has a brother who's no slouch in the pool either! I remember his achievements at the Commonwealth Games last year and spoke to a couple of directors at Exeter City (the team I've supported since I was a boy) about getting him along to a game as guest of honour. Lo and behold he had an interview in previously mentioned local rag a couple of days later saying how much he was looking forward to seeing the footy and being back home again (I believe he's at Loughborough now), thus the next match he was there hob nobbing it with the directors!
Looking forward to seeing what he can do in Beijing, and echo all you've said about Phelps (going back on topic!). I'd disagree about watching swimming being boring - each to their own I suppose. I can think of nothing more dull than watching horse racing, golf, tennis or F1 but it's whatever floats your boat.
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