Phelps “probably not” greatest Olympian: Coe.

[Swede]

I agree with him. Laris Latynina wasn't the greatest 2 days ago,and Phelps isn't the greatest today.



American swimmer Michael Phelps is “probably not” the greatest Olympic champion of all time, despite winning a record total of 19 medals, London 2012 Games chief Sebastian Coe said on Wednesday.

Phelps eclipsed the previous record of Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s 18 medals, when the U.S. won gold in the 4×200 metres freestyle relay at the aquatic centre on Tuesday night.

Coe, a twice 1,500m Olympic champion, said: “I think you can say it is self-evident that he is the most successful. I am not sure he is the greatest.

http://www.euronews.com/sport/1604994-phelps-probably-not-greatest-olympian-coe/

[joeybee12]

1. Unrec...you can argue all you want about who the greatest is...

But this is a classless comment...just congratulate Michael and say nothing more, you asshot Coe.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. He was asked "who is the greatest" at a press conference

and this was his answer. Refusing to give an opinion would be boring and rather against the point of a press conference.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the Olympic organising committee, revived a debate held the world over when asked who he thought was the greatest Olympian ever.

"I think you can say it is self-evident that he is the most successful. I am not sure he is the greatest," Coe said of Phelps. "It is a pretty good haul, but who is the greatest? In my opinion he is probably not.
...
http://thestar.com.my/sports/olympics/story.aspx?file=/2012/8/1/olympics/2012-08-01T130155Z_2_BRE8700DQ_RTROPTT_0_UK-OLY-WRAP-DAY5&sec=Olympics&nc=1

[joeybee12]

7. Boring is diplomatic...he's on the organizing committee, you'd think he'd

have some experience in deflecting a question...maybe he does and he really does like being an asshole.

[GaYellowDawg]

11. Who's greater? He just doesn't want to admit the greatest ever is a USA athlete.

What a prick.

On edit: Intended to say Coe's a prick. Not you, joeybee.

[joeybee12]

14. Thanks...I got it...

Now that Phelps is up to 20 medals, maybe the asshat Coe will reconsider.

[Downwinder]

2. George Eyser, won six gymnastic medals with a wooden leg.

[GaYellowDawg]

12. In 1904. Back when the Olympics weren't close to fielding all the world's best athletes.

Very impressive, but it doesn't approach Phelps.

[fishwax]

3. I think the question of "greatest" olympian is rather a pointless one

He's the most decorated and is obviously among the all-time greats, though.

[hughee99]

4. Completely agree!

There's really no clear metric for "greatest", and the greatest of anything is always a matter for debate. Phelps name certainly belongs in that debate.

Depending on your sport (swimming, running, speed skating, for example), you may have more opportunities to win medals than other athletes, but you also will need to be more diverse in your training than other athletes.

[applegrove]

5. Ian Miller of Canada has been to ten Olympic games. He is an equestrian rider.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Millar

[GaYellowDawg]

9. And he's won one whole medal in a field that doesn't have nearly the athletic requirements.

Longevity doesn't mean "best" when the horse is the real athlete.

[applegrove]

13. Oh I know. I just think he deserves some kind of attention for being so good for so long.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. King Gustav said, "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world,"

to which Thorpe replied, "Thanks, King."

[GaYellowDawg]

10. I firmly disagree.

2004:
1 individual race, finishing 5th - at age 15.

2004:
5 individual races, netting 4 golds and 1 bronze. He set 3 Olympic records and 1 world record in his wins.
3 relays, netting 2 golds and one bronze.

2008:
5 individual races, netting 5 golds. He set 1 Olympic record and 4 world records in his wins.
3 relays, netting 3 golds.

2012:
So far:
3 individual races, netting 1 gold and 1 silver.
2 relays, netting 1 gold and 1 silver.

In 4 Olympics, he has medalled in 20 of 22 races thus far.
He's medalled in 14 individual races thus far:
11 golds
9 Olympic records
4 world records
1 silver
1 bronze

and he's been an integral part in relays that won 6 more golds, 1 more silver, and 1 more bronze, setting 6 more Olympic/world records in the process.

That is unequalled. There's no basis at all for not calling him the greatest Olympian ever. Not giving him that accolade is nothing but jealousy on Coe's part. Who's better than Phelps? Steve Redgrave? With less than one-third of Phelps' medal count? Daley Thompson? With 2 whole golds? Please. I'm certain you can't name a greater Olympian, nor can anyone else on this board.

And neither can Coe. He's just a limey prick who's pissed off that the greatest Olympian of all time comes from the United States.

[Swede]

18. And Laris Latynina was the greatest before him?

He's the best in his field,that's all.

[GaYellowDawg]

19. "That's all"?

He's dominated his field like no other athlete has ever dominated theirs. That's what makes him the best ever. It's not like he's won a bunch of bronze medals - he's won gold at an incredible rate.

As for Latynina, you could probably make a case for her before Phelps, although she didn't win the same percentage of gold medals.

All of this sounds like sour grapes to me. Every time someone accomplishes incredible feats, there are "skeptics" there to try to drag them back down. Phelps is the best ever. At some point in the future, someone will pass him, but it will probably won't be during our lifetimes.

[Downwinder]

15. How fleeting is Olympic fame.

No one mentioned Mark Spitz.

[joeybee12]

16. Phelps broke his records, that's why...

That said, Mark was great...swimming, like any sport is not now what it was in Mark's time. I do think it's ridiculous to say who is better, but asshat Coe should have been smart enough to deflect the question.

[DinahMoeHum]

17. Phelps: greatest Olympic swimmer? Absolutely! . . .BUT

"Greatest Olympian" invokes history, and history implies a lot more than just sports here.

When it comes to history, it's a helluva lot more than just winning medals. It's about what impact did that person have on world history and society in general. Not just sports.

By that criteria, the greatest Olympic athlete in history would have to be: Jesse Owens
(But that's just my opinion)

And as for Coe, well, he's always been a tool and a toady for big business, higher-ups, and authority.
So I say: Sod Off, Limey

[GaYellowDawg]

21. Not an argument I would have considered

But a good one, nonetheless, and something to think about.

[cpwm17]

20. Due to the nature of the sport,

swimming is almost inevitably going to be where the Olympic records for medals come from - especially by Americans, since the US has powerful teams and good relays.

So I have a hard time believing the best Olympian is necessarily a swimmer. It's comparing apples to oranges from swimming to other events.