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swimming Swimming SWIMMING!

Buttercup

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
It seems quite fair to say Phelps has competed in an era and sport that was absolutely more competitive internationally than Ladies gymnastics of the 50's and early sixties. Actually, a comparison feels odd if not somewhat uninformed.

Without checking is it safe to assume the Russian Ladies won team medals in that era just as Phelps has team/relay medals?
So you can't be bothered to look it up but I'm the uninformed one? It's so nice to have you back, Janetfan.

Just about every news story about Phelps record-breaking medal tally referenced Larisa Latynina, thus the basis for the comparison; seeing as how it's her record that was broken.

This thread should be celebrating the accomplishments of swimmers, and I suggest we all focus on that. Phelps is certainly a great swimmer, and there are other Olympians who are/were great in their sports. The end.
 

seniorita

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 3, 2008
I doubt Henie , Grafstrom or even Button had much of a competition than Latinina in their own time but they are all time greats. Latinina still holds a bunch of records related to Olympics and gymnastics in general and medalling in AA in 3 Olympiads is a very impressive record on its own for gymnastics, none has done it again.
 

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
So you can't be bothered to look it up but I'm the uninformed one? It's so nice to have you back, Janetfan.

.

So how many team medals did she win..... :)

But that doesn't take away or add to Phelps' accomplishments.

He is the greatest swimmer of all time.

This bit about who is the greatest Olympian of all time seems strange to me.


My vote (opinion) would be for Jesse Owens...... if nothing else for the way he humilated Hitler and that wonderful inventor of the Olympic torch, Joe Goebbels.

But we all have our own opinions


Anyway, thanks for the welcome back ...............:popcorn:
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Missy certainly is a star. What a delightful, straightforward, glowing presence she is. Like you, I enjoy being introduced to the swimming team. But then, I'm liking all the teams so far, though I imagine my enjoyment won't extend to the boxers.

I haven't seen much coverage of boxing, just mentions of it. It must be an early in the day event orr something...
 

seniorita

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 3, 2008
Latinina has taken part in 3 Olympiads so the most team olympic medals she could have had is 3, which is what she has. She still holds the record of total individual medals, and we are just talking about Olympic trivia here, we dont take away anything from Phelps. It is just that on the news they talk about her just like they talked about Spitz all the time during 2008 Games.

I liked the Lithuanian girl too and I also feel for Ye Shiwen too, until sth else is proved I celebrate her amazing wins.
 

Buttercup

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Latinina has taken part in 3 Olympiads so the most team olympic medals she could have had is 3, which is what she has. She still holds the record of total individual medals, and we are just talking about Olympic trivia here, we dont take away anything from Phelps. It is just that on the news they talk about her just like they talked about Spitz all the time during 2008 Games.
Well, four, because there was a rather fun-sounding team event that was discontinued after the 1956 Olympics*. But the point stands.

* I found Hungary's OGM-winning exercise from 1956; it looks like a precursor to rhythmic gymnastics!

Spitz won with a mustache. Can't imagine any swimmer going out there with facial hair these days!
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Latinina has taken part in 3 Olympiads so the most team olympic medals she could have had is 3, which is what she has. She still holds the record of total individual medals, and we are just talking about Olympic trivia here, we dont take away anything from Phelps. It is just that on the news they talk about her just like they talked about Spitz all the time during 2008 Games.

I liked the Lithuanian girl too and I also feel for Ye Shiwen too, until sth else is proved I celebrate her amazing wins.

I liked the Lithuanian swimmer too. As someone pointed out, it's harder to stand out when you're not from a swimming powerhouse country, because team relay medals are often not possibility. For that reason I admire Kirsty Coventry (and I love her name--what lovely rhythm!) and other swimmers like Hungary's Krisztina Egerszegy, who I believe won the gold in the same event in three consecutive Olympics (one of only a few swimmers who have done so), plus two other golds.

I think it's hard to count medals without context. Certainly by the time you get into Phelps/Latynina territory, the statistics are so remarkable that it's almost pointless to try to rank these people. And there are other notable Olympic achievements that seem just as impressive, even though they don't equal Phelps or Latynina in sheer quantity. For instance, span can make for a distinctive record. Al Oerter famously won four discus golds, at four consecutive Olympics. This means that he had to stay in top shape in his event over twelve years from 1956 to 1968. Granted, a single discus throw doesn't expend the same energy as all-around swimming, day after day for a week, in heats and finals for almost every event. But it's pretty magnificent. Then there's Sir Steven Redgrave, with five gold medals in five consecutive Olympics for the grueling sport of rowing.

It's such fun trotting out all the records and examining them, and thinking of the people who set these records and earned the medals. Olympic trivia has to be the best category of sports trivia in the world.
 
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Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I have to hand it to Lochte. He nearly caught Phelps in the IM even after swiming in another final about 20 minutes earlier. He must have been exhausted by the end of the pair of races. I also have to hand it to Phelps, who managed to pull it out for this race. Two fine athletes who are incredibly impressive to watch.

And Soni, who hasn't been talked about as much with Missy Franklin getting so much notice (deservedly), seems to dart through the water. She set a world record. Good for her!
 

Bluebonnet

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Who said Phelps time has passed?! Here he comes! Another individual Olympics gold medal!!! Wow, Wow, WOW!!!!!! I'm so happy for him! And he's not done yet! And Lochte, Franklin, Soni, ... US is so strong in swimming!!!
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Yeah, amazing. I think Phelps proved this week that while other swimmers can be very good, or even great for a race or two. he is amazing across the board. The way he sped up and moved from seventh place to first in this butterfly was truly mind-boggling. I love that Lochte was in the audience for this race (not to mention Prince William and his missus) and he applauded for Phelps and sang the National Anthem hand over heart, just like Phelps up on the stand.

And now there's that little 15-year-old distance swimmer who just broke Janet Evans' record in the 800 meter race. Man, what an Olympics.
 

Mafke

Medalist
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
This is the 1956 clip.

One thing I liked (in the color section) their ribbons are little Hungarian flags! (red, white, green from top to bottom).

Eljen Magyarorszag! long live Hungary! (one of my favorite places to visit, and I'd like to live there someday too)
 

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
Back to swimming.....in his last race Phelps won his 18th Gold medal.

Mind boggling.......:hb:
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Yes, it is mind boggling, Janetfan. The guy is just that much better than everyone else. Some guys speed past him in one event or another, but his abilities are so wide-ranging that he seems to be from some exalted species that the rest of us are not members of. Everyone agrees that he trained less intensely for this Olympics than the previous one, but even so he had the strength, the focus, and the smarts to speed along and mow down the opposition. And he got better as the week went on.

I was excited for Ryan Lochte in the events, but it seems to me that although he is an excellent swimmer, Phelps is just something else entirely.
 

deedee1

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 14, 2007
I woke up at 4am again ;) to watch Women's and Men's medley relay; the final events of swimming.

Many many many congratulations to USA, Australia and Japan (these three countries shared the podium both women's and men's.)!!! :clap:

Especially for Phelps, Hansen and Kitajima, what a nicest way to end their career by winning the last medal of the Olympics with their own team mates, with whom they represented their country together, competed against, encouraged and inspired each other for such a long time. :yes:

I am a little sad the swimming events are over. Now on to Track & Field!
While everyone's eyes are on Bolt and Blake, I am rooting for Asafa Powell of Jamaica in particular! :cool:
GOoooo boys, BRING IT ON! :rock:
 
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Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I too am sad for the end of swimming, but in a few hours we'll be just as absorbed in track and field, with equal eagerness. I've started a track and field thread. Already it's very exciting: Britain has won three track and field golds.

Congratulations to USA, Australia, and Japan for the relay wins. Those were amazing races, weren't they? I was especially impressed by the women's. I think the American team was made up of the gold medalist in either three or all four of the stroke types.

Now they're showing another Equestrian competition here, which seems to be a separate course of jumping not related to the three-day eventing. A Japanese rider is on the course, Taizo Sugitani. He's having a good run--just one rail down. A Colombian had a good round as well. There is no way to get bored with the Olympics!
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
NBC to devote first hr of Sunday night (tonight's) coverage to Michael Phelps

See full article at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-08-04/NBC-Phelps/56793946/1

The gist:

"NBC plans to devote the first hour of its Sunday prime-time Olympic coverage, or at least most of it, to a single athlete: Michael Phelps.

The idea came after Phelps was in NBC's studio Saturday to talk to Bob Costas."


Per Jim Bell of NBC: " 'Phelps was relaxed and reflective. And we wondered how we could get this all in. ... The interview felt like it was crying out for expanded treatment.' "

"So NBC will replace previously scheduled action — which would have been some track and field and diving, Bell says — for one last chance for NBC to get some ratings mileage out of Phelps."


NBCSportsPR ‏@NBCSportsPR tweeted a link to the USA Today article, so presumably it is fully accurate.

ETA:

Official press release from NBC re Phelps interview: http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2...-golden-champion-sunday-august-5-at-7-p-m-et/

Excerpt:
"Phelps and Costas discuss the tapestry of Phelps’ career, including; the first time on an international stage in Sydney; the trials and tribulations with coach and mentor Bob Bowman; his world famous 200-meter Butterfly race in Beijing, where his goggles filled with water during the race; the training regimen that helped him win so many medals; how his rivalries fueled his passion and desire to win; the influence of watching Michael Jordan’s dominance and how it shaped his career as one of America’s greatest athletes ever; and Phelps’ future outside of the pool."

---

ETA: This tweet from Friday from Dan Hicks ‏@DanHicksNBC made me laugh.
Every single day we start our @NBCSports production mtg by playing U.S. swimmers video "Call Me Maybe" full blast! Gets us going!
12:13 AM - 3 Aug 12
 
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Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I have to say, when it comes to how they do in interviews, Phelps beats Lochte every time. Lochte sounds like a friendly surfer dude, and Phelps sounds like an articulate, poised thinker. I hear something interesting every time I watch an interview with Michael.
 
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