109 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2012-08-04 16:18:08)

  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

With all the talk about Phelps' domination of men's swimming and his individual medal count, it brings to mind the question of who is or was the greatest olympian of all. Winter or summer games included. Our local columnist put up a list of many who probably rank ahead of Phelps due to domination over a longer span in their sport. Swimming skews the total because there are so many strokes and distances.

Here are some of his super dominant athletes over the years.
Al Oerter, discus gold in 4 successive games.
Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens,  sprints and long jump golds in successive games.
Mark Spitz, not only because he won gold in each event he entered but also set world records in each.
Nadia Comaneci who turned the gymnastics world on its ear by defining perfection.
Franz Klammer who dominated downhill skiing with reckless abandon.
Bob Mathias, who came out of nowhere to win the decathlon at 17, fresh out of high school with no professional training, then repeated in '52.
There are many more.

His personal pick is the great Czech distance runner Emil Zatopek who took gold in the 10k and silver in the 5k in '48, then came back in '52 to win the gold in both, then decided to enter the marathon which he had never run in his life, and won by 2 1/2 minutes. He set 18 world records in his career and was revered by athletes worldwide.

My personal pick is Michael Johnson, the greatest 400m runner of all time.

Who do you think rates as one of or the very best?
Rick

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website

110 Reply by Murray1903 (edited by Murray1903 2012-08-04 16:37:33)

  • From: Inverurie, Scotland
  • Registered: 2011-09-26
  • Posts: 540

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Steve Redgrave would have to be one of the greatest Olympians. Gold medals in 5 Olympics in a tough sport.

And how about Ed Moses, golds in 1976 & 1984. Would probably have been 3 in a row if it hadn't been for the boycott in 1980.

  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Ben Johnson? Marion Jones?

Seriously, lots of quality Olympians named here, tough to identify the "best" because of the variety of sports. Personally, I think anyone who summarily dismisses Phelps from the group of greatest Olympians is kidding themselves.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"

112 Reply by RickB

  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Bill S wrote:

Ben Johnson? Marion Jones?

Seriously, lots of quality Olympians named here, tough to identify the "best" because of the variety of sports. Personally, I think anyone who summarily dismisses Phelps from the group of greatest Olympians is kidding themselves.

Certainly not taking anything away from Phelps' super performance. He has set a medal total that may stand forever!

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

My vote will always go to Jesse Owens after he let his skills do the talkin' in Hitlers Aryan Showcase Games of 1936. Not to mention he was an Ohio State Buckeye!

                                                                                                    Go Buckeyes Go U-S-A!

                                                                                                    J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

114 Reply by Lee

  • Lee
  • Lee
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Minnesota
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 2,476

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

I would include Eric Heiden in any conversation of greatest Olympian and certainly greatest Olympic performance.

115 Reply by Brack

  • Brack
  • Brack
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: London, getting hotter \m/
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 6,462

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Oh man..... what a historic night for Team GB - 6 GOLDS in one day - Great Britain is buzzing right now!

Congrats to Jessica Ennis - Heptathlon - Mo Farah - 10,000m - Greg Rutherford - Long Jump

Only downer..... Team GB lost to South Korea in the mens Football .... on penalties  -  our achilles heel !!

GOOD KARMA - http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3zkw … o1_500.jpg
Avatar Credit: D.Hirst,Olympic Union Flag
Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
We Are The Champ20ns

Brack's Website

  • Registered: 2008-03-23
  • Posts: 649

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Brack wrote:

Only downer..... Team GB lost to South Korea in the mens Football .... on penalties  -  our achilles heel !!

Hi Brack,

I was at the game and I think the better team won.

No matter how far you try to push the envelope, it remains stationery
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

RickB wrote:
Bill S wrote:

Ben Johnson? Marion Jones?

Seriously, lots of quality Olympians named here, tough to identify the "best" because of the variety of sports. Personally, I think anyone who summarily dismisses Phelps from the group of greatest Olympians is kidding themselves.

Certainly not taking anything away from Phelps' super performance. He has set a medal total that may stand forever!

I was partially referring to this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/se … story.html

It's not the only time I've heard this said. I'm not saying Phelps is the greatest ever, I'm just saying that IMO, to dismiss him for consideration is ludicrous.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Bill S wrote:

I was partially referring to this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/se … story.html

It's not the only time I've heard this said. I'm not saying Phelps is the greatest ever, I'm just saying that IMO, to dismiss him for consideration is ludicrous.

that article is quoting Seb Coe as the source.... not sure I would ever take anything he said as true or worth quoting, - you do know that he was a politician? wink

Impossible to make a judgement on whose best IMO, - but what I do know is that there a lot of extremely good olympians out there.

... and to say that I have a lot of respect for the USA athlete  Galen Rupp who helped Mo Farrah to gold last night n a race with a lot of bumping, - and to see Rupp screaming out what looked like "Go Mo"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympi … -gold.html
Great picture here:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1276 … galen-rupp

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • From: Cliftonville Kent England
  • Registered: 2006-07-30
  • Posts: 2,150

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Usain Bolt .. Just Blitzed The 100m Final after a slow start in a New Olympic Record 9:63

For me personally He is The Greatest Athelete Ever and The Fastest Human Ever on This Planet,  always loved The Sprints
But agree Michael Phelps MUST be regarded as The Greatest Olympiam Ever (though is a multi event sport)
Yohan Blake will run him close in The 200m and expect Jamaica to ease to The 4 x 100m Relay Gold

............. Michael

Joe Bonamassa .......  His Greatest 3 Videos ... IMMHO   After Much Deliberation
3rd ...... Mountain Time / Rockpalast       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01xa6NMsJo
2nd ...... Sloe Gin       /  Vienna            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRASS8O8ZnE           
1st ....... Blues Deluxe / The Borderline    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnl3E_KLxYg
  • Rocket
  • Rocket
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2006-04-26
  • Posts: 10,275

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Michael wrote:

Usain Bolt .. Just Blitzed The 100m Final after a slow start in a New Olympic Record 9:63

For me personally He is The Greatest Athelete Ever and The Fastest Human Ever on This Planet,  always loved The Sprints
But agree Michael Phelps MUST be regarded as The Greatest Olympiam Ever (though is a multi event sport)
Yohan Blake will run him close in The 200m and expect Jamaica to ease to The 4 x 100m Relay Gold

............. Michael

Adjusted for age, height, length of members, dopes, price of spikes and jock straps.........
I could smoke him!  And I can beat him straight up in the 5M Dash and even the 10M Dash...he'd kill me in the 15M and above.......Until I exacted revenge on the 50km city walk!!! tongue

...I'm a crock'o'it, maaaaan,
Keep the Faith,
Rocket


...all time greatest......yeah, right. roll

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

121 Reply by Brack

  • Brack
  • Brack
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: London, getting hotter \m/
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 6,462

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Never mind Usain Bolt , he never looked like he was going to lose that 100m final. Hats off to the guy - a great race.

Congrats of the day, for me goes to , Andy Murray and Ben Ainslie, superb effort from both to win GOLD.

GOOD KARMA - http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3zkw … o1_500.jpg
Avatar Credit: D.Hirst,Olympic Union Flag
Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
We Are The Champ20ns

Brack's Website

122 Reply by The RiverCat^-^ (edited by The RiverCat^-^ 2012-08-06 03:48:36)

  • Registered: 2006-07-11
  • Posts: 1,247

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Brack wrote:

Never mind Usain Bolt , he never looked like he was going to lose that 100m final. Hats off to the guy - a great race.

Congrats of the day, for me goes to , Andy Murray and Ben Ainslie, superb effort from both to win GOLD.


That's a beautiful avatar Brack.  Congrats with hosting the Olympics smile

"Holy Toledo"  -  Bill King   "Just Win Baby" - Al Davis  "The Autumn Wind" - Steve Sabol

123 Reply by Brack

  • Brack
  • Brack
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: London, getting hotter \m/
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 6,462

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

The RiverCat^-^ wrote:
Brack wrote:

Never mind Usain Bolt , he never looked like he was going to lose that 100m final. Hats off to the guy - a great race.

Congrats of the day, for me goes to , Andy Murray and Ben Ainslie, superb effort from both to win GOLD.


That's a beautiful avatar Brack.  Congrats with hosting the Olympics smile

Thanks River Cat, took me awhile to find a good one. smile
The consensus is, the Olympics are going well, not just for us, but overall.

GOOD KARMA - http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3zkw … o1_500.jpg
Avatar Credit: D.Hirst,Olympic Union Flag
Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
We Are The Champ20ns

Brack's Website

124 Reply by Brack

  • Brack
  • Brack
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: London, getting hotter \m/
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 6,462

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Just for fun - anyone tell me who's picture this is > http://rederecord.r7.com/londres-2012/w … ctoria.jpg

GOOD KARMA - http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3zkw … o1_500.jpg
Avatar Credit: D.Hirst,Olympic Union Flag
Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
We Are The Champ20ns

Brack's Website

125 Reply by Brack (edited by Brack 2012-08-06 07:03:08)

  • Brack
  • Brack
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: London, getting hotter \m/
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 6,462

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Brack wrote:

Just for fun - anyone tell me who this athlete is ? > http://rederecord.r7.com/londres-2012/w … ctoria.jpg

GOOD KARMA - http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3zkw … o1_500.jpg
Avatar Credit: D.Hirst,Olympic Union Flag
Adele: RAH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oio8V3e3WU&ob=av2e -
We Are The Champ20ns

Brack's Website

  • From: Grapevine, Tejas
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics

Brack wrote:

Congrats of the day, for me goes to , Andy Murray and Ben Ainslie, superb effort from both to win GOLD.


Just curious...listening to sports talk radio on the way to work this morning and the conversation was about professional athletes in the Olympics.

So... Is Andy Murray's gold in Tennis bigger for England than if he had won Wimbeldon?  My sense is no, but I would like your perspective.

The U.S. is going to win gold in mens basketball with little trouble.  Is this really meaningful for these players as compared to winning the NBA championship.  I highly doubt it.

The argument on the radio was along the lines of "is winning olympic gold the absolute pinnacle of of your sports goal?" 
For many of the olympic events, I think that could easily be answered in the affirmative.  For world renouned professional sports like tennis, soccer, basketball...I kind of doubt it.