The Blue Board

I do think Phelps is better, but a case can be made for Carl Lewis imo.

Even though Phelps has more golds and more medals, Lewis got Gold in EVERY SINGLE event he raced in except for one... I think.

This argument is a joke IMHO. They got more chances yes, but it's also more events they have to win to earn those medals.

I'm with you there. I think Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever because of his performances over three Olympics, not because of the number of medals he's won.

Im not dissing Phelps' gold medal count, but just look at the top 10 in gold medals list. 4 of them are swimmers, a skier and a couple of them gymnastics.

But, Lewis is right up there at #5. He dominated for 4 straight olympics.

Remember, that back before like 1980, that American Olympians were true amateurs. So take someone like Mark Spitz....he could have easily swum in the 1976 Olympics, and most certainly have won more medals, except he could not afford to do so. He had to quit swimming to earn a living, unlike Phelps who is a millionaire many times over because of his sport.

Its not to downgrade what Phelps has done...its just to point out that the rules are much different now, and support someone like Phelps coming back, rather than like the old days, where multi time Olympians were a rarity.

Great post.

Of course Phelps has had five individual events in which he has competed and won golds in. 100 and 200 butterfly, 100 free and 100 and 200 individual medley.

Lewis had three.....the 100, 200 and long jump.

Lewis was also a member of the 1980 Olympic team, where he would have surely won a medal in the 4X100 team he qualified for, and he might have gotten something in the long jump as well, except of course, the US boycotted those games.

22 medals out of 24 races
18 golds out of 24 races
Yes he has more races, but that means he has more preliminaries, more semi-finals, more finals. Let's say Phelps has 8 different races that's a total of 24 swims in 5 days. Lewis has 2 different races, that's a total of 6 races in 5 days

Spitz was never a professional, so he could not afford to compete in four different Olympic games. Phelps is paid to swim, so he can compete for as long as he is able.

Seeing how you've posted this a couple times now, its evident you have no clue about Lewis. The man trained for 3 events.

No one in the history of the Olympics won back to back golds in both the 100m and long jump. I dont think no one even won back to back golds in the long jump alone, until Lewis.

Carl Lewis went 10 yrs straight without losing a single long jump event. Thats 65 total events, all 1st place finishes.

Carl Lewis' achievements are just as amazing as Phelps' medal count. When Phelps has 65 events without a defeat, feel free to say it isnt close then.