They say he won cuz he did short choppy strokes, propelling himself, instead of the other guy, who glided. Well, he's lucky.

Its not that he needs to do much much more. Its just that swimming isn't a commercialized American sport. There's hardly any coverage of any swim meets, and thus there's not alot of interest in the sport. Honestly, the only time I watch swimming is during the Olympics. So yea, everyone knows that Phelps is the best at swimming, but you know how short sighted the American public is. "Who cares about swimming?"

Now, If Phelps were to get gold in like 8/10 events for the next 3-4 summer Olympics, then there might become a stronger interest in swimming, and he might become an American idol. But the fact of the matter is, once the Olympics are over, no body will be talking about Phelps accolades.(Unless of course you are a swimmer) Football season is starting!!!

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"“That's the difference between me and the rest of the world!
Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!” "

Don't really care for Olympic events.... but yeah, I watched the news and what Phelps did was almost Godlike.... His performance will probably go down as one of the best of all time.... I don't think even Phelps himself will be able to repeat this come next Olympics, but he'll definitely continue breaking his own records.

On a side note, notice all the records falling this Olympics.... it's almost unreal.... wonder if it has anything to do with geographical position?... cosz I don't think advances in sports-science alone could do this.

Last edited by gan17 at 6:57 am, Aug 16 2008

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~Point & Squirt~

I don't values things like fame, money, idols. I value something practical. Vaccine, penicillin, X-ray.

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Life, what would it be without so much wrongs and rights?


Star Trek XI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZiR-NETDr0

First of all, I don't think that he cares how much fame or glory he gets. From what I've seen, he's fighting against himself mostly, and doesn't seem like one to throw a tantrum like that Swiss boxer.

I didn't think that he won, but since computers are timing everything, what can you do? He touched the wall first. Unless you can prove that the computers are rigged, then you can't protest.

you know Calliber is right, swimming isn't that big of a deal here in U.S.

Most of the people in my school doesn't watch more than the opening, closing and the end result of the Olympics. Football, Baseball, those they are passionate about.

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Life, what would it be without so much wrongs and rights?


Star Trek XI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZiR-NETDr0

Somebody said: "He could become a nobody but he'll still have more money in his bank account then all of us on this website".

I say: "True, but then again swimming competitions don't pay that well & olympic events don't pay well at all. What is a shame since it seems to stop a minority of players from competing since they have better (paying) alternatives. At least that's what I've been told ^^ But then again that probably applies only to certain sports only...



Well I've been thinking about that too. Here's some of the arguments I've gathered (& remember atm) that might help explain this.

1) Records are meant to be broken (Yes, lamest argument of 'em all)

2) Swimming: Probably the most fine-tuned swimming pool ever. Appearantly they've made the pool much more wide so that the pool itself looks much shorter (even though the lenght hasn't been changed.) There are also extra lanes at the side, so that no athlete has to swim close to the edge. The stadium is extra large as well whitch, again, makes the pool appear to be much smaller than it is.
All these factors lead to a better mindset & motivation of the competitors.
Also a scientific factor; appearantly they've done some calculations with pool width-length to know what would be the best depth. This depth (3 meters) should cause a minimal of water turbulence (or whatever it is that could slow swimmers down).

3) Swimming: As usual; new more areadynamic suits

4) China athletes: Well their awesome amount of gold medals (athletics are comming up next so they might lose some ground to America on that) is probably also influenced by the following 2 things:
- It's all happening in China so all chinese athletes have the most chance on preparations in optimal conditions & good support from the crowd (right? )
- Thé games are finally in china! So they all must've trained like hell for this to not mess this chance up (especialy with the strict training regime) !

5) Speculative: They didn't just cleanse the air above Beijing, they DRUGGED it !

6) There's a general, global improvement of the "training-knowhow" ??

7+) [ FORGOT or N/A ]

>> EDIT: about the geographical position; I can't say much about this but atleast 'gravity-wise' there have been better locations for the olympic games. Not that it has that much influence.. unless the spear-throwing world records get aproached by just a bit off

You a hypo-chondriac or somethin?


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~Point & Squirt~

dude, you saw the news? A lot of other swimmers are accusing Phelps of taking medications to help him win the race? Jealousy is a scary thing!!!




it's spelled hypochondriac. and these are the greatest inventions of the last 200 years

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Life, what would it be without so much wrongs and rights?


Star Trek XI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZiR-NETDr0

...well, like in many sports, its not the sports that pays, its the sponsors, and michael phelps is getting 5million just from nike, not including all his other sponsors.




That won't happen because the IOC is changing the order or something so its physically not possible for him, (jk, phelps is a god) and he himself does not want to put himself through the torture of 8 events. At London he'll do 4-5 max, and after winning and beating the record amount of medals total, theres not really any more reason for him to continue swimming, by my thinking.

i've read that he takes 12 000 calories a day...and that would kill a normal person in no time.



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If the sea were made of Whiskey and I was a duck
I'd swim to the bottom and never come up

IMO anyone who can participate in the Olympic games has already accomplished a feat unattainable to many. Michael Phelps has done what appeared to be impossible. Do you realize they must go through trials to even make the team? And to top it off they must go through trials to even compete in the event to win a medal. Anyone who says Phelps will become obscure is for sure incorrect. The last guy (Mark Spitz) to hold the record is still well known. Also they still talk about Jesse Owens and the German Olympics. Noone who accomplishes anything of importance are ever forgotten, just different degrees of recognition.

Last edited by mskakashi at 4:53 pm, Aug 16 2008

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It's because of the pool, it was itself designed to bring down the records, it's deeper and wider so it offers less resistance, besides the water is receiving a constant supply of air bubbles making it less dense so actually bringing down a record it's not as ahrd as it used to be

he was behind cavich for the entire race, but unleashed a phenomenal amount of energy and determination to surpasses cavich in the last meter, with his half-stroke...the commentators, the audience, even his mother, though that he would have to claim a silver for this race, but thanks for cavich's short arms & gliding, michael phelps was able to reached the end before him...the touch pad proved him to be faster than cavich by .01 sec, an amount of time that our weak senses can't even begin to comprehend....no matter how many people claim charges against the result, the computer provided evidence to his victory....

michael phelps obvious can't be compared to albert einstein or any other famous scientists/ inventors/ doctors/ etc, and he should NEVER have to be compared to them...for one thing, he's an ATHLETIC...his feats and accomplishments do not influence the world, make it a better or worse place....his feats and accomplishments are to be admired and appreciated in the world of swimming alone....it's completely RIDICULOUS for him to be in a comparison against nobel prize winners....he's an ATHLETIC, not an ACADEMIC....

it's not easy to gain incredibly flexible ankles, wide and fierce arm strokes, or the strength to go through 17 races on the olympic standards...there's not a SINGLE DOUBT of his will and endurance that led him through the path to become the most decorated (in terms of medals) olympian in history....whether people would acknowledge and be able to appreciate his greatness is up to their own preference, but i have no doubts that he would become obscure, at least the in the swimming world, in the future, even when the other olympians would break his records...the little kids who were inspired and influenced by him would continue to dream of the day when they would be swimming in their own olympics, and chasing the record line once crossed by michael phelps




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The Deviant

Yes, we know that Phelps is the best at wat he does. Too bad americans dont care about swimming.



That guy probably burns like 10,000 calories a day anyways

________________
"“That's the difference between me and the rest of the world!
Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!” "