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Doku · 08-13-2008, 12:59 PM

I never said that he was over-rated. Since your last post, he now has the most gold medals ever. Until the Olympics Comittee adds more events, or some other young swimmer competes multiple years, I don't think that anyone will ever beat that record. Maybe if you have someone who can swim and dive? Because of him competing in so many events, I don't think that I would rank Phelps against Carl Lewis. The most events that Carl was ever in in a single Olympics is 4.

The fact that he is competing in so many events, and has taken gold in every one is pretty amazing in and of itself, however.

I would agree that setting a world record is a big deal... When you change the equipment used, however, I think that it is less of a big deal. Let's take a world record as an example: 3/3/05, Steve Fossett set a world record for solo non-stop flight around the world in 67 hours. If someone invented a plane that could make it around the world in 3 hours, and Steve Fossett III made the trip in 6.7 hours, would the new record seem that amazing?

Some of the equipment changes for these Olympic swimming events:
Pool depth increased from 6 to 9 feet. This cuts turbulence created off the bottom, and allows for a smoother/faster swim.
Pool width increased from 8 to 10 lanes, but still have 8 swimmers. This cuts down on turbulence created from the sides.
Lane dividers specially engineered to kill waves and cut turbulence.
And the biggest controversy: the suit.
LZR Racer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shaving off 2% of the time? when 1/10th of a second can be the difference between gold medal and no medal?

And I agree with the statements about Phelps being humble. He doesn't like all the hype himself, but he is paid very well to shut up and not complain too much. Living around Baltimore, I have talked with enough people who know him personally, and he does seem like a cool guy who really deserves to be in the record books.

Bracs, you are correct.. 6 teams did not break the record. I had not realized that the record was broken in the heats at this Olympics... I was using the world record from before this Olympics started.

And back to the origional reason for the thread. :P

Smack talk rocks! I wish they would have rugby in the summer games. MUCH more interesting than soccer.

08-13-2008, 12:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Doku Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central MD Posts: 385	I never said that he was over-rated. Since your last post, he now has the most gold medals ever. Until the Olympics Comittee adds more events, or some other young swimmer competes multiple years, I don't think that anyone will ever beat that record. Maybe if you have someone who can swim and dive? Because of him competing in so many events, I don't think that I would rank Phelps against Carl Lewis. The most events that Carl was ever in in a single Olympics is 4. The fact that he is competing in so many events, and has taken gold in every one is pretty amazing in and of itself, however. I would agree that setting a world record is a big deal... When you change the equipment used, however, I think that it is less of a big deal. Let's take a world record as an example: 3/3/05, Steve Fossett set a world record for solo non-stop flight around the world in 67 hours. If someone invented a plane that could make it around the world in 3 hours, and Steve Fossett III made the trip in 6.7 hours, would the new record seem that amazing? Some of the equipment changes for these Olympic swimming events: Pool depth increased from 6 to 9 feet. This cuts turbulence created off the bottom, and allows for a smoother/faster swim. Pool width increased from 8 to 10 lanes, but still have 8 swimmers. This cuts down on turbulence created from the sides. Lane dividers specially engineered to kill waves and cut turbulence. And the biggest controversy: the suit. LZR Racer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shaving off 2% of the time? when 1/10th of a second can be the difference between gold medal and no medal? And I agree with the statements about Phelps being humble. He doesn't like all the hype himself, but he is paid very well to shut up and not complain too much. Living around Baltimore, I have talked with enough people who know him personally, and he does seem like a cool guy who really deserves to be in the record books. Bracs, you are correct.. 6 teams did not break the record. I had not realized that the record was broken in the heats at this Olympics... I was using the world record from before this Olympics started. And back to the origional reason for the thread. :P Smack talk rocks! I wish they would have rugby in the summer games. MUCH more interesting than soccer.