A Golden achievement
Brian Cullen 3:55pm
Whether you’re a fan of the Olympics or not it’s hard to deny the magnitude of American swimmer Michael Phelps’s achievement – winning a record 11 gold medals during his career (and still going for three more at the current games).
To put that in perspective, there are 163 countries which, individually, have won fewer golds over the modern Olympics’ entire 110 year history. There are some surprisingly big names on this list. None of India, Ireland, Jamaica or Mexico has managed to accumulate as many golds over the years as Phelps has in Athens and Beijing.
If Phelps was a country, he’d be fifth in the Beijing medal table having won five golds — comfortably ahead of Team GB which has only won two so far.
Let’s salute a great Olympian
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Familiar Clown
August 13th, 2008 4:25pm Report this commentIf Phelps was a country...even the Chinese couldn't build a pool big enough for him - Lol.
Yes, he's good, but he's only human, and some of the other swimmers are only a split second behind him. But if gold is your thing, bring him on!
Paulinus
August 13th, 2008 5:30pm Report this commentJust goes to show there are too many swimming events. Steve Redgrave got 5 golds in FIVE successive Olympic Games. He is without doubt the better athelete than this gadfly.
Mel Ford
August 13th, 2008 5:31pm Report this commentI find myself completely unmoved by his achievements. I suspect he's one of those unfortunate people who could jump up and down shouting "Look at me" till the cows come home and still no-one would take any notice. It might be a personality/nationality thing.
JH
August 13th, 2008 5:45pm Report this commentUnlike other sports, swimming seems to be much more structured to enable multiple wins by individuals. Remember Ian Thorpe? Mark Spitz? Don Schollander? I dont decry he achievement but if a sport allows so many invents with competitors entering so many then its inevitable that achievements such as Phelps' will happen. Would that number of medals be conceivable in any other sport?
Fergus Pickering
August 13th, 2008 6:50pm Report this commentHow underwhelmed we Brits are. I think it's good that we are like that and I hope we wouldn't do that stuff the Chinese did with the singing children, though after the man Blair, who can say? Lets hope for a good helping of grumpy Brits milling around during the London Olympics. Show the world what a FREE COUNTRY is like.
anthony a
August 13th, 2008 11:25pm Report this commentYes, a great achievement to win 11 gold medals - no doubt about that.
We should remember though that it's all just a game.
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