Phelps performace in 4x800

The split was 1:46.60. According to the TV announcers, swum 20 minutes after his gold medal 200 fly,
which was just off the WR he'd set in the semi-finals the previous day.

Considering that, as a flyer/IMer, Phelps obviously trains much less freestyle than Hackett (whom he
outswam on the relay lead-off) and Thorpe, and considering the lack of rest, I think that Phelps
made a statement that he has the clear potential to be the greatest swimmer not only of our time,
but of all time.

An interesting thing about the (2nd place to Australia) US 4 x 2 team is that its membership
included the reigning world recordholding butterflyer (Phelps) and backstroker (Peirsol).

Larry Weisenthal

Certitude is poison; curiosity is life

Larry Weisenthal <[email hidden]> wrote:
: The split was 1:46.60. According to the TV announcers, swum 20 minutes after his gold medal 200
: fly, which was just off the WR he'd set in the semi-finals the previous day.

: Considering that, as a flyer/IMer, Phelps obviously trains much less freestyle than Hackett (whom
: he outswam on the relay lead-off) and Thorpe, and considering the lack of rest, I think that
: Phelps made a statement that he has the clear potential to be the greatest swimmer not only of our
: time, but of all time.

Perhaps for some this might be so. Of course, when we are talking about something as subjective as
"greatest of all time" there is a lot of scope for differing opinions. For instance, when I think
greatest swimmer of all time, I naturally think freestyle. I no more think the greatest
fly/back/breaststroker to be the greatest *swimmer* than I do the greatest doggy paddler/walking on
the bottom of the pooler/underwater summersalter. I should reiterate that this is simply my opinion
and that when I do think of "greatest of all time" I think of swimming in terms of physical ability.
Granted, if I were to think of swimming in its sport context I might also conclude that Phelps does
have potential to be the greatest of all time but this definition has much less interest for me,
than does the "fastest in the water over a certain distance" flavour.

That said I think Thorpe with 200,400,800 and who knows.. one day maybe 100 and heck while I'm
throwing around maybes, the 1500, gets the nod.

That said, I fully concede your opinion is as equally valid (and useless) as is my own in regarding
the "greatest of all time" debate.

Matt

Hey buddies just relax...

Phelps just did a 1.56.04 in 200 m IM !!!!!

No swimmer is even one body lenght from him, he is THE ONE, at least year 2003.

My best regards to him and his coach !

Eero

<[email hidden]> kirjoitti viestissä:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Did you happen to see Phelps in the 4x200 relay yesterday? He was maybe a half body length behind
Hackett at 150m and caught him at the turn. Unbeliveable swimming, especially after a 1:54 fly
minutes earlier.

What would be great is if Phelps could go down to 1:45 or 1:44 and

challenge

Quoted message said:

Thorpe. Now THAT would be a race to see.

Oh, and he broke the 200IM WR today.

x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over 90,000
other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD

Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press is saying so:
foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another simple comparison for
2 minute races:

Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?) event: 200
IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.

The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could very well
go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no doubt, and he now has
his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".

An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a great finishing last lap, no
matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which brings him to the lead. For
Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a finishing kick which is second or
third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps,
where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn? It's a huge weapon.

x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over 90,000 other
groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD

What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press

is

Quoted message said:

saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another simple
comparison for 2 minute races:

Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?) event: 200
IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.

The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could very
well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no doubt, and he
now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".

An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a

great

Quoted message said:

finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which brings
him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a finishing kick
which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a swimmer with a better
final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn? It's a huge weapon.

x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over 90,000
other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD

David HARRISON <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Larry Weisenthal <[email hidden]> wrote:
: The split was 1:46.60. According to the TV announcers, swum 20 minutes after his gold medal 200
: fly, which was just off the WR he'd set in the semi-finals the previous day.

: Considering that, as a flyer/IMer, Phelps obviously trains much less freestyle than Hackett (whom
: he outswam on the relay lead-off) and Thorpe, and considering the lack of rest, I think that
: Phelps made a statement that he has the clear potential to be the greatest swimmer not only of
: our time, but of all time.

Perhaps for some this might be so. Of course, when we are talking about something as subjective as
"greatest of all time" there is a lot of scope for differing opinions. For instance, when I think
greatest swimmer of all time, I naturally think freestyle. I no more think the greatest
fly/back/breaststroker to be the greatest *swimmer* than I do the greatest doggy paddler/walking
on the bottom of the pooler/underwater summersalter. I should reiterate that this is simply my
opinion and that when I do think of "greatest of all time" I think of swimming in terms of
physical ability. Granted, if I were to think of swimming in its sport context I might also
conclude that Phelps does have potential to be the greatest of all time but this definition has
much less interest for me, than does the "fastest in the water over a certain distance" flavour.

Not surprising that an australian would espouse those viewpoints.

Phelps is clearly the world's best swimmer right now. It's only a question as to whether he will be
the best ever. I'd suggest he will.

Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That is now history. Phelps will
dominate swimming for the next 10 years.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press

is

Quoted message said:

saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another simple
comparison for 2 minute races:

Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?) event: 200
IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.

The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could very
well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no doubt, and he
now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".

An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a

great

Quoted message said:

finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which
brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a
finishing kick which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a swimmer
with a better final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn? It's a huge
weapon.

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other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD

Don't be irrational, Yank. I was pointing out the stupidity of the basis of the comparison. If you
can't see that then you have nothing to add to the conversation.

Phelps is the most in-form swimmer at the moment (and yet he still couldn't manage to win his best
event, the 100 fly, while Thorpe won every one of his races in his main events), but until he wins
at the Olympics he hasn't proven himself anything other than a flash in the pan.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That is now history. Phelps will
dominate swimming for the next 10 years.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press

is

Quoted message said:

saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another
simple comparison for 2 minute races:

Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?) event:
200 IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.

The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could very
well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no doubt, and he
now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".

An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a

great

Quoted message said:

finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which
brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a
finishing kick which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a
swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn?
It's a huge weapon.

x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over 90,000
other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD

Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever in
history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Don't be irrational, Yank. I was pointing out the stupidity of the basis of the comparison. If you
can't see that then you have nothing to add to the conversation.

Phelps is the most in-form swimmer at the moment (and yet he still couldn't manage to win his best
event, the 100 fly, while Thorpe won every one of his races in his main events), but until he wins
at the Olympics he hasn't proven himself anything other than a flash in the pan.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That is now history. Phelps will
dominate swimming for the next 10 years.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press
is
> saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another
> simple comparison for 2 minute races:
>
> Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?) event:
> 200 IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.
>
> The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could
> very well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no doubt,
> and he now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".
>
> An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a
great
> finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which
> brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a
> finishing kick which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a
> swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn?
> It's a huge weapon.
>
> x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over 90,000
> other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD
>

You're on the wrong newsgroup - try rec.sport.swimming.irrational.nationalist When you have
something rational to say then I'll reply. Otherwise this is the last time I'll bother with you.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever in
history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Don't be irrational, Yank. I was pointing out the stupidity of the basis of the comparison. If
you can't see that then you have nothing to add to the conversation.

Phelps is the most in-form swimmer at the moment (and yet he still couldn't manage to win his
best event, the 100 fly, while Thorpe won every one of his races in his main events), but until
he wins at the Olympics he hasn't proven himself anything other than a flash in the pan.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That is now history. Phelps will
dominate swimming for the next 10 years.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

> What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!
>
> <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
>> Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press
> is
>> saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another
>> simple comparison for 2 minute races:
>>
>> Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?)
>> event: 200 IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.
>>
>> The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could
>> very well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no
>> doubt, and he now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".
>>
>> An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a
> great
>> finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which
>> brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a
>> finishing kick which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a
>> swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn?
>> It's a huge weapon.
>>
>> x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over
>> 90,000 other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD
>>
>
>

Harold Pinter <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever in
history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

I'm Australian and I say Phelps > Thorpe. Even our australian commentators think he's the
greatest ever.

You're the one injecting your nationalist feelings in this by trying to protect Ian Thorpe. The
swimming community has recognized Ken Phelps as the world's best swimmer. You can try to deflect
Thorpe's thrashing by Phelps as Thorpe swimming out of his specialty but facts are facts. Phelps
demolished Thorpe by close to 4 seconds.

Thorpe had a good couple of years. Appreciate them. And get ready for the Phelps decade.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

You're on the wrong newsgroup - try rec.sport.swimming.irrational.nationalist When you have
something rational to say then I'll reply. Otherwise this is the last time I'll bother with you.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever
in history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Don't be irrational, Yank. I was pointing out the stupidity of the basis of the comparison. If
you can't see that then you have nothing to add to the conversation.

Phelps is the most in-form swimmer at the moment (and yet he still couldn't manage to win his
best event, the 100 fly, while Thorpe won every one of his races in his main events), but until
he wins at the Olympics he hasn't proven himself anything other than a flash in the pan.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That is now history. Phelps will
> dominate swimming for the next 10 years.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
> :"]news:[email hidden]:
>
> > What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!
> >
> > <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> >> Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press
> > is
> >> saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another
> >> simple comparison for 2 minute races:
> >>
> >> Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?)
> >> event: 200 IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe
> >> 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.
> >>
> >> The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could
> >> very well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no
> >> doubt, and he now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".
> >>
> >> An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a
> > great
> >> finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which
> >> brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a
> >> finishing kick which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a
> >> swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the
> >> turn? It's a huge weapon.
> >>
> >> x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over
> >> 90,000 other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD
> >>
> >
> >
>

Dirk, you're wasting your time with Harold - facts don't seem to mean anything to him and so he has
invented an idea that Australians don't recognise Phelps despite the clear evidence from some other
posts on this newsgroup. He does not contribute anything better than irrational name calling. So
don't feed the troll.

"Dirk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Harold Pinter <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever
in history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

I'm Australian and I say Phelps > Thorpe. Even our australian commentators think he's the
greatest ever.

(Larry Weisenthal) said:

The following must also be said:

Both Phelps (American record) and Klete Keller (sub-1:46) had great relay splits, BUT both got
great drafts off their Aussie opponents...Keller the whole way; Phelps for the first 7/8 of his
race against Grant Hackett.

Drafts? Wasn't Hackett the one complaining early in the meet about the new-style lane ropes creating
a horrible wash-back (and preventing new world records-- ha ha!) If there is such a wash, I don't
see there being much of a draft in adjacent lanes.

The wash causes the drafting effect - they're riding the next swimmer's bow wave.

"Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

(Larry Weisenthal) said:

The following must also be said:

Both Phelps (American record) and Klete Keller (sub-1:46) had great

relay

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

splits, BUT both got great drafts off their Aussie opponents...Keller

the whole

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

way; Phelps for the first 7/8 of his race against Grant Hackett.

Drafts? Wasn't Hackett the one complaining early in the meet about the

new-style

Quoted message said:

lane ropes creating a horrible wash-back (and preventing new world

records--

Quoted message said:

ha ha!) If there is such a wash, I don't see there being much of a draft

in

Quoted message said:

adjacent lanes.

Colin, the 100 fly is not Michael's best event. As a young talent his best discipline was the 200
fly, then he became equally proficient in the 400IM. Based upon his performances at worlds I'd have
to say the 200IM may be his best event at the moment. Also, of his four individual events, the 100
fly was the only one in which he did not hold the world record entering the meet. He does great
times and has improved quite a bit but it's certainly not his "best" event.

I think the Phelps needs to be allowed time before we can start making assertions. He still has to
accomplish some things before I conceed he's the best now or ever. It's disappointing that some
elect to raise the stature of one great athlete by putting down another.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Don't be irrational, Yank. I was pointing out the stupidity of the basis of the comparison. If you
can't see that then you have nothing to add to the conversation.

Phelps is the most in-form swimmer at the moment (and yet he still couldn't manage to win his best
event, the 100 fly, while Thorpe won every one of his races in his main events), but until he wins
at the Olympics he hasn't proven himself anything other than a flash in the pan.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That is now history. Phelps will
dominate swimming for the next 10 years.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another
> simple comparison for 2 minute races:
>
> Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?) event:
> 200 IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6 +3.6 sec.
>
> The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING in huge chunks and could
> very well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe is magnificent no doubt,
> and he now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as "worlds best".
>
> An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have a

great

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has a devastating kick which
> brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's that LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a
> finishing kick which is second or third-best in the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a
> swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps, where the swimmer pops up 10-15M off the turn?
> It's a huge weapon.
>
> x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over
> 90,000 other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD
>

Phelp's best event is open to debate. I was basing my opinion upon times swum in 2003 before the
World Championships (and how far ahead of everyone else his times were), but I accept the validity
of your way of doing it (world records) too. Unlike you, I am willing to say that Phelps is the best
swimmer in the world at the moment (because the results show so). But like you, I require some
longevity of performance before declaring someone the best ever.

"Coyote" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Colin, the 100 fly is not Michael's best event. As a young talent his best discipline was the 200
fly, then he became equally proficient in the 400IM. Based upon his performances at worlds I'd
have to say the 200IM may be his best event at the moment. Also, of his four individual events,
the 100 fly was the only one in which he did not hold the world record entering the meet. He does
great times and has improved quite a bit but it's certainly not his "best" event.

I think the Phelps needs to be allowed time before we can start making assertions. He still has to
accomplish some things before I conceed he's the best now or ever. It's disappointing that some
elect to raise the stature of one great athlete by putting down another.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

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Don't be irrational, Yank. I was pointing out the stupidity of the basis

of

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the comparison. If you can't see that then you have nothing to add to

the

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conversation.

Phelps is the most in-form swimmer at the moment (and yet he still

couldn't

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manage to win his best event, the 100 fly, while Thorpe won every one of

his

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races in his main events), but until he wins at the Olympics he hasn't proven himself anything
other than a flash in the pan.

"Harold Pinter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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Don't be upset, australian. Your swimmer used to be the best. That

is

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now history. Phelps will dominate swimming for the next 10 years.

"Colin Priest" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

> What an absurd comparison between the two swimmers!
>
> <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
>> Now it's more clear who the best in the world is.. even the Aussie press

is

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>> saying so: foxsports.news.com.au0,8659,6813397 23209,00.htmlOpen ↗ Here's another
>> simple comparison for 2 minute races:
>>
>> Thorpe's best event: 200 Free: 1:44.0; Phelps 1:46.6 +2.6 sec. Phelps' SECOND BEST (?)
>> event: 200 IM: 1:56.0; Thorpe 1:59.6

+3.6

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>> sec.
>>
>> The thing that's scary about Phelps is that he is STILL IMPROVING

in

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>> huge chunks and could very well go 1:42 or 1:43 in 200M Free by the time he's done. Thorpe
>> is magnificent no doubt, and he now has his work cut out for him to regain the title as
>> "worlds best".
>>
>> An intersting side note on both of these great swimmers: Both have

a

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great

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>> finishing last lap, no matter what the race is. For Thorpe, he has

a

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>> devastating kick which brings him to the lead. For Phelps, it's

that

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>> LAST TURN which gets him in the lead and a finishing kick which is second or third-best in
>> the world to Thorpe's. Has anyone seen a swimmer with a better final turn that Phelps,
>> where the swimmer

pops

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>> up 10-15M off the turn? It's a huge weapon.
>>
>> x-- 100 Proof News - 100proofnews.com100proofnews.comOpen ↗ x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over
>> 90,000 other groups x-- Access to over 800 Gigs/Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD
>>
>
>

Harold Pinter <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

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Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever in
history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer ... huh? Lets see ... he is the WR holder in middle distance
200m-400m races, the long distance 800m race, and is 3rd in the world in the 100m sprint. I count
three dimensions there ... sprinting, middle distance, and long distance.

Moving on, Thorpe is 2nd in the world in the 200 IM which, last time I checked, involved swimming
all four strokes. It is mathematically impossible to be one of the few men ever under 2 minutes in
an IM if you were "one dimensional".

I've got no issue with you calling Phelps the "world's best swimmer" but to call Thorpe one
dimensional - given the versatility he has demonstrated at this meet and throughout his career - is
just plain wrong.

Damn. there is 3 minutes I ain't getting back.

Quoted message said:

Harold Pinter <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Don't let your fear blind you, Asstralian. Phelps had the most dominat meet of any swimmer ever
in history. Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer whereas Phelps is the best swimmer in the world,
period. Thorpe had his time in the sun. Phelps just closed the door on him.

IMO, It is harder to become versatile in distance-wise (sprint/middle/distance) than in
strokes-wise. There has only been one female swimmer that achieve the feat of becoming at least top
three in the world in sprint/middle/distance, and that was Shane Gould. AFAIK, no man has done it,
that is, until Ian Thorpe (and to a limited extent, Grant Hackett).

[email hidden] (Bill) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

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Thorpe is a one dimensional swimmer ... huh? Lets see ... he is the WR holder in middle distance
200m-400m races, the long distance 800m race, and is 3rd in the world in the 100m sprint. I count
three dimensions there ... sprinting, middle distance, and long distance.

Moving on, Thorpe is 2nd in the world in the 200 IM which, last time I checked, involved swimming
all four strokes. It is mathematically impossible to be one of the few men ever under 2 minutes in
an IM if you were "one dimensional".

I've got no issue with you calling Phelps the "world's best swimmer" but to call Thorpe one
dimensional - given the versatility he has demonstrated at this meet and throughout his career -
is just plain wrong.

Damn. there is 3 minutes I ain't getting back.