Quote Originally Posted by TheKiltedWonder View Post
I've noticed this is a common argument, but I would argue that Phelps is great at more than one thing. How?

If I were evaluating a track athlete who ran 400 meters and also ran hurdles, I wouldn't say that those two events are the same thing. Yes, they both involve running from Point A to Point B, but the events require different technique.

Phelps doesn't just swim butterfly or just swim freestyle. He was the only person to appear in both the 200 fly and 200 free finals and he won both in WR time. In addition, two of his gold medals came in the IM which requires competence in four strokes. He may not have learned to throw the javelin, but you can rest assured that he was working hard on improving his breast stroke (something he wouldn't otherwise do).

He won a 100 m event and a 400 m event. He's definitely an all-around swimmer and I think it's unfair to lump all the strokes and lengths together.

So is he the greatest? I don't think it's even possible to answer that question. Thorpe and Phelps are from different eras. Thorpe competed in the Fifth Olympiad and there were only twenty some countries participating (all from North America, Europe and Australia [oh, ok and South Africa too]). Today's games have 7 or 8 times the number of participating countries and the level of competition is that much higher. Apples and Oranges.

Was Thorpe more versatile? Of course! But Phelps is no one trick pony...
I'm not saying that Phelps isn't a very good athlete. With his physique, he would probably do well in other things such as field events. He just hasn't done any yet. Maybe he should try participating in a triathlon or something similar. There are other athletes around today who could be considered in the same light. Look at Tiger Woods for instance. He is not yet the greatest golfer ever, but if he can come back from his knee problems he might be one day. His conditioning program has completely changed that game in the last 10 years. Is he a great athlete, no, he is a great golfer. Could he be? Maybe, but we will never know unless he decides to compete in other things.