By Les Tan
Michael Phelps was recently trotted out to a media scrum by Omega who were basking in his halo as his sponsor. Phelps was so impressed by his time at the Singapore Zoo that he talked of tigers and lions. Pity he didn’t mention the humans. Phelps won eight gold medals last week to overtake Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold won at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. He now has the most gold medals of any Olympic athlete.
In track and field, Usain Bolt cleaned up in the 100m and 200m sprints, and may win a third in the 4x100m relay. For the first time in living memory, folks could actually see nothing but air between the first and second runner in the sprints. It was a devastating, dominating performance from a country with only 2.8 million people. It is unfortunate that he is tainted by those who came before him (Tim Montgomery, Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin to name a few) but let’s suspend cynicism for as long as possible. Perhaps better genetics, healthy eating and island living won the day.
While you can’t argue with eight gold medals, there is something viscerally more powerful about seeing Usain Bolt run. Maybe it’s because you can’t see what’s going on under the water. Or maybe because we can appreciate running better because while we can all run, most of us can’t even execute the butterfly or the backstroke at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex without stressing the lifeguard out (“That guy swimming or drowning, hah?”).
It is quite difficult to say who is the better athlete because they engage in different sports. Sure, you can run a battery of tests on treadmills, or measure their VO2 max (maximal range of oxygen consumption). But that’s for the scientists and academics.
But on an emotional, instinctive level, who is your favourite athlete?
REDpoll
This poll was suggested by reader Akira Lim. Thanks for the suggestion, Akira.
Who is your favourite athlete?
- Michael Phelps (58%, 193 Votes)
- Usain Bolt (42%, 140 Votes)
Total Voters: 333
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Hey guys. Both athletes have their merits and moments which will go down to the record books for many years. Instead of trying to compare apples to oranges, why not be thankful that we live in an era which we are fortunate to witness 2 of possibly the best athletes in the history of sports? With regards to the arrogance that Bolt portrays, it could be a way to physch himself up, just look at the nba players. Anyway, we have to admit that the popularity of track and field has gone down over the years. Just try to recall the last icon in the sports, I could only remember Carl Lewis (maybe Lui Xiang more recently) The sports need an iconic figure for revival and we all know who is one at the moment.
I was talking to a track coach on why Bolt “purposely” slowed down during the Beijing finals and he said it was probably due to sponsorship. Imagine had he tried his best and hit a 9.58 (which we all know that it was highly possible), then probably he would only be in the limelight once. With the millions of dollars in sponsorship, many athletes, if they have a choice, would prefer to break records “progressively”. He quoted the example of pole-vaulters who are able to break the world record over 20 times, each time by 1cm.
Thats just my 2 cents worth. If they “budgetting” theory is true. I would think Bolt is likely to break his 200m record ahead of the 100m, as we could see his effort put in both races in Berlin(I thought he slowed down abit in the last 3 steps in the 200m and with lots of gas left).
Usain Bolt is absolutely without hesitation thee best. He continually astounds us with his well executed performances.
eh devil why don’t u try swimming before you say anything. the swimsuit helps abit like minus 0.01sec off. And in swimming there are so many strokes to achieve what michael phelps did is already godlike. Its like having Usain bolt win the hurdles and steeplchase considering them to be the different strokes like breaststrok and freestyle in swimming. And if u talk about other people sitting behind their coms ranting crying or weeping what are you doing? the same right. Moreover you don’t have any olympic gold medals not saying that i do so i suggest you shut up too. Both are great sportsman each in their own field
The swim suit gives Michael Phelps the edge to break 8 olympic records, and his diet.
Phelps represents USA, Bolt represents Jamaica, they both are prides to the world.
You racist Americans can go about ranting on how Bolt is arrogant, but he has every right to.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO BREAK A TRACK RECORD? YOU DONT HAVE A SWIMSUIT TO HELP YOU DO SO? THAT SWIMSUIT IS SO GODLY!
TRY BREAKING THE 100M, 200M, 4x100M AND I’LL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BE ARROGANT.
you sit behind your comps and rant and cry and weep.
do something before you speak. show me your olympic gold medals.
MICHAEL PHELPS IS WAY COOLER!
😀
think about thrashing 7WRs and 1 OR in only a span of less than 2 weeks! that is cool. and he’s so humble and has sportsmanship!
I prefer Phelps. He’s humble and he earns it. Way to go phelps! (:
Bolt is so arrogant. I watched his 100m race. He beat the wrold record and acted so proudly. The worst thing of all is he slowed down when he could beat the world record timing more than what he beated now. So arrogant. I just can’t stand him.
Big up Usian Bolt to the world all you haters take it or leave it. But is one thing i do know you all watched it,ha, ha ha., and if you want to know why we can go so fast we only eat good food no over night fast food that is killing the rest of the world. We have it, we got it, and is not our fault, who Jah (God) bless no one can harm, Jamaica is our heart.
Try telling Micheal Phelps to the Caribbean,Phelps who???? in jamaican turns teck way your self with that. Bolt to the world as a matter of fact to the universe and for all you bad mind haters worrying bout his celebration the hell with you. The man is a true YARDIE giving the world the gully creeper(the dance)felt great. With no drugs in the game Jamaica is large and in charge after years of running behind the drug mules surpise! the playing field is level.Jamaica to the world black,gold, and green the sprint capital of the world.
iTs deFiNiTeLy g0tta bE uSaiN b0LT!! hE iS beST 0f tHe beST..
U – ltimate
S – t0ic
A – dr0it
I – ntelligent
N – imble
B – rilliant
0 – ptimist
L – aid back
T – remend0us
iTs deFiNiTeLy g0tta bE uSaiN b0LT!! hE iS beST 0f tHe beST..
U – ltimate
S – t0ic
A – dr0it
We can’t hear what comes out of his mouth to know what he says of his fellow competitors, but his gestures even before the race can already show his arrogance.
I dunno…. But I think both are good…..
No need to quarrel over who is better.
Everybody says Usain Bolt is proud. But in truth, he was just merely jubilant over the fact that he got a gold medal. He said in an interview, “I’m here not to break record. I’m just here to win a gold for my country, Jamaica.” So what’s wrong with everybody saying that he is proud?
Well Michael Phelps doesn’t show off much. And by the way all three of Usain’s gold medals are world records.
Bolt is so proud, i prefer Phelps, he is humble unlike Bolt!
No way phelps man. Cavic should have won him. Controversial.
Usain Bolt on the other hand is just WOW, 3 golds in his pocket and 2 WRs broken. Thats what is nice.
Exactly ! I agreed with Melvin 😀
Michael Phelps strives to do his very best at every final, & not competing just to win medals. He respects all his fellow competitors !
Michael Phelps definitely.
The way he dominates the pool isn’t simply about the number of gold medals he won. It is the way which he goes about doing it.
1) Endurance level
Tao Li mentioned that she wasn’t able to put in her best for the finals as she was already gave her all in the heats. Imagine the number of heats that Phelps have to swim for all his events. Then going on to create new records for almost all of the events in the finals.
2) Proficiency in the pool
Be it running 100m or running 200m, it is simply running on the track. Swimming with breaststroke, free-style, butterfly and backstroke is a whole new game. And being able to win Olympics Gold Medals for all these events is absolutely impressive.
The way Bolt wins both his 100m and 200m makes his absolutely worthy of the title of “the World’s Fastest Man”.
But the greatest athlete for Beijing 2008, Michael Phelps.
I chose Michael Phelps mainly because of the level of sportsmanship. He doesn’t show gestures to taunt and mock competitors by sauntering across in line in the heats which is criticized by the IOC president.