The main talk of these fantastic Olympics has been about inhuman athletes Usain Bolt – who has won three golds for Jamaica – and Michael Phelps – who has taken home an astonishing eight Gold medals and eclipsed the record of Spitz’s seven golds.
So who is the best?
Phelps
For: Eight gold medals, a remarkable achievement; shows fantastic sportsmanship; holds the record for the most ever Gold medals at one Olympics; broke seven World Records.
Against: There are so many events in swimming over track, so is eight really a true mark against Bolt?
Bolt
For: Three Gold medals in only his three events; Three World Records; first ever athlete to win the 100m and 200m in recent times at one Olympics, a great feat.
Against: Not great sportsmanship, a box Phelps ticks over him. I’m not saying he is a user, but there will always be a question mark over him be a drug user.
Who do you think has emerged out of these Games as the leading athlete?
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zaman
Guest
Mr Bolt, the most impressive athlete of the 2008 olympics, is a man of african decent, he does not celebrate with european formalities such as a handshake, instead he expresses his love and joy for the sport with hugs and dances. Mr Bolt was not only celebrating for himself but also for all africa and his african ancestry,it is 'deep rooted' in him. Rogge want him to play by european manerism, that's not right,it's the olympics, it's for peoples around the world celebrating in different ways. Ques; how does an african celebrate ?, Ans: with antics and dances. So let Mr Bolt be, he is a young lad full of energy. The world love him, the chinese people love him and could'nt get enough of him, and his homeland of Jamaica was never so popular since Bob Marley and the Wailers. So nuff respect as they say in Jamaica.
Benny R
Guest
Jameswm- Bolt didn't seem interested in shaking hands with fellow sprinters post race.
AL
Guest
From what I know, it was something to do with Bolt throwing his hands the in the air before he finished the 100M final. Rogge criticised him, and Bolt responded by saying the fans come for entertainment, so thats what he gave them. There was a small section on the Channel 9 (or 7??) news last night about how it was very harsh of the US female basketball team to brag about winning the past 4 finals. They showed a quick clip of one of the US women wearing 4 gold medals on her neck, dancing around and showing off. That is unsportsman like. Pretty typical of US basketballers.
Jameswm
Guest
Can someone enlighten me? What did Bolt do that was unsportsmanlike? I must have missed it.
Wal
Guest
Everybody has the ability and facilities to run. Not everyone can swim or have a pool. Bolt's achievements were greater, although Phelps is a freak.
Zak
Guest
To Bolts credit, you may say what he did was unsportsmanlike, but when the US basketball shows off for their (unnecessary) backdoor passes, dunks and alley-hoops when they are in front by 35 points, nobody complains. Why is Bolt any different. After all, he did acheive something greater than anyone else has at the Olympics - It's common for WR in the pool, but you don't see it very often in the 100/200m sprints. And as for him using PE drugs, what's to say Phelps isn't using them too. But nevertheless, all athletes should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Bolt made Phelps seem like last week's news. That's pretty incredible.
sheek
Guest
If aquatics is divided into swimming & diving, then athletics can be divided into track & field. Therefore, Phelps had the OPPORTUNITY to win 8 medals out of 16 from the men's program. That's FIFTY PERCENT. Bolt, on the other hand, had the opportunity to win just 3 medals out of 12 from the men's track program (excluding both walks & the marathon). That's ONLY 25 percent. In swimming, all bar 2 races (50m freestyle & 1500m freestyle), are swum between 100m & 400m, although there are 4 different strokes involved. On the track the distances range from 100m to 10,000m, with hurdles & a steeplechase thrown in. Swimming is concentrated in North America, Europe, Australia & only parts of Asia & Africa. Track running encompasses the whole globe. Anyway, Phelps won the most medals & is the most prolific gold medal winner at the Olympics, but I think Bolt's achievement was made on a 'greater degree of difficulty'. So I go with Bolt.