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#1
08-21-2016, 03:05 PM
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I have a hard time crowning a guy "the greatest Olympian" who did the same thing in 3 different races: sprinted. He ran 100m twice an olympics then 200m once. It's a great feat and all, but I'm just not impressed compared to winning 18 or 19 individual events over 4 olympics in different strokes and distances.
Or say the people who have won events in different sports and different olympics . I tend to think the media hype machine and internet tends to push hyperbole to the point where any achievement now is "THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME" often, it just isn't. Bolt, greatest sprinter in Olympic History sure, but I don't think he's in the top 5 of greatest olympians.
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"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away."- Tom Waits Last edited by bravos4evr; 08-21-2016 at 03:05 PM. 
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#2
08-21-2016, 04:06 PM
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Heck, Ledecky's swim where she broke her own world record by 2 seconds and the field by 11 seconds is one of the greatest performances in olympic history and what about that american shooter? Hasn't she won her event 6 olympics in a row or something?
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"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away."- Tom Waits
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#3
08-22-2016, 12:24 PM
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Aladar Gerevich, a Hungarian fencer, won gold medals in six consecutive Olympics - 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. A record for any Olympic sport. If not for WWII who knows. They thought he was too old for the team in 1960. He challenged every member of the Hungarian sabre team and beat every one of them. Ray Ewry has the true record for perfection in the Olympics - 10 events 10 gold medals 1900, 1904, 1906 and 1908. The IOC does not acknowledge 1906 as it was not a normal quadrennial event, but even without the two golds he won there he is still 8 for 8. His medals were in the standing high jump - 1900, 1904, 1906 and 1908. The standing long jump 1900, 1904, 1906 and 1908. Standing triple jump 1900, 1904. The interesting this about Bolt is that he is a sprinter at 6' 5". Most sprinters are shorter. If he was in the U.S. they would have tried to turn him into a high jumper or steered him towards basketball or football.
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'Integrity is what you do when no one is looking' "The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep” Last edited by Michael B; 08-22-2016 at 12:25 PM.
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#4
08-21-2016, 07:50 PM
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It's that aura of invincibility coupled with that aura of "I gotta watch." The Pinnacle for Tiger was probably when he slow-rolled that Nike ball putt in the late stages of a major win. I think Owens and Lewis are all great comparisons. Jordan was in particular games, but he played nearly 100 per season, so it was different. Like Tyson, Bolt only works his craft a few times per year on a big stage. Bolt also has that Foreman charisma as well to sell bis sport. I would say aside from Tyson, the only individual event that rivals Bolt for inevitability and anticipation was Federer-Nadal 2008 Wimbledon final. Last edited by Tennis13; 08-21-2016 at 07:53 PM.
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#5
08-21-2016, 08:17 PM
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Hell, that women's wrestler who beat the japanese icon for the gold has been totally overlooked. It was like some nobody showing up and beating Bolt in the 100m!
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"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away."- Tom Waits
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#6
08-21-2016, 08:41 PM
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Perhaps the most invincible athlete ever was Alexander Karelin, the incomparable Russian wrestler. Rulon Gardner's win over him was truly epic, easily the equal of someone beating Bolt.
Here is a piece on Karelin, which reveals that behind that massive and menacing physique was a thoughtful intellectual. http://www.si.com/vault/1991/05/13/1...sing-intellect
__________________
Four phrases I nave coined that sum up today's hobby: No consequences. Stuff trumps all. The flip is the commoodity. Animal Farm grading. Last edited by Peter_Spaeth; 08-21-2016 at 08:44 PM.
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#7
08-21-2016, 10:11 PM
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Bolt is really amazing, and as in most sports comparing eras is difficult. Today most athletes are at least a bit specialized, only doing one or two events. Athletes before may have only competed at the top level in one or two, but competed in more than that.
The US coverage only covers a few sports that are popular here, and a lot of the great performances in less well known sports get missed. I'm a big fan of the performances by the athletes at the lower end of the spectrum. I can enjoy Phelps, Bolt etc and admire what they accomplish. But I really like the ones that put in a great effort despite being a bit overmatched. Mathieu Razanakolona sking for Madagascar. Nearly crashes, doesn't DQ and finishes the course. Placed 39th out of 41 finishers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m51Fg6Hv2xM A few more, Eddie the eagle was a favorite of mine. I can't imagine trying either of the big ski jumps, and I was a bit crazy as a skier. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oth...s-history.html Attended the 96 Olympics in Atlanta, and watched some qualifying, some of the people who barely made the finals celebrated more than the ones who got in more easily. Steve B
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#9
08-22-2016, 06:12 AM
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Thanks for sharing Peter- I had forgotten how dominant Karelin was. Undefeated in International Competition for 13 years and unscored upon for 6 years!!!! Simply Amazing !
__________________
. "A life is not important except in the impact it has on others lives" - Jackie Robinson “If you have a chance to make life better for others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth.”- Roberto Clemente
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#10
08-22-2016, 08:45 AM
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I don't think you can say Usain Bolt is hyped. The guy is the best sprinter on the planet and faster than any man alive, and possibly ever to live. Not only does he have that distinction, but he's held that distinction for 12 years. We don't even know how fast he can actually run because he isn't challenged in his races. He pulls up at the end of every race because he's got it won before it's over.
Last edited by packs; 08-22-2016 at 11:12 AM.
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#11
08-22-2016, 04:46 PM
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I am not impressed, not when compared to other Olympians who have done more in different events.
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"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away."- Tom Waits Last edited by bravos4evr; 08-22-2016 at 05:38 PM.
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#12
08-23-2016, 08:45 AM
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__________________
Four phrases I nave coined that sum up today's hobby: No consequences. Stuff trumps all. The flip is the commoodity. Animal Farm grading. Last edited by Peter_Spaeth; 08-23-2016 at 08:45 AM.
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