41 replies to this topic

[chookrunner]

Good discussion on SEN radio this morning. Who owns the Beijing Olympics - Phelps or Bolt.
Obviously, people will say Phelps statistically. But when you look into it is it so ?

For me, Bolt has been a revelation, and his world records are just mindblowing. Shutting down in the last 10metres of the 100 and still breaking the record and then breaking MJ's record into a 0.9 headwind.

Phelps, great as he is, may not have got all his world records without "the suits", and his winning margins while some were decisive, were not as staggering as Usain's.

As he is a real chance of winning a relay gold, for me, the Beijing games belong to Bolt.



Unless, of course Jared Tallent gets another bronze tomorrow !

[undercover brother]

the olympics isnt over yet.
...but phelps.

[pharlap]

Neither.

Ones a sprinter and the others a swimmer.
It’s all media hype.
Great athletes in their individual sports, but the Olympics is not about one sport.

[TehAxe]

Bolt by the same distance he won the 200m

media hype? the "media" are just people, its not a conspiracy.

[Colsy]

BOLT

[runningaway]

Bolt every day of the week and twice on Sunday.  I think Phelps is amazing (even if his "diet" was just a trick played on the media) but what Bolt did was make it look easy.

[Colsy]

You might say that this video says that Phelps owns the Olympics, but the same thing would happen if a tall black guy took a cardboard cutout of Bolt down to Tiannemen.

We all look the same to them anyway.

[BrisMatt]

Bolt, by a mile.  He was astonishing.  Beautiful to watch run.  In contrast, Phelps looked just the same as all the others in his races, but just moved slightly faster.  Not a destroyer of the other 7 fastest runners in the world like Bolt was.
Matt

[walshy2]

phelps in the pool and bolt on the track.....and never the twain shall meet

[Dipster]

people are probably sick of this argument that i'm gonna put forward, but everyone knows that it's the reality when you compare sport against sport.

Bolt owns everyone in the world that has ever run 100 or 200m.
Phelps owns everyone in the world that has ever swum a 200m butterfly and all those other events he won.
I've never attempted a 200m butterfly and I would put money on it that 99% of the world's population has never attempted a 200m butterfly in their lifetime.

But I have run a 100m and i have run a 200m, and im guessing 70% of the worlds population have run a race over 100m in their lifetime. basically every school i know has an athletics carnival. so unless if you were able to dodge every athletics carnival your whole schooling life then you would have run a 100m. so basically everyone who attended school in australia has raced over 100m. and that would be the same in alot of other countries.

Bolt owns it all in my mind!

[DrJH]

Bolt won the two hardest events to win - easily.

Phelps won mainly relays and novelty events in a minority sport.

There's no comparison.

[Greeno]

Bolt- But only by a whisker.

Phelps' performance at these games was mind blowing, 8 Gold medals 5 individual gold medals and most in world record times. He achieved something that noone in 28 other Olympiads could achieve.

Bolt has been brilliant beyond comprehension, his 100m world record was out of this world, running 9.69 easing down is outrageous. The 200 is out of this solar system. Michael Johnson's world record was almost untouchable, noone has been near that time for 12 years. He didn't get the oppurtunity to ease down here but he broke a phenomonal world record and made a good field look pedestrian. The relay seems a formality for Jamacia and 3 from 3 gold medals.

For me I was amazed at Michael Phelps in the first week and Bolt in the second. Sport is a wonderful thing(when channel 7 show it)

Whose games is it if Bekele wins the 5-10 double?

[ratdog]

not Ch7

[Easy Tiger]

Bolt!!!

As amazed as i am by Phelps' fitness, desire and self belief, it exposed how weak swimming is. He is very fit, most of his competitors looked like they were wearing speedos filled with custard in comparison to his physique. Records seemed to be broken in nearly every event in swimming, it is still a developing sport with a ridiculous amount of events. That's not Phelps' fault, with a little help from his friends he beat everyone he came up against but it's hard to measure his performance. Bolt beat the best WR in the books with a 0.9 headwind after cruising to the 100m WR.

I left the gym this morning and noticed a big group of guys and girls 20+ huddled in front of the TV watching the 200m final replay, people love him.

[Simmo]

China's.

[1409th]

The German weightlifter who won the gold with a lift of 258 kilos.

His wife died three years ago in a car crash, his celebration of his lift was absolutely fantastic and he carried her photo on to the dias. Pure theatre.

Sorry, I know it's not really in the same league as what's being debated but thought I'd throw it in there. Sometimes you see things in these games that just blow you away.

1409th

[pharlap]

I wrote ---

Quote

Neither.

Ones a sprinter and the others a swimmer.
It’s all media hype.
Great athletes in their individual sports, but the Olympics is not about one sport.

TehAxe, on Aug 21 2008, 08:42 PM, said:

Bolt by the same distance he won the 200m

media hype? the "media" are just people, its not a conspiracy.

Hype = publicity: greatly exaggerated publicity intended to excite public interest in something such as a film or theatrical production

Conspiracy =   plan to commit illegal act together: a plan or agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal or subversive action

Words with not quite the same meaning

Edited by pharlap, 22 August 2008 - 11:42 AM.

[Sparkie]

You can't compare apples and oranges - but you can compare which fruit you prefer to eat.  

Despite being a huge swimming fan, I have had no desire to see any of Phelps' races replayed (OK - the 200m free was pretty awesome).  However, I have been seeking out replays of Bolt's runs all week.  That clinches it for me.

I honestly felt that I would go to my grave with Johnson's record still standing.  Like Johnson, I think in future years Bolt could revolutionise the 400m.

And much as a hate to admit it, a certain VaultMan, 4 years ago predicted that Bolt would be huge.  Goes to show dickheads can still be right from time to time...

[Bighats]

For me it's BOLT!

Having come from a swimming backround not everyone knows how to swim, but there are a crap load of people in the running game... Also, you'll find that there are many more events for a swimmer to compete in than there is for a runner (and a sprinter)...

But all credit to Phelps... he has probably done for swimming what Tiger did for golf... to an extent...

[Rudolf]

about Bolt, from peak performance emails :


The track in Beijing is new, therefore hard and fast. Usain Bolt had cruised through his heats and was fresh to give the record a go. Such is the young man’s confidence that he never questioned whether he’d win the race, he knew the answer to that. His eyes were set only on the record, in the event he considered his favourite.

Bolt set off like a bullet, somehow firing his 6’5” frame out of the blocks and immediately past poor Brian Dzingani, who at 5’6” should have greater natural acceleration than Bolt. Should have, but doesn’t. Bolt is something special. After the 100m bend the race was over. The only question was whether Bolt could maintain the pace in the home straight, running into a 0.9m/s headwind.



Bolt shot away from the field and the gap was reminiscent of Johnson’s in 1996. Something special was going to happen. Something special did happen. Bolt dipped his head as he reached the finish line, in contrast to his 100m final. The young Jamaican realised that this 200m world record deserved respect. It was a good job he did; he finished in 19.31secs. Johnson couldn’t hide his disappointment, and immediately signalled that it might be rounded up. In fact it was rounded down to 19.30. The only person who can beat that record is Bolt himself. Without the headwind it might have been 19.25. Who knows what he could do.



Johnson may not be aware of it but before Bolt came along he had another record, the combined 100m/200m time. With 30secs being any elite sprinter’s target (10secs in 100m, 20secs in 200m), Johnson was surprisingly top of the list courtesy of his ridiculous 19.32 for the 200m. Bolt became the first person in history to break 29secs, which I don’t think will be repeated by anyone for a very long time. Here’s the top five:



1. Usain Bolt (JAM) 9.69 + 19.30 = 28.99
2. Michael Johnson (USA) 10.09 + 19.32 = 29.41
3. Tyson Gay (USA) 9.84 + 19.62 = 29.46
4. Frankie Fredericks (NAM) 9.86 + 19.68 = 29.54
5. Carl Lewis (USA) 9.86 + 19.75 = 29.61

[batavia]

Bolt Has it…….   The Muhammad Ali of  Running………..  a delightfully cheeky personality with the ability  to back it up      And what a rags to riches fairy tale to boot, Pre lives!!

[Colin]

Sparkie, on Aug 22 2008, 12:57 PM, said:

And much as a hate to admit it, a certain VaultMan, 4 years ago predicted that Bolt would be huge.  Goes to show dickheads can still be right from time to time...

Sparkie, was it ever confirmed that Palm Grove Pimp - TCI Sprinter was Vaultman?

This is what you said then:

Sparkie, on May 25 2004, 02:05 AM, said:

On the subject of our poster, his post to this topic was informed, polite and showed good sentence structure.  Not a chance we are confusing him with someone else...

Anyway, whover he was he was absolutely spot on:

PimpKid, on May 24 2004, 07:52 PM, said:

*There are always new faces among the greatest athletes who try to attemp Micheal Johnson's 200 - meter record 19.32s. Is there any who has come near the record?

etc etc...

Measuring 196cm in height, Bolt is big in stature as well as talent. Only time will tell just how good he can be. With talent like he has already displayed, you get the feeling that as he grows stronger and increases his training he can be one of athletics’ biggest stars.

So do u think he can set the Olympic Record from 19.32s - Micheal Johnson to 19.30 - Usain Bolt?
      

Nostradamus, or maybe just knows his stuff.

[Nate]

I would say Bolt has it, but what do expect when the question is asked on a site called coolrunning

[Steve 'The Footman']

Perhaps if we introduced new track events like the 100M/200M walk, 100M/200M backwards run, 100M/200 skipping event and a 200M/400M medly as well as relays then Bolt might have a chance to break Phelps record gold medal haul.

In reality Phelps only won the 200M freestyle as the fastest swimmer.  Everything else was just swimming funny.

[Ludace]

Bolt Easily.

[Grey beard]

DrJH, on Aug 21 2008, 06:45 AM, said:

Bolt won the two hardest events to win - easily.

Phelps won mainly relays and novelty events in a minority sport.

There's no comparison.

I agree completely.

Most swimming events are the equivalent of an egg and spoon race. As for synchronised swimming - that's an egg and spoon race in fancy dress!

[ican]

I'm a little surprised (although given this is a running site I shouldn't be) that such little credit is being given to Phelps.  I think what he has done is amazing.  I understand what Bolt has done is awesome but to diss Phelps is a little surprising, that's all.

Why do they make the swim part of the triathlon 1.5k and the run 10k?  From someone who can't swim, I think it's an amazing talent.

Ratdog, lol.

[sunny1]

All the competitors who have trained mercilessly and performed; either to ecstatically claim a medal,  to walk away with nothing, disapointment and possibly a little humiliation own these games.

How can they be owned by one person? Surely that devalues the efforts and committments made by all other competitors.

[Rudolf]

chookrunner, on Aug 21 2008, 05:19 PM, said:

Phelps, great as he is, may not have got all his world records without "the suits", and his winning margins while some were decisive, were not as staggering as Usain's.

As he is a real chance of winning a relay gold, for me, the Beijing games belong to Bolt.



Unless, of course Jared Tallent gets another bronze tomorrow !

well, Jared missed his second bronze medal by 1 place, so would he stil qualify ?  


I reckon the question is meaningless and is just a bad attempt of the media to keep the interest up.


Phelps is amazing swimmer possibly the best in history.

Bolt is amazing sprinter possibly best in history.

If I remember the story right : drrunked athletes in the pub were arguing which sport is harder and who is better athlete the top cyclist or swimmer or runner and to settle the issue they come up with the race challenge :

swimm 4km, cycle 180k and run marathon.

The traithlon was born.


So to settle this let them swim 100m, run 200m and track cycle 2 laps sprint, and see who gets it overall.

So what is Phelps PB at 200m run, and what is Bolt's PB at 100m swim ?

[undercover brother]

1409th, on Aug 22 2008, 08:18 AM, said:

The German weightlifter who won the gold with a lift of 258 kilos.
His wife died three years ago in a car crash, his celebration of his lift was absolutely fantastic and he carried her photo on to the dias. Pure theatre.

not much brings a tear to the bro's eye.
but this did.
i think youre on a winner there 1409th.

[Rudolf]

Bolts has 3 gold medals and 3 WR at 1 games.


all 3 WR looks like from another galaxy, and looks like he is the only 1 able actually to push them even lower.


In the interview, the Jamaican rellay team was saying things like :


Jamaica is sprinting capital of the world
we will improve even further
next time we can relax more and take more risk, since it is not about olympic gold.


we will push the 4x100m WR to 36:xx

we cant wait for the Berlin world champ and we will be faster there

there is this idea :


Bolt can actually run in the 4x400m final

[thomo]

Rudolf, on Aug 23 2008, 08:38 AM, said:

Bolts has 3 gold medals and 3 WR at 1 games.

all 3 WR looks like from another galaxy, and looks like he is the only 1 able actually to push them even lower.

Bolt can actually run in the 4x400m final

I am sure Bolt would of beaten Powell to the finish in the relay, that is even after slowing down to pass the baton and acelerate again. He had to hold himself back from beating the rst of the field to the finish.

4 x 400? Why not!!!!

The Jamaican's who ran the individual 400mtrs didn't break 45 seconds at the Games. Their P.B's range from 44.6's to 44.9's.

Bolt has a P.B of 45.28 set at Kingston (NS), JAM on 05/05/2007

Not bad for a 100/200 runner. I am sure he could bring that time down. Imagine him bringing Jamaica home  for Gold and running down Merritt in the process.

BTW that time would of placed him 8th in the final at this Olympics.

[Colsy]

Whose Olympics?

HOOKERS!

[thomo]

Colsy, on Aug 23 2008, 10:53 AM, said:

Whose Olympics?

HOOKERS!

Who will be the first to run with that one.

I think I am jumping to a forgone conclusion on that one.

[Rudolf]

is this about real estate ?

[apollo]

Worldwide I would say without any doubt Bolt's, but as Australia is probably the only country worldwide which takes swimming as the most important sport at the olympics so i'd say most 'Australians' will see 8 gold medals and say Phelps.

Edited by apollo, 23 August 2008 - 02:14 PM.

[cakeboy]

Take nothing away from Phelps; he deserves to be the greatest gold medalist in Olympic history.....but Bolt is the athlete of the games for me....unless our very own Troop-meister can jag a medal...

GO THE SUPER TROOPER!!!!

[Reg Delseht]

BOLT

I think Phelps was fantastic and clearly showed he is a cut above the rest of the world. I think you will find however that the times he was swimming will become the standard for the next Olympics or 2.

Bolt's times will still be rare in 20 years time. They may get broken but they certainly won't become the normal standard.

[ratdog]

Bekele

[Leofisio]

Phelps

[drummo65]

Bekele!

[Rudolf]

4x100m M was analyzed,

with the flying start, 100m legs were :

8.94 Bolt

8.73 Powell

Bolt running it in bend really shows how amazing he is for 200m.

Jamaica running 37>10 basicaly mean that the first leg (with the start) is in 10secs and each of the 3 flying legs is in 9 secs




Phelps - said he is going to do also new events in London, it was not clear if that mjeans addition to his programm or some event would rotate.

He clearly stated that breastroke and long distance is out of question, so basicaly what is left is the backstroke for him

and the short free - 100m and 50

His biggest chance is mixed synchronized swimming Phelps/Rice  

Edited by Rudolf, 25 August 2008 - 07:01 AM.