Definitely an awesome ending for Phelps. It's not too often that a sport's greatest star goes out on such a high note. I'd love to see Phelps in Rio in 2016, but if this truly is the end, it was about as close to perfect as you can get.

reclegend22;1240342 wrote:Awesome finish to the Olympics for Michael Phelps. He's the best ever in his sport. How many people can actually say that and it really mean something? Ten? Remarkable. Can't wait to see him in Rio.

This is why Phelps is the best ever: he has three of the top six individual swimming performances in a single Olympics ever. Not one, not two; three of the top six.

2008- Phelps- 8 golds- best ever, will never be done again imo.
1972- Mark Spitz- 7 golds, not too shabby.
2004- Phelps- 6 golds, 2 bronze, really an underrated performance because of what he did in '08.
1988- Kristin Otto- 6 golds, but with an asterisk because of the East German doping controversy.
1988- Matt Biondi- 5 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze, a few world records along the way.
2012- Phelps- only 4 golds, 2 silver.

If he wanted to, he could come back to Rio in 2016 and win a few more.

Missy Franklin puts herself on that short list with 4 golds and 1 bronze

ccrunner609;1240345 wrote:

Does the Brit' accent make her even hotter? I think so.

ironman02;1240349 wrote:Definitely an awesome ending for Phelps. It's not too often that a sport's greatest star goes out on such a high note. I'd love to see Phelps in Rio in 2016, but if this truly is the end, it was about as close to perfect as you can get.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I think Phelps will find Rio and the opportunity to completely put the all-time gold medal record out of reach forever too alluring to pass up, especially since, at 31 years of age, he will still be swimming in front of the twilight of his career, if only barely. But, as you say, if this is really it, and Phelps has swum the final lap of his illustrious career, the world of sport will have bittersweetly lost another icon to time.

Regardless, I look forward to what Ryan Lochte can do in Rio as the torch bearer for U.S. men's swimming. He's a great champion. And, of course, Missy Franklin. With four golds and five overall medals in her first go-around, the sky might not be the limit for her. In good health, one could reasonably assume that she'll be able to at least duplicate that effort in another four years, which would give Franklin eight golds and 10 overall medals before the Colorado native is even able to legally buy a Rocky Mountain beer. If she ever puts together a Phelpsonian-like meet at one of her remaining three or four Olympics, you never know...

jhay78;1240358 wrote:This is why Phelps is the best ever: he has three of the top six individual swimming performances in a single Olympics ever. Not one, not two; three of the top six.

2008- Phelps- 8 golds- best ever, will never be done again imo.
1972- Mark Spitz- 7 golds, not too shabby.
2004- Phelps- 6 golds, 2 bronze, really an underrated performance because of what he did in '08.
1988- Kristin Otto- 6 golds, but with an asterisk because of the East German doping controversy.
1988- Matt Biondi- 5 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze, a few world records along the way.
2012- Phelps- only 4 golds, 2 silver.

If he wanted to, he could come back to Rio in 2016 and win a few more.

Missy Franklin puts herself on that short list with 4 golds and 1 bronze

That's crazy.

SportsAndLady;1240335 wrote:http://1045theteam.com/american-tv-neglected-the-saddest-story-in-the-olympics/

Really? A 15 year old timekeeper?

Fencing has it's own international committee. Can't believe they don't have Fencing officials/ref's (whatever they are called) working the tables and not just volunteers.

Pretty lame.

jhay78;1240358 wrote:This is why Phelps is the best ever: he has three of the top six individual swimming performances in a single Olympics ever. Not one, not two; three of the top six.

2008- Phelps- 8 golds- best ever, will never be done again imo.
1972- Mark Spitz- 7 golds, not too shabby.
2004- Phelps- 6 golds, 2 bronze, really an underrated performance because of what he did in '08.
1988- Kristin Otto- 6 golds, but with an asterisk because of the East German doping controversy.
1988- Matt Biondi- 5 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze, a few world records along the way.
2012- Phelps- only 4 golds, 2 silver.

If he wanted to, he could come back to Rio in 2016 and win a few more.

Missy Franklin puts herself on that short list with 4 golds and 1 bronze

Relatively speaking, it's easier to get more medals in swimming. I don't think it's as unique if you look at comparables in other sports.

But I'll agree if you look at dominance Phelps has as good of an argument as any. Could easily come back in 2016 if he chose and add to his count. But has he dominated his sport more than Misty May and Kerri Walsh, who should get their 3rd gold? 15 year olds are winning gold in swimming - that just doesn't happen in track and most other events. And, I'm sorry, but Carl Lewis won gold in the long-jump in 4 Olympics in a sport that's more "competitive" than swimming. If Phelps comes back and wins another gold in 2016 then we can have a debate.

Phelps is the greatest swimmer in US Olympic history. Just leave it at that. Although, Spitz setting 7 WR's in 1972 is wicked impressive, and might have had 8 gold if they had the 50M free back then.

Murray!

gut;1240376 wrote:Relatively speaking, it's easier to get more medals in swimming. I don't think it's as unique if you look at comparables in other sports.

But I'll agree if you look at dominance Phelps has as good of an argument as any. Could easily come back in 2016 if he chose and add to his count. But has he dominated his sport more than Misty May and Kerri Walsh, who should get their 3rd gold? 15 year olds are winning gold in swimming - that just doesn't happen in track and most other events. And, I'm sorry, but Carl Lewis won gold in the long-jump in 4 Olympics in a sport that's more "competitive" than swimming. If Phelps comes back and wins another gold in 2016 then we can have a debate.

Phelps is the greatest swimmer in US Olympic history. Just leave it at that. Although, Spitz setting 7 WR's in 1972 is wicked impressive, and might have had 8 gold if they had the 50M free back then.

I would say he is more than just the greatest swimmer in US Olympic history.

100M semis.
Gatlin cruises in his.
Bolt wins his heat, with the Bailey American second.
Gay in his heat now.

Catching some wrestling at the office!

Blake of Jamaica cruises, 9.85, and Gay is second at 9:90.
So, all the favorites win, and winners are all under 9.90.

Going to be a solid final.
All three Jamaicans and Americans make it.

ptown_trojans_1;1240491 wrote:Blake of Jamaica cruises, 9.85, and Gay is second at 9:90.
So, all the favorites win, and winners are all under 9.90.

Going to be a solid final.
All three Jamaicans and Americans make it.

When's the final?

SportsAndLady;1240496 wrote:When's the final?

If you want to watch it live, online, it is at 4:50 PM ET.

NBC has pretty good international feed going of all the Track and Field events going on.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/video-watch.html?video=main-feed-evening-session-finals-aug-5-mds
Semis for the metric mile going on now. (I hate they cut it short by 100m). Two Americans move on.

not a good medal day for the US so far since swimming is over, only 4 today. Lost the overall lead and gold medal lead to China.

400M final, need a gold for the US. Yes, Richards-Ross for the US gets the Gold.

And American Trotter gets the Bronze.

But, the U.S. will not have anyone in the 100m Men's final.

DeeDee Trotter with the Bronze as well for the US.

no US men in the 400M final, that sucks.

Men's 100M final getting ready, going to be a great race. 3 Jamaicans and 3 Americans in the race.

NBC not showing this live on its main channel makes no sense. At least show it live, and then show the replay in primetime. Pretty much everyone else in the world gets to see it live. But, we are left to watch it online. If it was a week day, I would understand, but it is Sunday.

it's NBC, I've given up trying to understand what they do. They show golf halfway around the world live on the weekends.

no one has ever defended the 100M, have they? I don't think they have.

ptown_trojans_1;1240534 wrote:NBC not showing this live on its main channel makes no sense. At least show it live, and then show the replay in primetime. Pretty much everyone else in the world gets to see it live. But, we are left to watch it online. If it was a week day, I would understand, but it is Sunday.

It's pretty damn pathetic. My feed keeps going in and out too. Fuck NBC. They are going out of their way to make ESPN look good smh.

a 123 American finish would be awesome