Michael Phelps to win 8 Golds in Beijing?

[anointedone]

Michael Phelps would have won 8 Golds at the World Swimming Championships this year, had his teammate Ian Crocker not gotten the medley relay team DQed. What are the odds he goes on better at the Olympics and win the 8 Golds he has always wanted to eclipse Mark Spitz?

His 7 Golds at the World Swimming Championships this year was still a record at that event, eclipsing the record of 6 by Ian Thorpe in 2001. Furthermore I find it more impressive then Spitz's 7 at the Olympics, since Michael won 5 individual Golds, while Spitz only won 4. You dont have complete control over relays, and alot depends on your teammates.

 

[yodudedudeyo]

swimming is such an underrated sport... imo, it's one of the hardest sports to train for out there. you spend 3/4 of your day in the pool working your butt off. take off more than two days and you have to start all over.

 

[FalconX]

That dude's dad must have been a dolphin. It's impossible.

 

[Kobble]

I would say he will not do it, but I don't know who is competing, and in what events. Certainly, Thorpe quitting leaves a void in the 400m free. Phelps is the most complete swimmer since Spitz, and maybe of all time, but eight gold medals is crazy. It is like trying to win 6-8 tennis majors in a row.

 

[KBalla08]

i think he could do it. i really hope he does, that would be amazing.

 

[JamesBlaze]

Swimming has a narrower "interval of prime age" than other sports. Four years can make big changes in a swimmer.

 

[Kobble]

I disagree. Guys just get tired of spending their entire day in a pool. Look at Gary Hall Jr. He says he just loves to race. Not everyone has that level of desire.

 

[yodudedudeyo]

sure, getting tired of being in the pool is a big thing, but being in PRIME shape is important for being on top in swimming, that's why you dont see many olympic swimmers above the age of 30

 

[anointedone]

I would say he will not do it, but I don't know who is competing, and in what events. Certainly, Thorpe quitting leaves a void in the 400m free. Phelps is the most complete swimmer since Spitz, and maybe of all time, but eight gold medals is crazy. It is like trying to win 6-8 tennis majors in a row.

Michael definitely wont be swimming the 400 free in Beijing. He will swim 5 individual events and 3 relays. The 400 free is about his 8th best individual event, and it was a disaester the year he tried it at Worlds. From all I have read and hear in interviews of him and his coach I expect his program to include:

Individual events: 200 free, 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 I.M, 400 I.M
relays: 4 x 100 free, 4 x 200 free, 4 x 100 medley

Now I could see him maybe doing the 100 free instead of one the individual events posted above. That is the only possible switch I could see. No chance he does the 400 free.

 

[Rodditha]

Phelps will win those 8 golds in beijing, i didn't see no other guy in the last champs who can compete with Phelps maybe some other American swimmers but Phelps is probably one of the fastest and greatest swimmer in history.