Talk:Michael Phelps

Many of his medals are from relays where he needed his comrades

If Michael Phelps were from Portugal or another small country he would have many fewer medals, because so many of his medals are from relays where he needed his comrades, and it is much easier to win relays if your country is big and has many other top athletes in the same sport. The same is true for Larissa Latynina and others. Shouldn't this be mentioned? Olympicdreams (talk) 22:26, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Actually, only 3 of his 8 Olympic Medals in Beijing were team events. The other five were individual events. Phelps tied Spitz's record for most individual medals in a Olympic Games. So no, I don't think that adding that to the article would be advisable. SirFozzie (talk) 22:41, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

The article shows that three of his medals were won in relays, therefore I think it would be assumed that people realize that. Nobody ever claimed he won 8 individual medals. Blackngold29 22:42, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

But there are several other persons who won five individual gold medals in one Olympics, right? Shouldn't we also have lists limited to individual gold medals? Olympicdreams (talk) 23:05, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

To the best of my knowledge... there's only two. Phelps and Spitz. Larissa Latynina never won five golds in any one Olympics (I'm pretty sure the article here mentions that Phelps tied Spitz as the only people to win five golds in an individual Olympic Games. By the way, Phelps might lead in most individual Olympic Golds too.. he has 9 Gold (and a bronze).. Paavo Nurmi has seven, and Carl Lewis has seven as well. Latynina only has nine golds TOTAL over three games). SirFozzie (talk) 23:22, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

And Eric Heiden, five individual golds in 1980 Winter Olympics. Kablammo (talk) 23:34, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

But Spitz got only 4 individual golds in the same Olympics, didn't he? But back then there were fewer swimming events, so it seems a bit unfair to compare this. Olympicdreams (talk) 23:32, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

By the way, Vitaly Scherbo also won five individual gold medals in one Olympics. Olympicdreams (talk) 23:37, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't think the number of Olympic swimming events has changed in some time. Kablammo (talk) 23:34, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Sure it has changed, for example, look at the 50m events. And back in Johnny Weissmuller's time there were even fewer swimming events, so you cannot really compare recent swimming achievements with previous ones. Olympicdreams (talk) 23:42, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

The 50 free is the only individual event added to the Men's program since 1972, and Phelps did not compete in it. So a comparison with Spitz is valid-- as Spitz himself likely would say, given the gracious comments he made after Phelps' eighth gold. Kablammo (talk) 23:51, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Whoops! My bad, yeah. Eric Heiden and Vitaly Scherbo. I stand corrected :) SirFozzie (talk) 23:38, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Johnny Weissmuller vs Michael Phelps

How to compare recent swimming achievements with previous ones? Back in Johnny Weissmuller's time there were just a few swimming events. He won events from 100m to 800m. The range of current swimmers such as Michael Phelps is smaller, but they can get more medals simply because there are more events. Olympicdreams (talk) 23:47, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

I think Weissmuller's 800 win was in a relay. And one cannot compare just the raw numbers of events, as the mechanics of three of the four strokes are very different-- they are different skills. One of Phelps' most notable accomplishments is his victories in the IM events; which require him to be accomplished in two strokes not otherwise part of his specialty.

It is unclear whether this discussion is about proposed changes to the article-- is there something you feel is missing or incorrect? Kablammo (talk) 00:02, 3 September 2008 (UTC)

I guess the article is all right - it's the articles on multiple medal winners that may need some changes because one cannot really compare recent achievements to much older ones for various reasons. Olympicdreams (talk) 20:24, 3 September 2008 (UTC)

New Swim Suits

Worth a mention that the new swim suits helped shave so much off his time. While, obviously, it didn't give him an unfair advantage (because everyone was wearing the suits) it would explain why he broke so many records, and in many cases, by so much. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.9.151.226 (talk) 11:53, 3 September 2008 (UTC)

The use of the suits is worth mentioning in this article. Saying that " it would explain why he broke so many records" is your point of view and not fact however. Let's stick to the facts.--Rtphokie (talk) 21:45, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

No longer the record holder of most Olympic Gold Medals. (?)

Michael Phelps has, as of today, 14 Olympic Gold Medals. On September 10th, 2008, Jonas Jacobsson, a swedish sport shooter who is a part of the swedish team in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, took his 15th Gold Medal, breaking Phelps record in this particular category. The I have is: Should the information about Phelps record be rejusted? Does it only count if it's within the firts phase of the Olympics, and not the Paralympic?

(September 10, 22:31) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.230.42.56 (talk) 20:34, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

I would think the Olympics and Paraolympics would fall under two different catagories, as they are two different events. Blackngold29 20:41, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

I think this sentence should be qualified to make this distinction. I am not sure what wording should be used, but it should be mentioned that he has won most golds in the "first phase" of the olympics, but that he has the second most golds overall. Henrichek (talk) 15:46, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

I don't know if I'm alone in this or not, but I don't see the Paralympics a "phase" of anything. The Olympics and the Paralympics are two completely different events. I have nothing but respect for Paraolympians, but it's a far less publisized event and has a much shorter history than the Olympics. I think that people understand the difference. One doesn't have to clarify that the Boston Celtics have the most championship victories in their sport, but the New York Yankees have more championship titles; it's assumed because they play two differnt sports. Blackngold29 16:00, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

I agree with Blackngold, they are two completely separate events. Jauerback^dude?/_dude. 18:13, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

Use of Ritalin for 2 years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/sports/olympics/10Rparent.html

I think should be added to the article because it directly talks about his ADHD. He was put on the drug at age 9 and was on for two years. This would mean he was on Ritalin while he was ranked nationally. I'm not trying to take anything away from Phelps. I would just like it to be noted that Ritalin helped him focus. Children who also have ADHD may see him as someone to look to who overcame his condition and excelled to the top. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.177.176.165 (talk) 22:12, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

The NYT piece is very good but may not go as far as your unequivocal statement. If you would like to propose a sentence to be added please do so here; if supported by the cite I will add it. Thank you. Kablammo (talk) 14:07, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

He should be added to the category "People with ADHD" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 155.247.166.31 (talk) 02:31, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

TV?

Maybe I missed it but nothing is written about his television appearances, like on Saturday Night Live, Rosetta Stone, or his new commercial for Guitar Hero where he parodies Tom Cruise's well-known sliding on the floor in boxers.-Babylon pride (talk) 01:53, 28 October 2008 (UTC)