Sour grapes over champagne moments?

The subject matter of today's blog is probably not too much of a shocker given that the whole world is talking about it: of course, it is the astounding achievement of a certain Mike Phelps. Let me choose my words carefully before I get into another discussion entirely, thus I am referring to Phelps becoming "the most decorated" Olympian in history. 

Phelps grabbed the medal that equaled the old record of 18 medals by Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina by taking the silver medal spot in the 200 meter butterfly. This race is a signature event for Phelps, and while he was expected to take the gold, in an ironic twist, he was out-touched at the finish in a fashion similar to how he won the same race in Beijing in 2008. In that race, he remarkably out-touched Cavic of Serbia to win by an almost incomprehensible 1/100th of a second; in this race he was out-touched by le Clos of South Africa and lost by a mere 5/100th of a second. These minutest of differences are evidence of how it can be the tiniest of "errors" that separate gold from silver (and even bronze) at this level of competition. It also shows how remarkable it is to win gold in every single race, as Phelps did in 2008. 

The medal that broke the record was quite fittingly another gold, in the 4 x 200 meter relay which was led off by rival teammate Ryan Lochte, who along with the others handed over a comfortable lead to Phelps, who just had to dive in and bring it on home for Team USA. The touch of Phelp's fingers against the tiles was one with both an enormous impact and an historic, global reach as he brought his total medal count to a staggering 19: 15 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze. He also now holds the all-time record of the most gold medals ever one by an athlete, and the most golds for individual events (nine). 

Which brings us nicely to the burning question: is Mike Phelps the greatest Olympian ever? Quite why we are forced to ask such questions, amidst all the debate that goes on around them, is a bit superfluous to me in many ways, but it's non-stop. Our need to classify and label and pigeonhole is endless it seems. Given that the games are hosted in London, it was left to Olympics 2012 chief Sebastian Coe, a former UK Olympic champion himself, to offer an opinion on the subject. 

"I think you can say it is self-evident that he is the most successful. I am not sure he is the greatest. It's a pretty good haul, but who is the greatest? In my opinion he is probably not."

A pretty good haul? Ya think? What?! I think it is pretty bloody evident that the likes of Seb Coe have no business judging the ultimate greatness of Phelps's achievement! It just comes across as laughably British "stiff-upper-lip" with its head shoved up its you-know-what. How ridiculous that someone with four medals in total feels that they are in any position to publicly comment to the media on the fact that Phelps is not the greatest? How dare he!

I am British myself (as well as Irish!), and as much we don't like to continuously hear how great the USA is, by Americans, at the same time, there is a time to zip it, or admit it. To somehow pathetically attempt to undermine a freshly- and extremely hard-won Olympic record is to undermine the games themselves, and it is not right that it comes from the UK games chief. Let it go, he's way beyond the athlete you ever were, so just swallow it and say something a lot more flattering that what you just did.  

Let the fullness of time answer the question, and/or the opinions of many who will offer their verdict on it. Whether Coe likes it or not, the entire world judges teams and nations on the total number of medals won. We do not discriminate because it may be seen as "easier" to win more medals in this sport or that one: that's not how it works! What Phelps has done is almost unthinkable, and the fierceness of competition at this level as displayed in the swims at these games just underlines what it takes and how staggering it was to win 8 golds in Beijing, alone. Never mind the other 11 medals he currently has, with the prospect of more to follow in the coming days.

As far as I am concerned, for today, for 2012, Mike Phelps IS the greatest Olympian that ever lived, irrespective of people's needs to try to compare apples to oranges. We must give him his due, on an historical record-breaking success that he sacrificed much to achieve, and one that will write his name big in the flickering flames of Olympic lore for a very, very long time to come. If not forever. Bravo, hero!

Now that I am suitably inspired, I suppose I have to go put on my running shorts, and face the mountain here in Montreal, for a little jaunt that Phelps would laugh at but which feels like my very own Olympic climb?! It would be easy to use the heat and humidity as my excuse, but we all know that Phelps (and others) didn't or wouldn't so I will go do it. Isn't that how Olympians are supposed to make us feel? Inspired to live stronger! - Kevin Mc


PS - That reminds me, Miss Crissy C of EU is lying beside a pool right now. Perfect! Time to hit the water, in your EU-branded bikini, Missy, and give us all 10-20 lengths. Let's go! Chop chop! ;)