Ever since he won a pair of medals on Tuesday to break Larissa Lazutina's career record of 18 Olympic medals, people have actually been debating if Phelps is in fact the Greatest Olympian Ever. In my opinion, there isn't any question. It's not even close. The numbers speak for themselves. But Phelps is also much more than 22 career medals and 18 gold. He was the face of the sport that he dominated for the better part of a decade. And he dominated his sport in what is arguably the most competitve era in Olympic history.
Phelps made his first Olympic team when he was 15!, and he finished fifth in the 200 meter butterfly in Sydney 12 years ago. He then became "Michael Phelps." He swam eight events in Athens, winning six gold medals and two bronze. As impressive as the six golds were, it was one of the bronzes that says everything you need to know about Michael Phelps. It came in the 200 meter freestyle. The two swimmers that finished ahead of him were the two best in the world at the time, Australia's Ian Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands. Phelps knew he might not win. But he wanted to go against the best. He wouldn't lose another Olympic race for eight years.
We all know what he did in Beijing. Eight for eight in '08 made Phelps a legend. And as it turns out, Phelps was destined to make history in China. The Olympic gods smiled on him and all the stars aligned for that historic record. First Jason Lezak swam that incredible anchor leg on the 4x100 freestyle relay, then Phelps somehow outtouched Milorad Cavic to win the 100 butterfly. Amazingly, he was on the losing end of races that played out pretty much exactly the same way in London. Call it a karmic twist of fate that France ran down Ryan Lochte the same way Jason Lezak ran down France, then Chad le Clos beat Phelps in the 200 butterfly the same way Phelps beat Cavic in '08.
Both of those silvers (the first two of his Olympic career) made Phelps 0-for-3 in London, a failure only based on the ridiculous standard he's set for himself. Some people even said he was "done" when he finished fourth in the 400 IM, a race won by rival Lochte, who claimed he was going to be the swimming star of the London Games. Well, guess what. Everybody was wrong. Phelps broke the medals record with his first gold of the Games on the anchor leg of the 4x200 freestyle relay. That first gold opened the floodgates, as he then won the 200 IM, becoming the first swimmer ever to win the same event at three straight Olympics. Then he won the 100 butterfly. And his Olympic career came to an end tonight the only way it could. With one final gold. His 18th. It wouldn't have been right had it ended any other way.
What Phelps did in Beijing was special. We'll never see it again. Even Phelps knew it. Lochte tried to duplicate it in London and failed miserably. In fact, when all was said and done, it was Phelps who once again outdid Lochte in London. And it was London that further cemented his legacy. He ended up with six more medals: four gold and two silver, bringing the career total to 22 (18, two and two). And this was a "down" Olympics for him.
For those who don't think Michael Phelps is the Greatest Olympian Ever, I implore them to come up with another candidate. Carl Lewis is the only guy I can even think might be in the same category, but he's not even close. Muhammad Ali is the "Greatest of All-Time." It's self-proclaimed, but I'm not really one to dispute that. But Phelps is far and away the Greatest Olympian of All-Time. In fact, he's not going to challenge Ali or Jordan, but I would definitely put him on the short list for greatest athletes of all-time.
When you see greatness, you know it. Over the past four Olympics, we've all witnessed greatness. Michael Phelps was a special athlete. And so much more. It's been such a privilege watching him over the last 12 years. And I think I speak for all of us fans who were spoiled to get to watch him in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London, by saying "Thank You Michael Phelps." You took us all on a memorable ride that we won't soon forget.
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