Michael Phelps - Is he the greatest ever Olympian?

The answer is simple, NO. His performances have been incredible but the number of medals available to swimmers artificially boosts their potential haul. How many medals could Usain Bolt win if as well as the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100 metre relay there were events for running the 100 metres whilst waving at the crowd or running backwards?

I would say that equally great or greater Olympians than Michael Phelps include:

Daley Thompson who won the Decathlon in 1980 and 1984, the latter with a World Record points score - just two Olympics but in possibly the hardest event

Carl Lewis who won four golds in 1984, two golds and silver in 1988, two golds in 1992 and a further gold in 1996. That's nine golds over four Olympics. Carl Lewis is the only man to defend a 100 meter Olympic title successfully and is also the only man to defend long jump Olympic title successfully, four times. No other long jumper has ever won twice at the Olympic games

Paavo Nurmi who won three golds and a silver in 1920, five golds and two silvers in 1924 and a gold and a silver in 1928. Paavo Nurmi was banned from competing in 1932 as he was considered to have turned professional

Emil Zátopek who won one gold in 1948 and then won the 5000 metres, the 10000 metres
and the first ever marathon he had ever run in 1952

Reiner Klimke the German equestrian who won gold in 1964, gold and bronze in 1968, gold and bronze in 1976, two golds in 1984 and a further gold in 1988.

Aladár Gerevich who won gold medals in the Fencing team and individual in 1932, gold and bronze medals in the Fencing team and individual in 1936, missed the 1940 and 1940 Olympiads because of World War 2 and then won gold medals again in 1948, a gold, silver and bronze in 1952,a gold in 1956 and a final gold in 1960 (at the age of 50). That's seven gold medals, a silver and two bronzes in six Olympics over 28 years

Sir Stephen Redgrave a gold medal in the rowing in five consecutive Olympics 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000


Who was the greatest Olympian? My vote would go to Sir Stephen Redgrave or Carl Lewis. The BBC will however go for quantity over quality every time.