After Bradley Wiggins SMASHES the field to win gold today..

[Easy 10]

They're now describing Phelps as "The Greatest Ever Olympian" off the back of his haul of 19 medals. Thats quite clearly BOLLOCKS though, being as he's entered in about 15 events every Olympics, so law of averages he's bound to snaffle a FISTFUL every 4 years.

Is Phelps really any better than Daley Thompson with his single Gold ? I think not.

 

[User removed 4]

As has been eloquently put, Redgrave was part of various TEAMS. And anyway, BW will win more medals than him. Why is Hoy above Wiggins in your view? Ainslie you have a fair point but I would argue that BW's range of events and the magnitude of his Tour win outstrip Ben's fantastic success.
And for your info, BW is approaching the tail end of his career, not the start.

what about daley thompson ?

 

[The Large One]

They're now describing Phelps as "The Greatest Ever Olympian" off the back of his haul of 19 medals. Thats quite clearly BOLLOCKS though, being as he's entered in about 15 events every Olympics, so law of averages he's bound to snaffle a FISTFUL every 4 years.

Is Phelps really any better than Daley Thompson with his single Gold ? I think not.

TWO Golds.

 

[Lokki 7]

but are his sideburns silly ?

There is no logical reason to vote 'NO' so I assume that this must be the reason for some people.

 

[Lokki 7]

what about daley thompson ?

I honestly don't get the Daley bandwagon. Yes, what he did was IMMENSE and I love him, but someone wins the decathlon at every Olympics and many now have scores better than DT's. So why would that make him the greatest ever sportsman for winning it once (when there were no Russians competing btw)?

Oh sorry, been corrected he did win it twice. So he is SUPER IMMENSE.

 

[ROSM]

I honestly don't get the Daley bandwagon. Yes, what he did was IMMENSE and I love him, but someone wins the decathlon at every Olympics and many now have scores better than DT's. So why would that make him the greatest ever sportsman for winning it once (when there were no Russians competing btw)?

Oh sorry, been corrected he did win it twice. So he is SUPER IMMENSE.

winning twice where there were russians in at least one of them. They changed the scoring system after Daley's time btw.

he was unbeaten in Decathlon for 6 years beating ALL comers. he was world record holder and beath Jurgen Hingsen (his main rival) everytime he faced him.

Immense

 

[User removed 4]

winning twice where there were russians in at least one of them. They changed the scoring system after Daley's time btw.

he was unbeaten in Decathlon for 6 years beating ALL comers. he was world record holder and beath Jurgen Hingsen (his main rival) everytime he faced him.

Immense

this, he was a bit of a bighead though !!

 

[Lokki 7]

It is true that the number of medals won is not a true reflection of how GREAT a sportsman you are. Daley is up there with Phelps in terms of domination of his sport but clearly nowhere near in terms of medals.

 

[ROSM]

this, he was a bit of a bighead though !!

Yep - and his Carl Lewis T shirt was funny too.

'I got the big G boys'

 

[Icy Gull]

winning twice where there were russians in at least one of them. They changed the scoring system after Daley's time btw.

he was unbeaten in Decathlon for 6 years beating ALL comers. he was world record holder and beath Jurgen Hingsen (his main rival) everytime he faced him.

Immense

He partook in 20 events over two Olympics and I'd guess he was in the top 3 in pretty well all of them so he could have had 20 medals if he got one for each event like Phelps.

 

[Simster]

I honestly don't get the Daley bandwagon.

I shook his hand today.

 

[Icy Gull]

It is true that the number of medals won is not a true reflection of how GREAT a sportsman you are. Daley is up there with Phelps in terms of domination of his sport but clearly nowhere near in terms of medals.

with a medal for every event he would be

 

[Lokki 7]

I shook his hand today.

Really? Top work!

 

[Lokki 7]

He partook in 20 events over two Olympics and I'd guess he was in the top 3 in pretty well all of them so he could have had 20 medals if he got one for each event like Phelps.

Well no actually, he'd get NONE. As there were always 3 better athletes in the world at each particular discipline and if they all competed together he would get beaten every time. Phelps competes against all comers and specialists so the argument doesn't stand.

 

[TheJasperCo]

As has been eloquently put, Redgrave was part of various TEAMS. And anyway, BW will win more medals than him. Why is Hoy above Wiggins in your view? Ainslie you have a fair point but I would argue that BW's range of events and the magnitude of his Tour win outstrip Ben's fantastic success.
And for your info, BW is approaching the tail end of his career, not the start.

It's not just Redgrave though, Hoy and Wiggins have both competed in team events as well eg pursuit and sprint. Hoy has won more medals across all competitions than Wiggins (Olympics, Commonwealth, Sports Personality etc) The OP only talks about Wiggins being the greatest Olympian in British history, I would argue that's a bit narrow-minded. He's done brilliantly to win the Tour de France, but simply in terms of Olympic success, I'd say that he's not quite the best athlete in British Olympic history.

 

[Simster]

Really? Top work!

Yes he was on London Bridge.

 

[Easy 10]

TWO Golds.

I stand CORRECTED, thanks big boy.

Medals aside, Thomson is also immense in my book for WHISTLING the National Anthem on the podium.

 

[Lokki 7]

I'd say that he's not quite the best athlete in British Olympic history.

Measured purely in terms of Olympic success only, you are probably right. But the poll is for greatest ever GB SPORTSMAN.

 

[User removed 4]

If Wiggins does win gold today, how pissd off and bitter do you think Cavendish will be ?

 

[Bozza]

He partook in 20 events over two Olympics and I'd guess he was in the top 3 in pretty well all of them so he could have had 20 medals if he got one for each event like Phelps.

18 events. He could never be arsed with the 1500m (and, fortunately, he didn't have to be arsed) - he just lolloped around like some non-trying Chinese badminton player.