Phelps is definitely in the top few of all time, but I'd put Lewis, Steve Redgrave, Paavo Nurmi, Jim Thorpe (even if he was disqualified for breaking amateur rules) and Ole Einar Bj?rndalen above him.
I doubt Coe's opinion has anything to do with what you suggest it does, it's far more likely he just suffers from the arrogance that many in athletics have of thinking their sport is the be all and end all of the Olympics.
I know that Phelps is the most decorated, no doubt, but it's also easier to be decorated when there are 20 races in your sport each olympics. It would be much harder to get 20 medals in something like Tennis or Archery, you know? Phelps is the best swimmer of all time - hands down.
I think the greatest olympians are Clara Hughes. She's a gold (and silver and bronze) medal speed-skater who took up cycling for, essentially, shits and giggles and got a pair of bronze medal in that too. Not many athletes can compete in multiple sports and fewer can medal in both summer and winter olympics. She's 40 years old and broke her back two months before London and STILL managed to place 5th.She also donated the entire contents of her bank account to Right to Play when she won gold at Turin. She's totally embodies olympic spirit, in my mind.
Michael Phelps and it's not even close
If there's so many medals in swimming, how come no other swimmer have more than 12 medals? No (unintelligent) Phelps hater has yet to successfully answer that.
In my opinion Phelps is the greatest olympian of all-time.
He won 22 medals! which is a record! It's impossible to say a different name in my opinion
Phelps is the most decorated, but in his sports, the BEST swim the 100m FREESTYLE, which he never did.
So even as a swimmer, he dominated his events, but not the sport.
Jesse Owens is the greatest Olympian ever, he dominated Track & Field, in the most IMPORTANT events.
Usain Bolt
Knew I would have a thumbs down for not saying Phelps lol
Michael Phelps all the way xD
Jim Thorpe is the greatest athlete of all time.
phelps but if usain bolt sweep this olympic with new world records it will definitely be him
Definentley Michael Phelps he is the most decorated Olympion ever. and he is pretty awesome his best stroke is butterfly!
In my personal opinion, it has to be Michael Phelps, but Sebastian Coe (4-time medalist in the 800m & 1500m races) doesn't think so. Outside of the pool, he's not really a larger than life character but the accomplishments speak for the themselves. I think he's just upset that he's "stealing" Great Britain's spotlight. So if not Phelps, then who?
