Eric Heiden

ODH · 08-17-2008, 10:40 PM

Heiden is often overlooked when talking about greatest Olympic performances ever. He won five Golds and they were all individual races, no relays.
He also won every single male speedskating medal in 1980 and the races were as short as 500m and as long as 10,000m.

Truly an amazing performance that should be getting more publicity with all the commotion around Phelps.

Stardust · 08-17-2008, 10:43 PM

Vitaly Scherbo is another one. Soviet gymnast, won 6 golds in 1992. One was the team but the other 5 were individual, including the all-around.

RYou · 08-17-2008, 10:57 PM

yea, but Spitz says he would have won the 50 free if they competed that event back in '72.

Stardust · 08-17-2008, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by RYou

yea, but Spitz says he would have won the 50 free if they competed that event back in '72.

Yeah - I read that interview and rolled my eyes at that comment.

Ground&Pound · 08-17-2008, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Stardust

Yeah - I read that interview and rolled my eyes at that comment.

What's wrong with that quote, it's probably true.

Stardust · 08-17-2008, 11:09 PM

if if if if if.

It annoyed me because he said it in the context of talking about Phelps. If he just said it out of the blue, last year, or something, not as big a deal. It was almost like he was trying to downplay what Phelps was looking to accomplish.

I really don't have a problem with Spitz - I was very impressed with his live interview with Phelps after #7. I just thought that comment about the 50 free wasn't necessary.

M Richardson · 08-17-2008, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by Stardust

if if if if if.

It annoyed me because he said it in the context of talking about Phelps. If he just said it out of the blue, last year, or something, not as big a deal. It was almost like he was trying to downplay what Phelps was looking to accomplish.

I really don't have a problem with Spitz - I was very impressed with his live interview with Phelps after #7. I just thought that comment about the 50 free wasn't necessary.

Do any of you remember Spitz back when he set the records? He took "self-assuredness" to the level of a$$holeism. Remember his talking about how he was going to cash in on his Olympic fame and his medals - endorsements, talk shows and motivational speaking tours, an acting career, etc? He talked about how he would be the first swimming millionaire. Between the time he got his last medal and when he got back to the States, he had alienated most of the English-speaking world.
I think many in the media remember that Spitz and are associating his current comments with his attitude then.

Stardust · 08-17-2008, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by M Richardson

Do any of you remember Spitz back when he set the records?

I was two months old.

My mom said she watched the Olympics every day with me while she was home on maternity leave. (maybe that's why I'm such an Olympics addict)

ideamark · 08-18-2008, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by M Richardson

Do any of you remember Spitz back when he set the records? He took "self-assuredness" to the level of a$. Remember his talking about how he was going to cash in on his Olympic fame and his medals - endorsements, talk shows and motivational speaking tours, an acting career, etc? He talked about how he would be the first swimming millionaire. Between the time he got his last medal and when he got back to the States, he had alienated most of the English-speaking world.
I think many in the media remember that Spitz and are associating his current comments with his attitude then.

I was in junior high in 1972, and THOUGHT I remembered Mark Spitz...

... then I read a story in today's Cincinnati Enquirer, comparing Spitz and Michael Phelps... no, not in terms of in-the-pool accomplishments or technique, but in terms of attitude, acceptance... and how their Olympic performances were covered.

From the article, Spitz did not win any friends for his cocky predictions before the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he was pretty much a washout... and apparently, bitter feelings continued four years later in Munich. When he won is seventh gold medal -- a relay -- the other three on the US team celebrated amongst themselves on the pool deck, even when Spitz climbed out of the pool. Even the other teams came over to congratulate and talk to the other three US swimmers, but not Spitz. Apparently his attitude didn't win many friends in the swimming world.

The article also described ABC's coverage of Spitz' last race as being low-key -- Keith Jackson (who we all know from college football coverage) was the lead announcer -- and apparently there wasn't any of the excitement (some might say over-the-top-ism) of NBC's coverage of each of Michael Phelps' swims.

Spitz did manage to do some commercials, and I remember him appearing on a Bob Hope show on TV not too long after Munich.

In the days leading up to Michael Phelps' tying and breaking Mark Spitz' mark, I heard/read a number of stories alleging that Spitz was upset RE Phelps and did not want any part of "the kid" breaking his record, to the point where Spitz "refused" to go to Beijing. (He later explained that business obligations kept him in the US, and that he did not want to distract from Phelps' moment in the sun.) However, in the live interview Bob Costas did with the two mermen (to use a word old school yearbooks used for male swimmers), Spitz seemed incredibly gracious, giving Phelps his props.

It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for Phelps. One sure bet: He won't be appearing on The Bob Hope Show. ;-(

Mark

ideamark · 08-18-2008, 01:29 AM

One thing that has bugged me about this week's coverage of The Phelps Phenomeon: The assertion that he is easily The Greatest Olympic Athlete Ever, almost as if no one else were worthy of consideration.

I think there are a number of ways to measure greatness. One, is by incredible performance in your sport, especially in terms of gold medals... which Michael Phelps would probably win, hands down.

However, for my way of thinking, there are also other factors. Like standing up to evil, as Jesse Owens did in Berlin at the 1936 Olympics. Or blazing new trails, as Owens did for African-Americans... or Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, 1932 Olympics superstar, did for women.

I also have incredible respect for anyone who's won gold in the decathlon... though it would be way cooler if, as in ancient times, wrestling were part of the mix.

Mark

Eric Heiden

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