Phelps passing on his final event?!?! ** POSSIBLE SPOILERS ***

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 4:55pm

Phelps gives up spot on relay team, done for the Olympics

[Mamie]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 5:27pm

I just read that a few minutes ago. This guy is a REAL champion, isn't he? Fantastic.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 5:30pm

How does this make him a "real" champion? He's had all the publicity he could dream of (and he got even more from this act), he keeps himself from possibly not coming in first and therefore having a perfect streak, and he will still get the gold medal if the team wins. Plus he can relax! Sounds like a win-win to me.

Updated On: 8/20/04 at 05:30 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 5:31pm

It is weird how he will still get a medal if the team medal's (which they will). I never knew that.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:18pm

do you really think he came to the Games wanting all this publicity? seems to me it was Speedo that spread the hype about him by offering him a million dollars to bring home 8 gold medals... he wasn't the least bit disappointed about not having done it, in fact stating that he had a gold medal, the rest is just playtime... i don't think this is orchestrated at all, but a way to allow other team members to participate... good sportsmanship perhaps? must we be so cynical about it? Updated On: 8/20/04 at 06:18 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:19pm

Silly me. Why would someone entering the Olympics in order to win gold medals and make history want publicity? I AM cynical.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:26pm

I think it's odd that he would receive a medal even if he didn't participate.

Did the member of the American women's gymnastics team who wasn't able to participate in the All-Around the other night (when the team won a silver) win a medal? I don't think so - because this morning on the Today Show all the members had their medals around their necks and she wasn't wearing one...

I know every sport has different rules, but it doesn't make sense to me...

[Ruffian]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:39pm

He gets a Gold if the US Team wins, because he was part of the earlier heats for this race

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 7:20pm

he is one of the best swimmers in the world, in the Olympics... forgive him for wanting to win gold medals... make history? well, duh, of course he's going to make history, just as Paul Hamm did, just as all the medal winners will do... do you think he's doing this for publicity? for what gain? endorsements? he had that before he even got to Athens, just like many other athletes... yes, he'll still get the gold medal, or any medal the team wins, but is that his fault? nope, them's the rules of the competition...

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 8:37pm

Screw the publicity. He thought of his teammate, who has not won a metal, and let him have a chance to win one. So what if he gets a metal either way, Ian would not have. He thought of someone else and not JUST himself. That is what makes him a REAL champion.

[Mamie]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 8:37pm

If they win he will get a medal because he did participate - in the prelims that got them there. Those are the rules of that sport. By allowing another team member to take his place, he gives the other fellow a chance to also get a medal. Be cynical if you want, I say that takes sportsmanship and caring for his teammates. I wish more people his age showed that kind of thinking.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 9:12pm

You all misunderstood me. I'm not saying this particular move was FOR publicity. I'm saying he has already gotten more out of this than most people will ever get out of their entire lives. So we shouldn't elevate him to sainthood for giving up one small piece of it. Perhaps he's tired and wants to relax and enjoy the rest of the Olympics without stress. He has that option, so he took it.

Posted: 8/20/04 at 10:02pm

Rathnait - your assessment cannot be faulted for inaccuracy, but I'm not sure it ackowledges fully the thought that he simply didn't have to do it - and that many in todays culture wouldn't - at least by the examples we are shown.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 10:12pm

ah, rath, thank you for clearing that up for me... i did mis-understand what you were saying... now, i see from where you're coming... sad to say and unfortunately, the media will hype this up as well, and then we'll all be tired of him...

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 12:42am

"and he got even more from this act"

What act might that be??

How amazingly cynical of you, to doubt the guys motives. He's giving his team mate the opportunity to win a gold medal he would otherwise not be able to compete for.

He may be tired. And feels that by passing on this event he will give his team a even better shot at winning.

These guys have a rivalry, instead of reveling in his win over his rival he offers him an opportunity that will allow him to stand on the podium as a champion. One wonders if you would offer your rival the opportunity in the spotlight even though it might bet better for the team. I'd play on Michael Phelps team anyday as opposed to yours.

[alterego]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 1:11am

Who is this guy Phelps? Until the beginning of the Olympics I had never heard of him (I'm in Australia). Has he had much publicity prior to the last few weeks?

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 1:13am

Yay for Aussies! (I love the Aussie swim team.)

He's pretty major in America- I guess he's our next champion over here. He's won medals in every event that he's entered so far...I think he has more than 5 medals right now.

[SammyGal]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 2:25am

awww Phelps<33

the thing is, he'll def. be back for the next Olympics and then he'll be stronger and better and more of a threat so then he can try and break Spitz's record. Good for him for now!!

Posted: 8/21/04 at 2:30am

alterego - he hasn't had the mainstream press like he's had for these games, but he's known to people who follow swimming. And he seems to be making good on his potential - much like your Thorpe

[alterego]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 3:03am

Thanks for the clarification!

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 8:03am

I think it's a terrific thing for him -- their swims are almost identical in total time --- heck he won the 100 BF by four one-hundreths of a second --- Crocker knew he had two golds on the line when he swam the individual.
Phelps is thinking of the team AND another individual -- he knows there is no risk of the team losing and his lettinf Crocker share in the glory of gold -- well, to me that's a true test of character that passes with high marks

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 9:30am

JustAGuy, read ALL my posts on this thread before attacking me. Thanks.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 9:24pm

JAG - Rath was saying that he's already got a lot of publicity (not necessarily from his own doing - just an observation) and that he has nothing to lose. Period.

I agree. And I think it's very sportsmanlike of him to give up his spot. I'm glad he gave it to Ian Crocker, and not that cocky, arrogant Gary Hall who won the 100m yesterday and was bitter about not being on the relay. No class. He didn't even acknowledge the USA swimmer he beat next to him.