Phelps More Decorated than the Queen

With the Olympics here, there have been many stories to follow that no one can keep up with. One that everyone in the world can keep up with is Michael Phelps. He is chasing the all time medal record of 18. He already secured a silver from the 4 x 100 M Freestyle relay and yesterday he participated in two events to help him get past the record. He first had to settle for Silver in the 200 M Butterfly and then went into to help team USA in the 4 x 200 M freestyle relay. He actually didn't seem to do much in that event, comparatively. He went last and but by the time his turn came around, team USA had a huge lead that Phelps couldn't lose. US take the gold in the event and Phelps takes his 19th medal in his Olympic Career officially becoming the single most decorated Olympian.

While Phelps on an individual level hasn't been his best, he still gets medals and still gets a gold. With 19 total medals and a 15th Gold Medal (Most Gold All Time), the critics will now praise Phelps as the greatest Olympian who ever competed. While I will say he is one of the best, I'm not sure he is the best ever. He's definitely the most decorated and he will certainly have more chances at medals in this Olympiad, but it's swimming... that's it. It's one sport that gives someone the opportunity to win many medals. By the number of events you have to do, the Decathlon is the greatest Olympic sport and it's champion the greatest. OK, the medal carries more weight that any swimming medal at the very least.

My point is valid, though. Michael Phelps is without a doubt the best swimmer of all time but that doesn't necessarily make him the greatest Olympian of all time.