[Tournament] 2008 Olympic Games discussion thread

Originally Posted by Cal

The Phelps media-rimjob's made me realise how much of a no-show our men's team is this Games. Who have we got? Sullivan? He's good at one thing. Hackett gives a toss about nothing but the 1500 gold, and I wouldn't put it past him to announce retirement right on getting out of the water. The rest of them are our B-team at any other Olympics, frankly.

The women, on the other hand...

Phelps is said to be the best and most complete swimmer ever. True, very true on short 'racing' distances (< 400m). I dont know anything about his racing performance on long distances (> 1500m). I really marvel at Hackett's mastery - for me personally he's the greatest pool swimmer (I *love* pool swimming! 3.0-5.0km per workout session) on the Olympic tournament.
For 'each' of the 100m's (15 x 100m = 1500m) he needs less than 1min. So crazy.

I can swim 3.0km's without a break in a steady tempo in 45-50mins (sorry for bragging *g*), thinking of myself that i am quick (since i outswim *any* other in that same pool during that long time)...but Hackett...done in < 30mins., for him not a problem at all. He's my personal swimming hero and idol. Not da Phelps.

Swimming superfast on short distances is not an art.
Swimming superfast in a young fresh body is no art, either. (Usain Bolt is 21!!)
Yet, swimming superfast on long distances (>1.5km) is a piece of art, the supreme! And here, nobody could ever beat Hackett. A guy for eternity.

[...]

Ah, btw, does NE1 know details on the (average) daily swimming pensum of the U.S. or Australian boys, e.g. Phelps? I heard that some of them train 15km's every single day.

Crazeeeeeeeeee...

Hackett lost, and he was far from his own world record! (Bye Hackett, farewell, time to retire.)

i am severely disappointed, lost a hero, and am now looking for a new idol. And found one: Not Phelps, not Hackett, but

Rebecca Soni



Jam it back in, in the dark.