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08-02-2024, 04:10 PM | #31 |
Just a li'l Evel
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It's tough to compare across sports because the challenges/requirements/opportunities are so different.
Phelps I imagine trained like a beast and had many opportunities and of course a level of physical advantage (size and shape of body and hands, VO2 max etc - physiological things that you can only develop so much) but call his achievements perfection of technique combined with conditioning and mental drive during the event. Biles, there are physical requirements/abilities etc. as well, but the element of artistry/choreogrpaphy, rhythm etc adds an additional element above swimming that plays into one's success. Swimming there's technique, how you move the water around you, etc, that shaves milliseconds off when done perfectly. So it's a bit different and hard to compare IMO. plus, Biles probably changed the sport more. The way Mahomes is changing how QBs play, how kids now are aspiring to play, and how defenses and teams are schemed. |
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08-02-2024, 04:27 PM | #32 | |
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08-02-2024, 04:36 PM | #33 |
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For straight up domination and ass-whooping you have to consider Katie Ledecky.
She won the 1500 and could have got out of the pool made a cup of coffee before the next swimmer touched the wall. She has the top 20 times in the event - in the history of the event. |
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08-02-2024, 04:38 PM | #34 |
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08-02-2024, 04:43 PM | #35 |
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I would think a good test would be how they compared to their peers in their primes along with how long they sustained that superiority. Looking at Phelps it’s very hard to argue against his dominance for almost two decades.
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08-02-2024, 04:46 PM | #36 |
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Yeah, Biles has similar domination if we're throwing in non-Olympic performance, which we should, but Ledecky didn't take 2 years off.
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08-02-2024, 04:46 PM | #37 |
What's up braj?
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She also looks like those chicks at that bar scho was bitching about
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08-02-2024, 05:20 PM | #38 | |
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08-02-2024, 05:20 PM | #39 |
What's up braj?
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08-02-2024, 05:24 PM | #40 |
Perpetual Mediocrity
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She's got about a dozen more years to reach LeBron status.
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08-02-2024, 05:25 PM | #41 |
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08-02-2024, 05:27 PM | #42 |
In Search of a Life
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In fairness, Phelps had mental issues of his own that led to a dui and a suspension. Unlike biles it just didn’t coincide with the Olympics. Also have to consider that biles is doing this beyond at an age where most gymnasts have long retired.
Still, I just have a hard time saying it’s not Phelps or eventually ledecky. |
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08-02-2024, 05:27 PM | #43 |
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08-02-2024, 05:29 PM | #44 |
Needs more middle fingers
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08-02-2024, 05:29 PM | #45 |
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