Our #6 Athlete of the Decade was only on the national stage for about a month this entire decade. Well, that's if you don't count those bong photos... But, when you break one of the most famous records in sports on the world's grandest stage, you qualify as an athlete that defined the decade. Next up on the list, the Sultan of Swim: Michael Phelps
Resume:
-14 Olympic Gold Medals (all-time record)
-8 Gold Medals in 2008 Olympics (all-time record)
-16 Olympic Medals (2nd all-time to Larissa Latinya)
-22 Gold Medals in World Championships
The Facts:
-5-time world swimmer of the year
-2008 Sportsman of the Year (SI)
-Has broken a world record a record 37 times
-Currently holds 6 world records
-Eats six times the normal male per day
Why He's Here:
-The Olympics define the best in athletic competition. So, it's only natural that the best Olympic athlete of this or perhaps any generation makes our list. Before Phelps, was Mark Spitz's 7 Gold Medals in one Olympics thought of as being a threatened record? Whenever Phelps swims in the Olympics, it is appointment viewing. Even if he doesn't come back in 2012, he is the most decorated American Olympian of all-time. The case could even be made that Phelps is the most dominant athlete in sports this decade. Of course, Phelps largely has Jason Lezak to thank for that 8th Gold Medal. Our Phelps clips pay tribute to that relay and first the dramatic comeback in the 100m Butterfly!
Lasting Impact:
-Much like our last athlete, Kobe Bryant, Phelps has had his share of out-of-pool instances that has taken some of the shine off of his golden boy reputation. Does this photo ring a bell? The Bonggate saga along with his 2004 DUI produce some stains on Phelps' lasting impact. Of course, not every athlete is perfect. But, the bong photos produced a hysteria not seen when other athletes get in trouble. If that was a defensive tackle or a shooting guard would there be the same outrage that was thrown towards the greatest Olympic champion of our day?
If Phelps is the most dominant athlete and greatest Olympian of the decade, then why isn't he #1? Or at least in the Top 5? Well, his Olympic pedigree works against him in this regard. Michael Phelps shows up for 2 weeks on the national radar every 4 years and then disappears again. Phelps isn't in the national conversation on a 24/7 basis like the stars of the NFL or the NBA. Sure, if he swims in a World Championship or other meet he might show up on SportsCenter, but that's about it. 14 Golds is an amazing achievement, but does it mean as much in a here & now Twittering world?
And, he swims. He doesn't play quarterback. He doesn't hit home runs. Heck, he doesn't even drive a stock car. Swimming is somewhere between poker and bass fishing in the grand sports lexicon. Swimming's stature and popularity means that Phelps isn't the breakthrough, transcendent star that he could be if he played a more consistently popular sport. At least Phelps can take solace in being the greatest swimmer, and perhaps greatest Olympian in recorded history (unless there was some superhuman Roman swimmer at the turn of the first century that we don't know about...)
Check back with RSS as we hit the Top 5 in our Athletes of the Decade Countdown! And a special Championship Game Preview coming later today of something you need to see!
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