Michael Phelps: Big Fish in a Small Pool?Randy Shawbyline‚ Aug. 19‚ 2008Winning eight gold medals in a single Olympics is an achievement for the ages. And given Michael Phelps’ prior success in the 2004 Games, there is little doubt that he is history’s greatest competitive swimmer. But before proclaiming Phelps among the world’s greatest athletes, should we not ask: how many potentially great athletes seek to become competitive swimmers? Few African-Americans pursue this goal. Nor do we see young boys from Latin America, who now fill Major League Baseball rosters, seeking to become great swimmers. Competitive swimming is a sport that attracts an infinitesimal percentage of potentially great athletes when compared to basketball, football, soccer, baseball, tennis and golf. Phelps’ great triumph is an historic milestone, but it occurred in a particularly small pond. |