Michael Phelps, Best Athlete of our Generation

Michael Phelps set the world record today for most medals in Olympic history, and I think that he is the best athlete of our generation.

Some may think of Kobe Bryant, some may think of Tom Brady, some of Venus and Serena Williams, other of Tiger Woods, and others of Derek Jeter, but I truly believe it is Michael Phelps.  I have never seen someone dominate their sport at such a young age, and I can honestly say that even thought I have mentioned the athletes above. 

Phelps only gets the chance to compete in the Olympics every four years, unlike these other players and athletes who can compete in their respective sports championships every year.  Phelps made a name for himself in the Athens games back in 2004 where he won six gold Medals and two bronze medals at the age of nineteen. 

In 2008 he won eight gold medals, and I was blown away by his performance, I remember not sleeping to well during those Olympic games because I would stay up to watch all of his performances.  I remember watching his eighth gold medal win and I was excited to see history, I realized at that moment that I was witnessing the birth of a legend. 

Today was what solidified his status and lore in Olympic history forever, he won a record breaking nineteenth medal, and out of the nineteen that he has won fifteen of them are gold medals, two are bronze, and two are silver which is extremely impressive.

Phelps is only twenty seven and is the most decorated Olympian of all time, which is hard to believe, compare this to Laris Latynina who was thirty one when she won her eighteenth medal, and she has nine gold medals compared to Phelps fifteen. 

Never before have I seen a single person be this dominant at their sport and set records at such a young age.  Phelps, in my mind, has another year of Olympics left in him, and if he does he could be over twenty medals, if not twenty-five by the time he retires if he so chooses to go another round in the Olympics in 2016.

As much as I respect Kobe, Brady, Jeter, the Willams twins, and Tiger Woods, I still think Phelps is better.  He has done so much at such a young age, and to think he was only twenty-three when he won eight gold medals, just crazy.  He has made the sport of swimming popular, and also interesting to watch, I have never seen a swimmer get so much attention, and it seems since he has become so big that swimming has as well. 

If Phelps keeps this up who knows what his track record will be like, and I really do not think we will see another like Phelps for a long time to come.  I think at this moment in time we can all enjoy what Michael has given us, not only a love for the sport of swimming, but also a life time of memories and medals.