Sound off: How Impressive is Phelps record breaking medal count?
 

Michael Phelps is a record holder: he has the most medals out of any Olympian ever in history. Some are wanting to call Phelps the greatest Olympic athlete of all time, but it's worth noting that he happens to be great in a sport with numerous events. I'm not sure you can call him the best Olympic Athlete ever just based on his medal count -- as making a case for dominance in a sport long term could be made for many others.

However, winning 18 medals total (I'm avoiding Olympic results so this could have easily changed) is no small feat. It's one worthy of celebration.

So what about you? Is Michael Phelps the best ever? How impressed are you by his medal count?

He is a great swimmer & a great Olympian. But he is not the best Olympic athlete of all time. Especially when there are athletes who have competed and won medals in both the winter and summer Olympics.
Now should he show up in 2014 and compete & medal in say Speed skating, well then he moves to the top of the list.

Michael Phelps is one of the most impressive athletes of all time in any sport. Ever.

c'mon 15 of those are GOLD medals, he's been that good! I don't ever care for swimming but he's up there. Yes, there's numerous events but they compete more than once in a single day... don't think that's easy to do.

Great athlete who put in the work and dedication. But I have never viewed swimming on the same level of athleticism as, say, those competing in decathlons.

Kinda disappointed in Phelps lately, he seems to have lost his competitive drive over the last four years, darn shame too.

You gotta love a guy who can blow bingers in the evening and win 19 Olympic Medals....He has dominated that sport for 20 years no other athlete that I can remember has been that dominant for that long...maybe Gretzky.

Ummmmm.... jordan?