Eric Heiden vs. Michael Phelps

Alright, Heiden always gets screwed because he is overshadowed the 1980 hockey team beating Russia, which was awesome, don't get me wrong.

Heiden won Gold in the 500m, 1000, 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meter speed skating races in the same Olympics. That's a lot bigger spread in distances than Phelps, while I'll admit, there are no different strokes in Heiden's case.

Heiden never competed in another Olympics, tried long distance biking. He received his doctorate from Stanford in 1991. He is now an orthopedic surgeon with nothing in his office detailing his 1980 sweep. His medals sit in a draw at home.

He at least compares to what Phelps did. Were skating relays not part of the 1980 Olympics? Or are there speed skating relays, I don't remember.

 

No, The only time a "relay" has been done in the Winter Olympics was in the 2006 games in Torino when the Team Pursuit event was added to the Speed Skating program.

Heiden's feats in Lake Placid are quite memorable in that he won every race that is offered in speed skating. To match Heiden, Phelps would have had to win at short distances (which he did at 100-200 meters), middle distance (400 meters), and long distances (1500 meters and 10k open-water marathon).

Phelps' longest race has only been 200 meters, while Heiden's races were much, much longer. However, Phelps won at all disciplines (when he competed in the individual and team medleys), while Heiden did a single discipline at short, middle and long distances. Each is quite a feat, but of course, Phelps will always get credit for winning more medals.

 

They are equal for their respective competitions.

Heiden was a beast on skates.

Phelps a best in the water.

Comparing the 2 is fair. Asking which was greater is a waste of time.

 

If you're wearing skates and not playing hockey, you're a fag.

 

of course.

 

1980 Winter Olympics - Lake Placid, NY

Eric Heiden, America Speed Skater, won all 5 races: 500, 1000, 1500, 5000 meter all on his own.

This was the first time, in the history of Winter Olympics, that an athlete ever won 5 medals on his own.

The great America swimmer, Mark Spitz, won 7 medals in the 1972 Summer Olympics ... but he only won 4 of the 7 by himself - the other 3 were awarded to Spitz as one member of a team.

Why is there all this talk, comparing Michael Phelps to Spitz ... but very little in comparison to the stronger athlete Heiden? Historians my @ss.

 

you left out the 10,000 meter (that would equal 5 races, not the 4 you listed).

 

It really is impressive. It would be like Bolt winning the mile and the marathon on top of the 100 and 200 (and 400.)

People would lose their mind if one person won all those races on foot. Heiden's main problem isn't Phelps, it's the lack of mindshare for speedskating and the Winter Olympics in general.

 

link?