There's a bit of a debate going on as to whether or not Michael Phelps is the Greatest Olympian of All Time because of his record-breaking 19 medals (and he has the possibility to finish off this Olympics with 22). Watching the CTV/TSN coverage of the games, Dave Randorf asked his co-host, Olympian Catriona Lemay-Doan, for her take as her experience (though winter) made her the resident expert. Though up for debate, she determined that Phelps is not the Greatest Olympian of All Time, and with that, I agree. It turns out Catriona and I are on the same wave length (as if she wasn't awesome enough already).
Here's the argument Catriona and I have made. Certainly, Phelps is the most decorated, but all of his medals were earned in swimming. No, we're not knocking swimmers, we're just pointing out that he really only has one field, one specialty. So if Phelps isn't the Greatest Olympian with all those medals, who is? Once again, Catriona Lemay-Doan and I are in agreement. The Greatest Olympian of All Time goes to Canada's Clara Hughes. She's the only Olympian to have won medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. She was a cyclist first, both in the velodrome, and distance, where she's won bronze medals, and in the winter games, she was a long-track speed skater, winning every colour medal imaginable. Her medal count may be fewer than 19 (coming in with a total of 6), but given her versatility, and ability to medal in more than one sport, she is certainly derserving of the title of Greatest Olympian.
When all is said and done, though, this is the last Olympic Games for both Phelps and Clara Hughes. Each are going out with a bang. Phelps knowing that he's the most decorated, and Clara, even though she didn't win any medals this year, gets to retire with a smile and pride, knowing that she's done what no one else has been capable of.
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