While Bolt and Phelps are unbelievable athletes, i am getting a little tired of the narrative that they are the best ever due to winning in X amount of consecutive games, or X amount of medals over a long period of time.
Comparing longevity in the Olympics for the post-1992 athlete to the pre-1992 athlete is just ridiculous.
Mark Spitz could not continue to swim even into his mid-20's , he had to feed himself and his gfamily and get a job. Back then, unless you came from a rich background, you swam till your Senior year in college, and then you were done...maybe a year past if as mentioned your folks were rich....Remember, you could not even be on a box of Wheaties unless you gave up your Olympic eligibility. The national team could not even give you a stipend, that made you a pro! So you had to train and have a full time job that you could prove you got no special favors to aid in your training...in other words not happening!
Same was true of track guys as well..why more of them wanted to play football back then.
I know i am an old codger, i just think they shortchange the older athletes by not mentioning the dramatic change that occurred post 1992.
Now get off my lawn