Best swim race ever! IMPOSSIBLE - Popov - Hoogenband - Thorpe

[themagicone0ont]

Speedo Suits made submarines from orka fat swimmers

[themagicone0ont]

Remembering Bernard breaking his WR in his own swimming pool in Eindhoven, while VDH suffered from a back injury (again). He was so pissed about this. The 100m was his life.. Please comment

[themagicone0ont]

If I remember correctly he chose just one day before 200m not to start. He gave a lot of interviews about his fascination for the 100m. In 2008 I thought it was crazy to let a silver medal go, only because it would give you more chance on winning your third 'dream' gold medal. But after seeing dozens of interviews afterwards, I can understand. Nothing to do with arrogance or bad shape, but it was just the PASSION for the 100m. For him 100m was not just a swimming distance

[themagicone0ont]

VDH didn't start in 200m in Beijing, because he didn't care. In interviews he said many times that he easily could take the silver medal behind Phelps, and he probably would have, but wanted to focus on the 100m. He wanted to be the first to win 3 times in a row the 100m. However, due the sick swim suits that heavily favored the big mussle swimmers, he couldn't win. I think that without the suits, he could and would have won 100 and maybe 200 also. Tougher races, Phelps more tired, drop 200...

[Settve]

Legend !

[falasana]

Popov seems to have a really efficient long stroke length...I think that's how he killed competition for so long.....

[Kauhaunani]

WTF hes not even wearing a cap!!!. DAYUMM

[snowboardlord4]

thats insane



[Rac1ng4Live]

@percdann you know VDH did not start the 200 free because in Beijng the finals were held in the morning and prelims in the evening (which Phelps was strongly in favor of, accidentally). This made the 200 free harder to combine with the 100 free program, which is his best event.

I do not say he would've had a chance of reaching Phelps's 1.42,96, but he didn't quit on the 200 because of fear of Phelps. I think he would've been confortably second, way behind Phelps but way in front of Vanderkaay/

[StylerKara]

Popov macht alle kaput.

[snowpants2212]

Phelps may not be one of the greatest sprinters ever, but his freestyle is designed around the 200 free, and he is undoubtedly one of the best 200 freestylers ever. This is not a lesser accomplishment than being a great sprinter like Popov, especially when you consider that the 200 has long been the most prestigious event, attracting the best swimmers of each era. Spitz, Gross, Biondi, Thorpe, Phelps; all the best 200 freestylers at their peak.

[bernabranco]

the best 3 swimmers of all time!

[percdann]

@bernabranco Eh phelps!?

[guspopov]

@percdann phelps is not a great free style swimmer and the free style is the fastest and the most important style. phelps was always a failure in 100 free style and 400 free style...

[Tom891017]

@guspopov excuse me? not a great freestyle swimmer? He swam ~47.50 in 2008 in the 100m, that was right on the old world record. He held the world record for the 200m until biederman suited up and now without the suits probably only is threatened by lochte.

How is that not being great at freestyle? You can say 400m freestyle isn't his best distance for that stroke because he's still world record holder for 400m IM.

[guspopov]

@Tom891017 yes, he is not a super swimmer in the free style. he made 47:50 in 2008 WITH A PLASTIC SUIT. eamon sullivan won him easily in the first round of the 4x100 free style relay making 47:05 and phelps was 1,5 meters behind in that race. in 2005 in the world champs was 7º in 100 free style. in 400 was 15º. in 200 meters he always was beaten by thorpe... phelps is a swimmer from another planet in fly and medley style but he is not a legend in the free style and he will never be...

[DangerManG14]

@guspopov

well thats just one idiots opinion. im not gonna get worked up over some guy that has no idea what he is talkin about

[jordanpopov1]

@DangerManG14 i give you stats (best position in 100: 7º , best position in 400:15º, in 200 losing with thorpe,biderman, lochte.... you are only in love with michael phelps. greetings.

[TheSwimmingworld]

@jordanpopov1 All in it's perspective i agree with u. Phelps isn't a freestyle legend like Popov, VDH and Thorpe were in their time. Although getting 7th, 15th are his worst freestyle performances on world stage, I think u forget to mention he was the king of the 200m freestyle during 2005-2008. Too me he's not a legend in freestyle but the greatest swimmer the world has ever seen.

[jordanpopov1]

@TheSwimmingworld yes, i agree with you

[guspopov]

@guspopov yes, he is not a super swimmer in the free style. he made 47:50 in 2008 WITH A PLASTIC SUIT. eamon sullivan won him easily in the first round of the 4x100 free style relay making 47:05 and phelps was 1,5 meters behind in that race. in 2005 in the world champs was 7º in 100 free style. in 400 was 15º. in 200 meters he always was beaten by thorpe... phelps is a swimmer from another planet in fly and medley style but he is not a legend in the free style and he will never be...

[DangerManG14]

@guspopov

you talk about how Sullivan beat Phelps in the 100 free at the Beijing games. Well did Sullivan have 7 other events to swim like Phelps? Hell no he didn't. Sullivan and most other swimmers were well rested while Phelps still managed to pull off 8 world records. And you have the nerve to say that Phelps isn't a great freestyle swimmer. Your comments are ridiculously biased.

[jordanpopov1]

@DangerManG14 phelps is not a fantastic free style swimmer. i repeat . the best position of phelps in 100 free style has been 7º. the best position of phelps in 400 free style was 15º. in 200 was beaten by thorpe all the times. that,s the real truth. if you dont like is not my problem. greetings.

[percdann]

@guspopov Phelps is not a great freestyle swimmer? VDH in this video retired from the 200m free after phelps whopped him so badly. Phelps is good at the 100free just not as good as he is at others. I cant believe you said the best swimmer of all time isnt a great freestyle swimmer....thats nonsense!

[jordanpopov1]

@percdann well...what i wanted to say is that pehlps is a good free style swimmer but he is not a legend in the free style. he is the best ever in fly and medley , a real legend. but he is not a legend in the free style, but obviously phelpsis an incredible swimmer, of course...