Phelps-Bolt: Why their Feats are Impossible for the Average Person

Phelps and Bolt have transcended biological limitations, writes Pankaj Agrawal.

Gold medalist Michael Phelps (C) of the United States of America showing his medal during the awarding ceremony for the men’s 200m butterfly final of swimming at the Rio Olympic Games 9 August, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

This May, I watched an IPL T-20 Cricket match between RCB and Gujarat Lions. South African batsman AB de Villiers (ABD) and Virat Kohli, playing for RCB, were decimating Lion’s bowling attack. ABD was even more destructive and poor Suresh Raina, captain of Gujarat Lions was absolutely clueless about how to stop this juggernaut and rein ABD in. ABD was punishing deliveries irrespective of their merit. He scored a swashbuckling century and RCB crushed the Gujarat Lions with immaculate ease.

After the match, discussions were on among a group of friends on WhatsApp. As we went gaga over ABD’s performance, one of my friends commented, “DNA of three sportsmen is not in line with that of Homo sapiens (biological name of human). They are a different breed altogether.” The three persons he was referring to were: ABD, Michael Phelps & Usain Bolt.

The statement was made three months before Rio happened and now when the Olympics is past half way mark, it is apparent that Bolt and Phelps are indeed a different breed; their genomes are different. After all, what both of them have achieved is out of limits for a normal human being.

Jamaican speedster Usain Bolt in action during Mens 100m heats at the Rio Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on 13 August, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

Marvelous Achievements of Phelps and Bolt

Phelps signed off his magnificent Olympic expedition with a staggering 23 gold medals, spanning four Olympics. It is an arduous task to maintain a winning spree in such a physically demanding sport for a decade-and-a-half. Where Phelps stands today can be judged from the fact that the person next in the list of highest number of Olympic gold medal holders is 14 medals behind the ace American swimmer. (Nine gold medals each for Larisa Latyina, Paavo Nurmi, Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis).

Then there is this phenomenal Jamaican man with mercurial abilities, Usain Bolt. Very few would disagree that 100m race is the most coveted & popular event of Olympic and Bolt completed a hat-trick of gold medals in this event with gold at Rio on 14th August; a feat which could not be achieved by even the greatest of athletes.

Olympic Games have witnessed many greats over the past 120 years. Paavo Nurmi “The Flying Finn” created history in mid/long distance running during the decade of twenties with nine Olympic gold medals. Then there was charismatic Dutch lady Fanny Koen, who ruled track & field in 1948 London Olympic with four gold medals, that too at the age of 30 as a mother of a seven-year-old.

Saga of Olympic Feats

American swimmer Mark Spitz raised the bar further and made history at Munich in 1972 when he grabbed seven gold medals in a single Olympic. Next in line of these greats is Carl Lewis. Lewis won four gold medals in 1984 Los Angles Olympic and won another five in next three Olympics during 1988-96. He won an unprecedented four consecutive gold medals in Long Jump at Olympic.

Mark Spitz’s seven gold epic at Munich withstood the test of times for many years. I remember that in mid-eighties, American swimmer Matt Biondi was regarded as one of the greatest ever swimmer. Before the start of 1988 Seoul Olympic, the general belief was that Biondi can overtake Spitz’s record of seven gold at single Olympic in Seoul. Biondi actually did very well but could manage only five gold medals, two short of Spitz. In the same Olympic, German swimmer Kristin Otto bagged six gold medals in swimming, but still one short of Spitz’s record.

But what Biondi missed, was finally achieved by his fellow countryman Phelps in 2008. Phelps ruled the pool in 2008 and secured eight gold medals in a single Olympic and broke Spitz’s 36-year-old record.

Records that Can’t be Surpassed

Bolt is the only man in the history of games to win three consecutive gold medals in any track event at Olympic, let alone the 100m. He holds World Record and Olympic Record for both 100m and 200m. He undoubtedly and undisputedly, is the greatest sprinter mankind has ever witnessed; the fastest human ever. Bolt has a habit of winning. In the final 100m run at Rio, Bolt was well behind Gatlin till the half way mark but he chased him down with ease. Bolt remains the most charismatic athlete on and off the track. His signature celebration is out of league and immensely popular.

In sports, it is said that records are meant to be broken but it is doubtful that Phelps’ record of 23 Olympic gold medals would ever be surpassed. On the same line, it is very unlikely that after Bolt, someone would again win three consecutive gold medals at Olympic in 100m sprint and would hold the World & Olympic record of both 100m and 200m at the same time.

Chares Darwin had put up a theory that evolution is a never-ending process and all species are bound to evolve with time, but I wonder whether man can evolve beyond the likes of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, as far as athleticism is concerned. My answer would be an emphatic NO.

(The writer is an IIT graduate with a passion for sports, history and politics and can be reached at @pankajag1973. This is a personal blog and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)

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