Biggest Star/Story of the 2008 Summer Olympics

Share your thoughts on what was the biggest, best, and most memorable moments, teams, and individuals from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games!

 

I'll go with Phelps, although there were many huge stories. The volleyball tragedy and subsequent victories were very moving, the Redeem Team and its womanly counterpart played like teams and got the job done, the Chinese controversies, be they political or athletic, obviously took up a lot of spotlight, and Usain Bolt was phenomenal. Still, the biggest story going in is the biggest story coming out: Michael Phelps left with the gold medals he was supposed to, and he earned them in breathtaking fashion.

 

Phelps, hands down. The greatest Olympian in history is definitely the biggest star.

Now, that doesn't mean there weren't great stories, like Onoto said, but dern. I mean, Phelps. 'Nuff said.

 

My favorite thing from the Olympics was the US Basketball team reclaiming gold. That said, Phelps has to be the biggest star and storyline - Eight. Gold. Medals. Seven world records. 'Nuff said.

Also, Usain Bolt and Walsh/May-Treanor were incredible. But still, Phelps. Yeah. Phelps.

 

Phelps, hands down.

 

Is this really even a poll? Phelps the Fish.

-B-

 

I loved Phelps. He climbed the unclimbable mountain and had some amazing moments along the way (100 Butterfly, 4x100 mens Freestyle relay). The man is a legend, no question.

But it was expected.

For me, Usain Bolt is the star of these Olympics. Not only did he win the premier event of the games, the 100m sprint, he demolished the world record whilst appearing to barely try. Then, he backed up and broke Michael Johnsons 200m world record, something many thought would never be done. Finally, he finished it off in the 4x100 mens relay with a fantastic third leg. Not only that, but his attitude towards the sport, his fellow competitors and the way he entertains the crowd is a refreshing change.

He passes Phelps in my mind because all he did was so unexpected. Noone saw it coming, and the way he utterly dominated the competition is something I'll remember for a long time.

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There's so many great moments that are missing from this list, but for my mind the most uplifting story for me was that of the German Weightlifter who lost his wife in a car accident a year before the games, and carried a picture of her as he won the gold.

We witnessed possibly the greatest distance runner of all time win gold in the 10,000, before outsprinting the 1500m runners at the end of the 5000 in Keninisa Bekele

And as an Australian, it was fantastic to watch Matthew Mitcham, on his last dive, score perfect 10's to win the last individual diving gold medal and deny the Chinese a clean sweep.

 

As much as I loved the Redeem Team's attitude, and even though Usain Bolt is living proof that the Speed Force exists and can be accessed, Phelps's accomplishment is one for the ages. And achieved in dramatic fashion too.

 

Phelps definitely. He went out there to do something people said was impossible and he did it. Some of those races were absolutely amazing, especially the two he won by 1/100 of a second. That's just insane! But he did it, breaking world records as he went.

 

For sheer achievement, Phelps; for personality, Bolt.

 

15, 20 years down the line, when people look back at this Olympics it will be Phelps and what he accomplished that they remember.

 

1. Bolt
2. Phelps
3. China beating the USA in the medal table.

 

3. China beating the USA in the medal table.

In golds, but not in total medal count.

 

I found Bolt more exciting, but I'd probably have him and Phelps tied at #1. Otherwise, agree. Hasn't the Olympics always gone by the most golds (i.e. for position in the table)? Even if you assign 3 points for a gold, 2 for a silver, and 1 for a bronze, China wins.

 

The Olympics doesn't have an official medal count contest. All medal counts are just the results of media outlets using arithmetic, and the "winner" changes depending on the source.

 

The "Winner" of the Olympic Medal Count depends on who is spinning it.

Personally, I think Zimbabwe wins. Four medals, despite sending only 13 athletes to the games. That's impressive.

 

Four medals, despite sending only 13 athletes to the games. That's impressive.

Impressive indeed, I hadn't seen that stat.

 

They were all won by the one swimmer - Kirsty Coventry

 

Yeah, I know there is no 'winner'. But they have a medal table. It just seems to me that the media should use the same one.


I'm more impressed they were able to scrap together the 38,450,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Zimbabwean dollars to get their athletes to China.

 

They were all won by the one swimmer - Kirsty Coventry

That would explain it - definitely impressed by some of her swims. Still impressive as a ratio, though.

 

How could it not be Phelps with the attention he got? Not to mention the level of his accomplishment... Bolt may have been the fastest runner alive and drew some attention for his attitude, but even with that he just didn't have the charisma and power to compare to Michael Johnson. It was unfulfilling.

 

I say it's that Taekwondo bloke who kicked the ref in the face after he was disqualified.

 

That can win biggest goof of the Olympics.

 

Phelps....just rules. What else can be said.

 

How many did Togo send? They got a medal in the kayaking.