Build The Statue Now: Phelps Becomes The Greatest

Caution: The cement is still wet.

It will dry soon, after we can all take a break, sit back, and come to terms with what just took place in Beijing. And it will not crack for years, if not ever.

Michael Phelps has solidified himself as the greatest swimmer ever, the greatest Olympian ever, the greatest athlete of our time, and arguably and quite possibly the greatest athlete ever. He came into the Olympics with a chance to tie and break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympic games, back in 1972. And with all the press and publicity surrounding his chase for immortality, he delivered.

Could you have scripted the way he won any better than it actually happened? (Here's a hint: Don't even try, because it's not possible.) He won races by landslides (or should I say waterslides?) He made our hearts pound even harder in the 100 meter butterfly, winning by the slimmest of margins (.01 seconds), and was part of magical relay teams that dominated and posted enormous comebacks.

But there lies the reason behind his eight. He had to rely on teammates to produce, and they answered. This is what makes him such a great athlete, with comparisons to Michael Jordan (basketball) and Lance Armstrong (cycling). Both dominated their sports by themselves, often captivating the world in their pursuit of their personal greatness, but relied on their teammates to deliver championships and key wins. And who could forget the way Phelps played the role of cheerleader during Jason Lezak's amazing comeback in the 4 x 200 freestyle relay? He was more concerned about his team than himself, a concept most athletes cannot grasp.

Take a moment to inhale what has all happened, and then take some time to reflect on the words that are on most people's minds:

Greatest. Athlete. Ever.

Could it be? I know there are critics out there who claim swimming is not as rigorous on the body due to the turnaround time between races, but those are the same critics who do not train and swim for eight to ten hours a day. Those are the same critics who probably can not swim 50 meters in under a minute. Those are the same critics who will get on me (and I guarantee I am not alone in making this claim) because it is simply impossible to compare athletes of different sports, of different eras, and possibly of different amounts of media coverage.

He is a machine, a superhuman, and now the greatest. He now has sixteen medals in his Olympic career, with fourteen of them being gold. What more does he have to prove to us in order for us to accept him as the person and athlete he is? He takes criticism and turns it into motivation, and great athletes always make a habit of doing that. He practices like no other athlete, breaking world record after world record, which displays his dedication to his work ethic. He puts his trust in his teammates to come through for himself, but more importantly for their country. And he attracts a following that is unparalleled in any other sport, even considering swimming is not the most popular sport in the United States.

Will he come back in 2012 and go for more? Skeptics claim he might do the unthinkable: finish on the highest of notes: perfection. But being an athlete, and an athlete that will improve on his few weaknesses and begin to crave more gold will likely push him to swim again in four years.

We will not see anything as dominant as we did for a long, long time. In fact, I can safely say I do not believe I'll see a swimmer with the technique, the skill, the talent, or the advantageous body in my lifetime.

He can now stand alone as the greatest Michael. Yes, the greatest now goes by the initials MP and not MJ. Move over MJ, Michael Phelps has become the best.

Congratulations, Michael. It was amazing to see your dominance, and you made us all proud to be Americans. Thank you for your ability to captivate everyone, and for pushing yourself to be the greatest.