2012 Olympics: Why Michael Phelps Could Never Match Epic 2008

As a sports fan I peed in my pants when Michael Phelps made history and won his eighth gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sadly, he won’t be able to match that epic performance this year in London.

If you live under a rock or were abducted by aliens during the year of 2008, I’ll give you a bit of sports history. 

Phelps entered Beijing as a heavy favorite in the pool but no one could predict the feat that would unfold. He started off his endeavor by winning the gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley, as well as breaking his own world record by nearly two seconds. 

Michael followed that performance up by winning his second gold medal of the 2008 Olympics in the men's 4×100 meter freestyle relay. 

The gold medals kept piling up after that as Phelps nabbed first place in the 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly, 4×200 meter freestyle relay and 200-meter individual medley. Those amazing performances were all world records. 

In the 100-meter butterfly Phelps had stiff competition from Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic. The American quickly dismissed Cavic en route to his seventh gold medal but it was not without controversy. 

He beat Cavic by 1/100 of a second and it was later realized that Cavic touched the wall first but Phelps did it more forcefully. This registered his time first and preserved the win. 

On August 17, Phelps did it and won his eighth gold medal in the men’s 4×100 meter medley relay, breaking Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals won in a single Olympic Games. 

With that Phelps completed arguably the greatest single sports achievement of all time. 

But he won’t be able to match it. Now before you get your Speedo in a bunch, hear me out. 

For starters, it is impossible for Phelps to match his historic accomplishment. Why? He won’t be competing in all the events. 

"I won't be doing eight (events) again,” Phelps said at the 2011 Santa Clara International Grand Prix. "That is out of the question,” he added. 

His coach Bob Bowman was supportive of his swimmers decision when he said, "He's climbed Mount Everest. I don't think he needs to do it twice to show he can do it.”

London will be the last Olympic games for Phelps so it will impressive if he goes out with a bang. Even if the living legend wins two or three golds that will still be impressive. Sadly, it won’t be able to hold a candle to 2008. 

The only problem is Phelps won’t be able to grab the six or seven gold medals needed to come close to his Beijing explosion. 

Clearly he is aging and might not be up the challenge but the devil is not inside Phelps. He has proven time and time again that he can take control of his body to make it do unrealistic feats. 

No, the obstacle isn’t Phelps himself. The obstacle is his competition. 

The Australian Ian Thorpe is coming out of retirement just for these games, and even on the American side there is a good pool (no pun intended) of talent. 

That pool includes upstart phenomenon Ryan Lochte. 

Lochte helped Phelps win his gold medals in 2008 by participating on the U.S.A. men's relay squad. But now he is ready to step out of Phelps’ giant shadow. 

At the 2011 World Aquatics Championships, Lochte won five golds medals and added a bronze to his growing collection. 

He beat his fellow countryman head to head in the 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley.  

In addition to that outstanding performance, Lochte was named the 2011 World Swimmer of the Year and 2011 American Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine. He was also named the best male swimmer for 2011 by FINA Aquatics World Magazine. 

Lochte has the ability and talent to beat an aging Michael Phelps. 

He will splash onto the world stage this summer. 

And let us just say that somehow The Baltimore Bullet is able to pull off yet another amazing feat and grab six gold medals. 

Will that really be more impressive then his 2008 eight gold medal haul in Beijing? 

No. The Fish has already shocked the world. If he does it again the achievement will lose it’s surprise factor. 

The world expects a historic performance from Phelps. 

It’s comparable to your middle school. The first guy who kisses a girl is revered and respected by the nose-picking, paper airplane throwing adolescent male community. But if he does it again? The feat loses its awesomeness. 

Phelps has already reached the edge of history. If he wanders there again the magic is lost. He has proven that this insane accomplishment is possible. We get it. The dude can swim. 

A four-year-old going to Disney World for the first time is a heck of a lot more magical then a ten-year-old's second visit. 

Phelps is already at the top of the world. He can’t, and won’t, get much higher (no pun intended).