Phelps - Will he or won't he?
Opinion is divided as to whether American swimmer Michael Phelps can win a record gold medal tally at the Beijing Games.
Last Updated: 24/07/08 3:42pm
Opinion is divided as to whether American swimmer Michael Phelps can win a record gold medal tally at the Beijing Games.
The 23-year-old is bidding to beat Mark Spitz's 36-year record haul of seven gold medals at a single games, set back in the 1972 Munich Games.
He just missed out in Athens four years ago when he won six gold and two bronze medals.
He will again swim the same events in Beijing as he did in Greece - the 200m and 400m individual medleys, the 100m and 200m butterflies, the 200m freestyle and the three relays.
But Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe, a five-time Olympic swimming gold medallist who retired from the sport in 2006, does not think the American is as dominant in some events this time around.
Thorpe said: "I don't think he will win eight golds. If there is any person on the planet who is capable, it is him. It's sad, but I don't think it will happen."
Incredible competition
He added: "You've got to look at each of his individual races, he's up against incredible competition at the moment.
"Even some of his events that he has always been stronger in or had distance on his competitors, like the 200m individual medley, that distance isn't there any more.
"It's going to be really tough. I wish him all the best to do it because I would love to see it happen in Beijing. I'm sure everyone else would as well."
But Thorpe's view is not shared by Ian Pope, who coaches Australian 1500m double Olympic Gold medal winning swimmer Grant Hackett.
Pope believes Phelps is 'simply brilliant' and he can at least equal the 36-year-record.
Whole package
He said: "He will match Spitz's record. He's the greatest swimmer I have ever seen. He's got the whole package.
"He's good mentally, he's technically so much better than the rest of the world. He's simply brilliant."
