Phelps rules the pool, but former track star Owens best Olympian of all time

Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympic swimmer of all time. That's what he is.

But he's not the greatest Olympian -- any sport, any era -- of all time. This is not a sabermetric debate, an answer that can be found in statistics. If it were, then sure, Michael Phelps would be the greatest Olympian ever. The man has won 20 medals, more than anyone. If this were a question of numbers, it wouldn't be a question at all. Twenty is more than 19, more than 18, 17, 16 ...

Twenty medals. Until someone comes along and puts 21 on the board, Phelps is the greatest ever.

If that were the only criteria.

To some people, of course, that is the only criteria. Anything else, anything more, would take too much effort, too much thinking. Which guy from which sport in which era is the greatest Olympian ever? Man, that's too much. But Michael Phelps has the most medals, so I say it's him!

Nonsense.

http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/story/19713121/phelps-rules-the-pool-but-former-track-star-owens-best-olympian-of-all-time