Michael Phelps Great. Eric Heiden Greatest.

"Eric Heiden won gold medals in all five speed skating competitions at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY -- 500 meters, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. Generally, at the Olympic level, skaters hone their skills for either the short races or for the long races, but nobody before or since has even won all five events. In fact, Heiden was one of only two men competing in all five events that year. In total he beat 144 competitors in the five events."

Winning the Gold Medal in all five speed skating events in Lake Placid is like winning the marathon and 100 meters in track and field. I'm not going to discount what Phelps did, but what Heiden did will never be done again. It's not even an argument as to these two American athletes are probably the best we'll ever see outside the 1992 "Dream Team."

(sorry about the link below, but the nbc network is full of assholes - highlight it and click)
www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0811_hd_swb_hl_l0194.com

I've been watching this relay swim every minute of every day. It's awesome. But what Eric Heiden did is the most underrated accomplishment of all time. Too add on that statement, always keep in mind his friends claimed he was bombed up at the USA - USSR hockey game ('Miracle On Ice' game) the night before the 10,000 meter marathon race and didn't sleep at all. Amazing.