We're all going on a...

...fortnight's holiday to Lanzarote, so see you when we return  Cannot however go off without commenting once again (see post dated 29/8/08) on the suggestion that Michael Phelps is the "greatest Olympian" of all time on the basis that he has won more medals than anyone else.  Most decorated yes, greatest swimmer, almost certainly, but greatest overall?  Look at it this way - suppose you are a runner, a sprinter.  At the Olympics, there are three events you can take part in - 100 metres, 200 metres and the 4x100 metres relay.  If you are a swimmer specialising in 100 metre and 200 metre events, there are no less than twelve events for you to take part in - (deep breath) 100 metres freestyle, 100 metres butterfly, 100 metres backstroke, 100 metres breaststroke, 200 metres freestyle, 200 metres butterfly, 200 metres backstroke, 200 metres breaststroke, 200 metres individual medley, 4x100 metres freestyle relay, 4x200 metres freestyle relay and 4x100 metres medley relay.  So if such a runner and swimmer are on top of their game and sweep all before them, the runner will come away with three gold medals and the swimmer with anything up to twelve.  Does this mean that the swimmer is a "greater" athlete than the runner?  Or simply that they have had more opportunity to demonstrate their talent?