Students: Casey Wyatt, Cody Moles, Timothy Martinez, Gio Benitez
The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics exemplified the remarkable progress and growth of the Modern Olympic Games since their rebirth in 1896. Aided by technological advances in communication and transportation, the interest, attendance, and extravagance of the Games increased over the decades. However, the essence of the Olympics remains athletic achievement. Two athletes in particular truly made lasting marks in 2008, becoming absolutely quintessential to the achievements of the modern Games. Michael Phelps of the United States won eight gold medals in various swimming events, establishing seven world records and emerging as the face of competitive swimming worldwide. Using medals as the standard, Phelps is the most successful Olympic athlete of all time. However, the 2008 Olympics also saw the rise of the fastest human ever, the Jamaican, Usain Bolt. The 100-meter dash might be argued as the most competitive and exciting event in the Summer Games, yet Bolt completely shattered the world record, and doing so while celebrating during the last ten meters. While he failed to match the total gold medals of Phelps, Bolt’s feat may be regarded as equally monumental or possibly greater. Considering the inherent qualities of each respective sport, the competition both athletes faced, and a statistical analysis of their respective performances, this group of researchers seeks to determine which feat proved the most outstanding.
Schreiner University 