There is no question that both Phelps and Bolt have given olympic spectators some amazing moments from Sydney to Rio, but they have neglected to give us what the fans really want to see, a mano e mano badminton faceoff to the last drop of the birdie! Will Bolt’s speed be too much for the fish out water? Or will the versatility and length of Phelps show Usain what it really means to be an Olympic athlete? We’re here to break it down.
| Michael Phelps | Usain Bolt | |
| Strengths | We’re predicting that Phelps will have the harder smashes with more upper body and shoulder strength | Bolt will have the land advantage no doubt, and probably a little quicker chasing down those forecourt slices |
| Weaknesses | After seeing how he acts at basketball games, phelps might be easily distracted by sideline hijinks and tomfoolery | Not sure if badminton has made its way to the Caribbean yet, Usain might not take well to this strange sport |
| Unknowns??? | Phelps has proved his worth in the aquatics, but this is his first land based event and how he takes to the new terrain is still in question | Bolt’s lateral movement is still a big unknown, shouldn’t have a problem moving the y axis, but the x axis is a big ???? |
WARM UP: A hearty plate of pasta and a quick 100m butterfly is always a good warmup for the seasoned Olympian. We believe Usain might go for some pre game fish or chicken and a couple quick jogs up and down the court.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: We look for there to be some creative cheering going on with some rum based beverages being served on the Jamaican side and….well….we won’t speculate what is going on over at the Phelps section.
PREDICTION: We expect a pretty evenly matched game, with both participants coming in at well over 6’ tall there won’t be many shuttlecocks falling with those two wingspans out there. We give the hand eye advantage to Phelps, but the ability to track down the birdies to Bolt. Our prediction: Bolt will take game 1 coming out strong. But with Phelps being the finisher he is, and Usain not used to a close finish, if it goes to 3 we think the advantage shifts to Phelps. Let us know what you think will happen and comment below!
Experts Debate 