Now that you have formed and written an academic opinion about Michael Phelps, I would like you to briefly examine the life of another great Olympic athlete, Jesse Owens. Please go to www.JesseOwens.com where you will find biographical information about Owens. I would also encourage you to look further for information about him if you have questions that are not answered in this piece. In addition, please view the two YouTube videos about Owens posted on Blackboard and then post a comment on how you think his Olympic experience compares with Michael Phelps'. Both men have been called American Heroes. Do you think these men are equally deserving of the title? Why? Why not?
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Although Jesse Owens and Phelps are both amazing Athletes, and both deserve to be called "American heroes". I do not believe the term applies equally to both I believe Jesse Owens is the greater Olympian, consolidating the views that the Olympics are meant to espouse to a much greater extent. Owens had to fight against oppression every step of the way including that within America, and although Phelps has had difficulties including his learning disorder. Owens overcame more, it is difficult to quantify these things as they tend to be subjective, but Jesse Owens overcame society’s constraints while Phelps overcame his own, thus I believe that Owens is more in the mould of an Olympian hero.
Phelps Olympic Experience would have been much more pleasant than Owens, he was in a country that although has a very ethno-centric world view and a poor human rights record, does not actively punish those of different race, or Ethnie. Phelps has also left the Olympics a Rich man, who can expect sponsorship deals up to $100 million dollars (according to Http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/swimming/columns/story?id=3542053) including a $1 million dollar bonus from Speedo for beating Spitz record. In contrast even though Owens won four Gold’s in 1936 the first American to do so in Track, he did not reach financial security until the 1950’s, as a public speaker. This illustrates the difference between the two and the oppression that Owens overcame, not solely in Germany. This makes Phelps Journey look easy. Both deserve praise, and to be described ambiguously as American heroes, but you cannot fairly compare the two as Owens achievements deserve to be taken in a completely different league.
In my opinion, Jesse Owens is more than deserving of the title of an American Hero. Jesse Owens was not only a phenomenal athlete, but he was also able to overcome both personal and societal hardships to become a standout in the history of the Olympic games. Unlike Michael Phelps, Owens had to prove himself not only based upon his athleticism, but also because of his race. For many people, including Hitler, the color of his skin automatically determined his failure. Phelps also had the support and encouragement of his entire country once entering the Olympics; however, Owens was enduring racism from his own country as well as the world around him. After he won four gold medals, Owens was not even granted endorsement deals due to the color of his skin, forcing him to struggle financially for the rest of his life. While Hitler began to arise in Germany, Jesse Owens fought toward the respect of African Americans in America while simultaneously disproving Hitler’s theory of the superior Aryan race. Jesse Owens is not only an American Hero, but he is a World Hero.
Though both Olympian athletes, Michael Phelps and Jesse Owens proved their greatness and are given titles of heroes, Jesse Owens is far more deserving of that title. Owens not only had to fight the hardships of living in a segregated America, which he called home, but also one of the cruelest and authoritarian men ever, Hitler. Owens did not have the economic support needed to succeed at home nor from school and yet he stuck to his dreams and accomplished them. It is people like him that really show the true colors of how humble and motivated a person needs to be in order to prevail obstacles. Owens not only three world records, but once he returned home he made it important to give back to his community. Also, in his biography it mentioned the importance of “religion, hard work and loyalty.” These values must have been important for him in order to have been stressing them to other people. Clearly, Jesse Owens struggled through more and without a doubt he is a hero worldwide.
It is not easy to compare a comtemporry athlete with an athlete from the 1930s because they lived and competed in two totally diferent times. Jesse Owens impressed the world with his stunning achievements- four gold medals in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin. Although Michael Phelps made greater achievements in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing by winning 8 gold medals, I believe Jesse Owens' achievements in 1936 weigh heavier than those of Michael Phelps in 2008 considering the fact that Jesse Owens not only competed under personal pressure but also underwent a number of social prejudice. Because of the fact that Jesse Owens was a black American, so he was never expected by Adolf Hilter to win a single medal. However, Hilter was painfully abashed by Jesse Owens' amazing accomplishments. Hilter's embarrassment was displayed by his absences in Jesse Owens'awading ceremony. Owens' excellent performance was a huge strike to the Aryans who regarded themselves as the best race of all. While Owens' achievements had great social significance, Michael Phelps' achievements did not have much impact on the society. Phelps received systematical training while Owens had to take on part time job to support his education and received no proper training. However, In my opionion this is exactly what makes him the real American Hero.
I disagree with Alex, in that I believe Michael Phelps is a greater Olympian than Jesse Owens. Phelps already possesses the most amount of Olympic Gold Medals in history at the age of twenty-three. I do believe however, that Jesse Owens is more deserving of the title 'American Hero' as his triumph was not only a huge sporting feat but also a political hurdle, overcome in heart of Nazi Germany.
I agree with Xin that it is extremely difficult to compare two different athletes in different generations. There are so many variables, for example; Technology has advanced, athletes nowadays are professionals, athletic competition is not always constant and these men were competing in separate events. Jesse Owens for instance did not compete in as many events as Phelps; maybe given the opportunity he would have achieved more Gold in Berlin. There are also far more events open to swimmers than track athletes. At age twenty-three however, Michael Phelps is well on his way to be the greatest sportsman the United States has produced.
Jesse Owens is in my opinion more deserving of the accolade of an ‘American Hero’. Not because of his four gold medals in track and field (first American to do so), but because of the circumstances he achieved them in.
Jessie Owens is without a doubt an American hero, but his accomplishments do not quite match Phelps. Owens overcame many obstacles dealing with the color of his skin, and his poverty as well. Owens not only proved prejudice Americans wrong, but he was also able to prove the Nazis wrong in their own country. He, like Phelps, set a many world records. The biography mentioned that he set three world records and tied a fourth before he even went to the Olympics. In the 1936 games in Berlin, he won four gold metals, more than any other American in track and field. Needless to say, Phelps has surpassed those statistics. Michael Phelps has set numerous world records. He also surpassed every other olympian in the most gold metals in one game, not just Americans. I think each man was the hero our country needed at the time though. Jessie Owens did all he could and made our country extremely proud. If it wasnt for him, athletes like Phleps would have no one to look to for inspiration. Owens was one of the first great Americans to pave the way for other athletes all over the world.
I actually disagree with Nick, I feel like both Owens and Phelps are both great athletes. Both have overcome through different obstacles and that should speak for it. There is no way of saying one is better than the other because Owens ran track and Phelps swam. Both are memorable athletes, but one is more deserving of the title of hero. I agree with Sydney in that Owens overcame both “personal and society hardships.” Living in segregated America was hard enough for Owens, but having Hitler tell him he could not be as good because of his race is even worst. It truly shows how strong and motivated Owens was because he proved everyone wrong. I think that being an African American athlete played an important role while Owens competed in the Olympics. This drive helped him overcome the belief that the Aryan was far more superior to any other race. Without a doubt Owens is a true hero.
I believe that both of these men are deserving of the title "American Hero". Comparing these two athletes is really like comparing apples and oranges. Both Michael Phelps and Jesse Owens overcame their own personal and societal barriers and came out as champions. Both of them achieved amazing Olympic achievements (Phelps's 8 gold medals and Ownes's 4 gold medals). I have to agree with Nick and Xin that there are far too many variables to truly compare these two extraordinary men with any form of true certainty on who is truly more of an "American Hero". The term in itself is a very ambiguous term to start off with. The term could have many different meanings to many people. In order to make any type of accurate assertion you have to define the term first. Michael Phelps overcame adversity socially and in school. Owens, without argument, overcame larger adversity however, he did not achieve as much athletic success as Phelps. That said, the times are so different and as Nick said, Owens did not compete in as many events and could have potentially done even better than 4 golds. In the end they are both "American Heros" in their own right and depending on who you ask or how you define the term you might get different answers from anyone.
Nick says that he disagreed with my post claiming that Jesse Owens was a better Olympian, I think this boils down to a basic disagreement as to the difference in our definitions, between an Olympic Hero and American Hero. I believe that Olympic hero is an individual who the world as an international community together, (one of the aims of the Olympics) can be proud of whereas an American Hero is an individual whose impact is felt more exclusively in the states. However these definitions are very subjective and perhaps time will tell if Phelps has become an Olympic Hero in addition to being an American and Media hero. Just as Phelps contributed 8 of the 31 medals that the U.S.A brought back from Olympic swimming, Jesse Owens contributed 4 to the 28 medals won by those people who were officially discriminated under German law during the 1936 Olympics
I also believe that as a group if we are going to say that Owens is the Olympic hero, we ignore for example: Cornelius Johnson, Archie Williams, and John Woodruff. All Black Americans who won Gold Medals in the 1936 Olympics and were likely to have faced the same levels of discrimination as Owens. Is “Quantity”, that important a deciding factor? Even more significantly the Jewish competitors at the 1936 Olympics who took Gold include: Samuel Balter (USA), and Ilona Schacherer-Elek (Hungary). An ironic factor is that six out of thirteen, Jewish medal holders in 1936 were from Hungary, a country that later joined the Axis powers and followed Hitler’s Ethnic Cleansing policies. Surely all of these individuals, who fought against the world’s discrimination and dislike of a host nation, to reach to the highest levels of world sports deserve to be named as Olympic heroes, personifying some of the key aims of the games. They were not just viewed as inferior, as Jesse Owens was but also dangerous and deserving of extermination. Their achievements cannot as Xin says be directly compared to Phelps because as I said earlier they are of a different standard and on a different scale.
Jesse Owens and Michael Phelps are two of the greatest American Olympians of all time. Two men that are considered true American Heroes. However, I would have to say that Jesse Owens is more of a hero than Phelps in many regards. Owens had to fight through so much growing up, racism, oppression, and a learning disorder, but he still overcame all these odds. Jesse fought and worked to move ahead with his life, never looking back, always striving to do his best.
I'm not trying to say that Phelps never had a difficult time either because he had to work and sacrifice as much as Owens, but it was in a different way. Phelps sacrificed time from friends, family, fun, etc. so that he could better himself in the sport.
I think that these two athletes did the olympics for two totally different reasons. Phelps' for the betterment of himself and Owens' for the betterment of his situation in life. Both of these men are extraordinary athletes and both possess the qualities of the American hero, but Owens clearly takes the gold in heroism.
I would agree with Alex in that the term hero is a subjective word that is open to many different definitions . I would also have to agree with many others in their saying that Jesse Owens deserves the title of an American hero, however I question last post because to truly define a hero is so difficult because it is left up to each of our own experiences to see what a hero is. I think that equally Owens and Phelps had to work extremely hard to get where they are at and for that I applaud them. Both of them had to go though so much in order to achieve their goals and it is difficult to say which one is better than the other. Each possess different traits that make them great. So to say one is better than the other would not work because both had to go through so many difficulties in their lives to get where they are at.
Jesse Owens and Michael Phelps are in different realms of being heroes. Their stories differ in both background and their accomplishment's so therefore they are hard to compare but both became symbols of the United States and the so called American Dream that you can do anything. Their stories do overlap though at certain times and it is those times that I wish to go over first. First off they both came from backgrounds of hardship or at least not well off. They both faced obstacles however they were very different in terms of scale and have a lot to do with era in which they competed. Owens had to take on segregation, oppression, and racism and those factors made Owens work harder to show the world what those of other races can do. While Michael Phelps grew up without his father and he persevered when people told him he would be nothing he went from nothing to everything just like Jesse Owens. Another similarity in their stories is that they both faced Olympic hosts that were out to prove their superiority and they both overcame that. Michael Phelps with his 8 gold medals and Jesse Owens with his four golds but more importantly his undermining of Hitler's attempt at superiority. They are both heroes, but are from a different era and therefore it is hard to compare as for instance such segregation in the U.S. is for the most part gone so it is a different world now, but still they are both held equally as heroes. Michael Phelps is the hero of our time and Jesse Owens a hero of our past that shines on.
Both Jesse Owens and Michael Phelps are amazing athletes that deserve to be titled American Heroes. Though Phelps has more medals in the Olympics, the medals that Jesse Jackson acquired were more meaningful because of his race. Both Phelps and Owens had their struggles to get where they got, but the struggles were very different. Phelps had struggles with his appearance as a child, but Jesse Owens’s experiences with racism followed him throughout his entire life. Basically, that was due to his unfortunate time period to be in. I do not want to say Phelps is less of a hero because he was to unlucky to have available struggles to go through, but it is sort of true almost. Owens went through so much more. The combined struggles of Phelps with his physical issues, ADHD, and lack of a father could not compare to Jesse Owens’s accomplishments, as an African-American, in the 1936 Olympics in Germany during the reign of Hitler.
I definitely agree with Alex in that Jesse Owens was a greater Olympian, because of the oppression that Jesse Jackson had to face on top of the Olympics. I disagree with Nick because the reasons why he says Jesse more deserves the title as an American Hero are most likely the same reasons why he's a greater Olympian. I feel like the statistics are not the only things that make someone a great Olympian. It is so much more to it. It is someone’s inspiration and personality. Phelps would not be a great Olympian if he was cocky and rude. Because of that, they both are great Olypians, but Jesse is simply a better one. Imagine how you would feel if you were an African-American during his time (most uneducated); most of them probably didn’t see much opportunity for success. Owens was more of an inspiration during his time than Phelps was during this time, even though Phelps was significantly younger.
It would appear that quite a few of my classmates are in agreement that Jesse Owens is more of an American hero. In my view a hero is a hero and that definition is different for each person and while some may say that Jesse Owens overcame more and therefore is more of a hero than Michael Phelps. I mean it is incredibly hard to even pair the two against each other as the times are so different. We have a full history of Jesse Owens as well to help us see what else he did while we have yet to see what Michael Phelps will do. They are both heroes and are figures that represent America so I cannot bring myself to say that Jesse Owens is more of a hero as they are both heroes to me. Both achieved incredible feats and overcame many obstacles to show the world what they can do, and in my view that makes them both American heroes.
Today, Micheal Phelps is being hailed as the new American Hero; seventy-two years ago, Olympian Jesse Owens being called America’s Hero. Recently, many people have tried to determine whether both men are “deserving” of such a prestigious title; some people believe that Michael Phelps’s recent Olympic accomplishments have cast a notable shadow over those of Owens. It is important to remember, however, that in the context of their time, each man embodies all the qualities of an American Hero thus rendering both men deserving of such a esteemed title.
Back in 1936, the world did not think that it would ever see another athlete like Jesse Owens. Now, in 2008, the media, as well as the Olympic community, find it hard to believe that there will ever be another athlete as successful as Michael Phelps; seventy or eighty years from now, the world having another outstanding Olympian that will join the ranks of these great men. What these men have done for their generations, whether is it defying racism, overcoming a disadvantaged upbringing, or simply being the best athlete of the their time, has been inspiring for nation that was able to share in their accomplishments. Both men have awakened dreams in the hearts of a nation which makes both men deserving of the title, American Hero.
Although Alex makes some interesting points, I think he is completely misdirected. Alex claims that Jesse Owens is “far more deserving” of the title American Hero because he “not only had to fight the hardships of living in a segregated America” but also one of the “cruelest and authoritarian men ever” in reference to Hitler. It is important to realize that Michael Phelps faced different, although equally difficult, hardships; he came from a broken home, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and was similarly taunted for his looks. Also, Alex makes is seem as though Jesse lived under the rule of Hitler when in reality Jesse neither direct interacted with Hitler, nor did Hitler’s policies in any way prevent Owens from competing in the Berlin games or medaling. Alex also makes it a point to mention that after the Berlin Games, Jesse Owens returned to the Unites States and gave “back to his community.” Alex fails, however, to discuss the extensive community service that Michael Phelps has participated in and the youth groups Phelps has founded. In his last sentence, Alex claims that Jesse Owens is “a hero worldwide.” In today’s global society the technological advancements that have improved global communication would suggest that Michael Phelps is a more global figure as apposed to Jesse Owens, who achieved his fame before a truly global community evolved after World War II. Although Alex makes some important points, his biased views weaken his argument.
I wan to comment on what Collin said about "a hero and that definition is different for each person ." I think what makes these two athletes stand out is the fact that it is almost impossible to not find them inspirational in some way. For our country back in they 1930s, I am sure every single person watching Owens dominate the track got that same fuzzy feeling we all did a few weeks ago when watching Phelps in the water. They both are true heros because they fit the definition perfectly. As we learned from the reading last week, some "heors" in America turned out to be not such great people when their flaws were reviled. That is not the case with Owens and Phelps, however. Their struggles and shortcomings are what warms our hearts. They pushed through the bad time and came out on the other side as even better rolemodels.
In personal opinion, Jesse Owens is more of a true American Hero than Michael Phelps. I am in no way trying to take away from what Michael Phelps has done in regards to the Olympics but I believe Jesse Owens should be considered more of and American Hero. The 1936 Olympics were about one thing, to prove that the Aryan race was superiority in everything, including sports. In those Olympics 18 African Americans
represented the United States and 14 medals were won among these 18
individuals. We may not understand it today, but to perform at the highest level (the Olympics) and perform well when everyone is against you is no easy task by any means. Owens blocked out the discrimination and the racism on his way to 4 gold medals, the first American in Olympic Track and Field history to do so. The fact that Owens could prevail over all that was stacked against him shows that he is a true American hero.
Alex stated that Michael Phelps after the Olympics could expect up to $100 million in endorsements, which is another good difference between the two heroes. Owens could get absolutely no endorsements after the Olympics due
to the fact that he was an African American. His biography on JesseOwens.com even states that to get his family by he would race anything from Major League all-stars to horses. He was a runner-for-hire so to speak until he got into public speaking, representing certain Olympic committees. Jesse Owens had to work extremely hard to make it work for his family after the Olympics. On the other hand if Michael Phelps wanted
to stop swimming and working altogether he'd get by quite comfortably. Another thing I though was interesting was the fact that Jesse Owens "one
upped" Michael Phelps in the fact that Owens received a Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. Compared to the things at Michael Phelps' disposal Jesse Owens had next to nothing, and look at what he did with just a little opportunity. Owens won two prestigious medals along with
creating his own public relations firm. Not only was Jesse Owens a true American hero, he was also in a sense a true American working man.
Both Phelps and Jessie Owens are remarkable athletes fighting against the
odds and overcoming them to win gold medals. Although both could be
classified as heroes I believe that Jessie Owens was more of a hero. This
is because Owens was a key contributor to the breakage of the color
barrier. Jessie Owens not only defeated people on the track but defeated
Hitler and his racial assumptions of anyone of color. Owens sent messages
through his running and jumping abilities to try and prove to the world
that equality should be spread throughout the world and that whites were
not better than any other race, but that everyone was equally made.
Although Phelps did accomplish great goals in swimming I do not believe
that his record breaking accomplishments in the pool had much of a
positive impact on the nation such as Owens did.
I surprisingly disagree with Sidney because in her response she stated
that “Jessie Owens was not a great athlete.” In his time running that
fast and winning gold in four events as not only an African American but
a human period is an amazing achievement. However I do agree with her
when she states that Jessie Owens should be labeled more of a “hero” then
Phelps because he made a large impact on the movement towards equality
for blacks and people of color.
Clearly, Michael Phelps and Jesse Owens had differing experiences in their respective Olympic games. The most conspicuous difference comes from the time period. This, coupled with Jesse Owens being of an African-American ethnicity, led to Owens’ plight being far more difficult than Michael Phelps. This is not to say that Phelps had an easy road to success at the
Olympics, it is only to note the reality that the social conditions at the time of Owens’ Olympic experience were far more severe. As a result of this, Owens’ not only had to deal with competing against the world’s best athletes, but also had to breakthrough the oppressive racism surrounding him. In light of this, I feel that Jesse Owens is more of an American Hero than Michael Phelps. The term “American Hero” cannot be used lightly. Although I believe that Phelps’ athletic accomplishments at the Beijing Olympic games are more impressive than Owens’, the mere fact that he did not have to overcome the amount of severe social barriers as Owens places
him at a level below Owens when it comes to hero status in my eyes.
In response to Alex’s claim that Owens’ plight “makes Phelps’ Journey look easy,” I would have to argue that although I agree his social journey was far more difficult, I believe that Phelps’ athletic journey was more difficult. This is purely because of the age in which we now live in. Athletic ability has definitely evolved over the past fifty
years. Therefore, Michael Phelps’ competition in Beijing was stronger than Owens’ was in Germany. In addition to this, Michael Phelps collected eight gold medals while Jesse Owens only collected four. I do believe
that Jesse Owens is more deserving of the title of an American Hero than Michael Phelps. However, based purely on their athletic ability, I would have to give the edge to Phelps. This is simply my opinion and it could easily be disputed, but I just think that Phelps’ athletic accomplishments in Beijing speak louder than Owens’.
I agree with Alex in saying that Jesse Owens is not only an American Hero,
but in my eyes, he is also the greater Olympian. The extent to which one
measures the "greatest Olympian of all time" can be in several different
forms. Although Phelps won the most amount of gold medals in the history
of the Olympic games, greatness can be measured not only by the quantity
of medals, but also by the quality of the fight. Therefore, in my opinion,
Jesse Owens' four medals account for more "grandness" than Michael Phelps'
eight gold medals. Also, in regards to Xin's comment, I actually believe
that it is quite easy to compare Phelps and Owens despite the fact that
they lived during two completely different time periods. No matter when a
competition occurs, the players always have to endure a great fight;
however, the fight is always harder when the athlete is undergoing
cultural discrimination and doubt.
I agree with Alex in certain aspects. Jesse Owens went through so much more than Phelps had to endure, based on what several sources indicate. Being from a poor household and reaching such heaights is seldom seen in America, with the exception of Horatio Alger stories. As I had mentioned before with Phelps' story being qualified as a Horatio Alger story, I believe that Owens' story definitely takes it away like a torpedo. Aside from the fact that Owens encountered hatred of all sorts, he managed to keep his eyes on his goals. As Randy Pausch once said, "brick walls are for those that don't want something bad enough." Racism and poverty were Owens' brick walls; however, he paid no mind to them. Owens left a legacy and committed to a humanitarian cause based on the organization he established. Because of this, he is more deserving of the title hero in every way.
Jesse Owens and Michael Phelps receive much different receptions at the Olympics. Owens came into the Olympics facing segregation, racism and bigotry while Phelps was greeted with open arms and embrace. Owens is an American Hero because he rose above. Owens’ circumstance as a young child did not promote his Olympic future; as a child Owens worked to help his family earn extra money, we was not even on his high school track team. He had more struggles to overcome and can relate to many walks of life that other Olympians cannot. Phelps is an American Hero but for different reasons, Phelps inspires through his story of greatness in the pool, while Owens inspires though his story of triumph on and off the track. Phelps has spent the last eight years of his life completely devoted toward swimming. Owens had to work and train because blacks were not given sponsorships. So does this mean that one man is a greater hero? No, I believe that both have proven that they are heroes in their respected arenas. When it comes to success, Michael Phelps, when it comes to inspiration and triumph we must think of Jesse Owens.
I agree with Xin when he says that it is hard to compare athletes from different eras. Jesse Owens and all black athletes faced racial tensions at the 1936 Berlin games. However, the athletic expectations for Americans were probably not high for black athletes. How were they supposed to compete well in a nation where they were not considered equal, where hatred poured from the stands at every competition? Michael Phelps had a much different experience; he was expected to bring home gold medal, many of them. This is a completely different pressure from that of Owens. Imagine Phelps traveling to the Olympics knowing that unless he won multiple gold medals the Beijing games would be considered a failure by most Americans. These differences in expectations make it difficult to compare the success that each one of these men had; the 72 years between the Olympic Games has brought much change to the world. Each man triumphed.
I disagree with Nick's point of disproving who the true "Olympian" is. It is very hard to determine, as Xin and Nick himself remarked, to compare and athlete from the 1930s to an athlete of today. Too much has changed and we are not qualified to determine what it took to get four gold medals from Owens' era could equate to today. On the other hand, swimming and running are two completely different things, both demanding sports nonetheless. Phelps began from a very young age, while Owens began when his talent was discovered at a much later age. And despite the world's pressure of being an African American at the time, Owens was able to accomplish his goals and disprove a certain idea of superiority held by a major leader at the time, namely, Hitler. This carries a lot of weight to be ignored because it is tough enough to try and focus on what you're competing for, but to have the pressure of being on a racist-man's territory is another.
In my point of view, I think that both athletes, Michael Phelps and Jesse Owens are equally deserving the title “American Heroes.” Though a lot of us tend to think that Owens deserves the title more because of onerous things he had to go through during Hitler time, we tend to neglect the fact that Phelps has gone through a lot of difficult time himself also to be at where he is right now eg coming from a broken home, DUR, pressure from all the Americans etc. Thus, I have to agree with Xin and Nick that it is always hard to compare who is better as they are from different period of time. Being better is not just about medals or statistics, but perhaps more about in pride which they brought to their native country, which is the United States of America.
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