London 2012: The Countdown Series: Chasing Larysa

Less than 48 hours away from the first activity in London! One of the more interesting stories of these Games of the XXX Olympiad is the record of most medals in the summer games (and in the Olympics period) that is held by the former Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina.

Latynina has the record for most medals in the Olympics with eighteen. Not close behind is...

This man. Michael Phelps.

Phelps has sixteen medals, but as you can see, swimming and gymnastics can't be compared, even though I prefer swimming over gymnastics any day (that's my opinion)!

However, these numbers are so startling...

• Latynina's medals (18)
• Melbourne 1956 4 gold, silver, bronze
• Rome 1960 3, 2, 1
• Tokyo 1964 2, 2, 2
• Phelps' medals (16)
• Athens 2004 6 gold, 2 bronze
• Beijing 2008 8 gold

Phelps could break Latynina's record, even though Phelps will be in less events than he was at Beijing, including the 100m and 200m fly, and the 200m and 400m individual medley. The target day that we could see Phelps break the record is on August 2, in the 200m IM final (that is if he is fast enough to qualify for the final, never say never).

It is also noted that Phelps and Latynina met in person. There's an interesting link there.

All of this could and will possibly happen beginning this upcoming weekend.

Tuesday will be the last day I'm doing the Countdown Series, with a final thought before the action begins Wednesday.