OK, I'm giving Bolt five stars for many of the reasons given in other reviews on this page.

But here's something to consider. Guys like Bolt and Phelps do one thing extremely well, but athletes in sports such as basketball, football, etc. have to be all around athletes. They don't have to just run or swim. They have to run, catch, throw, shoot, cut, jump, etc. So how do you compare specialists like swimmers and runners to more all around athletes like basketball and football players? Is it enough to just be the very best at one thing, or do multiple skills mean more?

He is just an incredibly gifted athlete-what he did t Michael Johnson's records were amazing!

A stunning, unforgettable performance, made more so by his evident showmanship.  Personally, I think this comes down to Bolt and Phelps, and its hard to shine a flashlight between them.

Usain Bolt definitely belongs on this list. The only question is whether he is the Male Athlete of the 2008. Let the debate begin!

Call me old fashioned, but I think the Olympic Gold Medalist in the 100 M, who breaks the world record to win the race and carries the title "The World's Fastest Man" should be an automatic choice.