I have no argument with the fact that Michael Phelps is a great athlete, no matter how many medals he may win. My argument is why is he allowed to participate in so many events when ladies cycling, and cycling in general, was limited to so few events. On the other point Simon was ever a birdwatcher

Alan Henderson, Middlesbrough,

1. Is femininity all about the breasts? what about women with naturally small breasts, or mastectomies? Are they not properly female now?

2. Why on earth does a top athlete have to worry about whether she's attractive to men while she's competing? So much for gender equality.

Maria, Evesham,

Girls, girls,

I will concede that Simon Barnes' style is a bit pretentious, but it seems obvious to me that the piece on breasts was actually about Speedo costumes and their streamlining abilities. This is relevant, given that costumes apparently make the difference between medal or no medal.

j griffiths, manchester, England

I am thinking of doing a spoof magazine in which every picture is of a male wether it be film star sports person or celeb is scrutinized in the same way females are. Now that would be fun.

claire, taunton,

I always enjoy the Olympics hugely!
Let those that want team games (snore!) pay for them on satellite and digital viewing. Leave those of us who enjoy the individual endevour alone!
I'm missing syncronised swimming in any form, rhythmic gymnastics and all the other ones.
Football?ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

Carlyle Braden, Hastings, Iraq

god how boring can you get. Do you really think half the competitors in the swiiming events want to have their achievements reported in terms of their anatomies. Get hold of yourself and think how insulting this is.

julia gurney, london, uk

Gemma Beadsworth (Australia Water Polo) had a mishap recorded elsewhere on the web which shows that breasts are still there! Or perhaps Speedo had another formula for that discipline?

Roger, Garden Route, S A

With each medal Mark Phelps wins I doubt if his thoughts turn to whether or not people think he is boring....neither would I.

Same with the women swimmers -- who cares if men are enjoying their breasts or not when they swim -- get a grip.

vicki, austin,tx, usa

Can't help but agree with those pointing out that he's winning lots of medals in very similar events. Maybe a sprinter would have done this if we had the 100 meter free style sprint but also 100 meter dragon fly sprint in which you still run but flap your arms as you do it.

jim, London,

Top Blog, enjoying the articles...Simon. keep 'em coming! Though i would rather not have Sharon Davies in one of those suits, thanks you very much!

Manny, London,

These women are athletes, not page 3 models. How sad that some men can't think with their brains instead of other parts of their anatomies.

Jane Smith, Exeter,

Rob, Sydney, I agree with you 100%, near certainty of result is very, very boring ! Do you still watch cricket ?

Tembel, Bognor Regis, England

Rob in sydney. I doubt you found it boring when Thorpe was cleaning up in the pool. Its a great irony in sport that Aussies called Brits whingers. Its not that Brits aren't whingers its just that the Aussies are the worst whingers of them all.

Tom, dublin,

watermanship? really?

ali nawaz khan, delhi, india

I reckon the solution is to enforce naked olympics. Good for ratings I'm sure.

Paul, Singapore,

The suits are there because they bring world records and suit sponsor money. You can have your ethical arguments, but none of that matters.

Tom, Geering,

Phelps has been groomed for success since he was a toddler, as all superstar sportsmen are in the US. As talented as he is, his feat is not so much a victory over extreme odds, as Odysseus' was, but as near a certainty as you can get in modern sport. And that, Simon, is boring.

Rob, Sydney, Australia

Swimming suits are OK as long as we are all prepared to wait another 10 years or so for all the world records to fall again, after the introduction of the next technological advance.

How about streamlined goggles that cover most of the face? That should shave a few seconds here and there.

MGB, Carmarthen, Wales

Michael Phelps boring?Please!Besides his acheivements, he's good to look at. Is there anything that the UK can say positive about other countries? From reading about your dismay of 'pushy Italian tourists' in London to the 'Fake Chinese fireworks and fans', you all seem to be just whiners to me.

Ann, Pasadena, CA,

How can one compare suits to drugs? I suppose one should ban cyclists from shaving their legs or wearing streamlined helmets? No more streamlined Formula 1 cars, then, either.

Tina Jones, Dusseldorf, Germany

i am jealous of anyone who can get excited by the Olympics full stop. the opening ceremony was great actually, but the sport......god its dull.

jw, perth,

Sound to me like these suits artificially enhance performance... maybe training should be banned as well, because some people have better coaches than others so it's not a level playing field... the debate goes on.

Richard, Warsaw, Poland

these are athletes who train hard to achieve amazing results - what the hell does it matter about how their breasts look - i am sure that when the ladies go out on the town in their cocktail wear, they have great figures.. when competing the technology and aerodynamics of the suit is more important

Corey, Los Angeles, Ca, USA

Bob Samms: I agree - suits should be illegal - go without them, I say.

Deepak, Wayland, USA

I am an old fashioned guy. I will still go for well-shaped breasts, whether they pass the swimming test is another matter & not a priority.

ian cheese, london, uk

I've already given up on the Olympics. Micky Mouse sports (anyone for individual synchronised swimming?) and nauseating nationalism.

Turn off your tellies and get a life.

tom, madrid, spain

Suits = drugs.
1. Everybody can use the drugs/suits if they can afford them.
2. How do we know the new suits won't have ill effects on the body? What if they cause DVT or inverted nipples? We won't know for awhile. Think FloJo-effects may not be known for years
3. Suits are not illegal. Why not?

Bob Samms, Warwick, UK

Yep, I bought it, it is the swim suit improving the body shape.

Squeezing her breasts and the flash goes into the shoulder make her look like she has a broad shoulders.


Now we are calling sport drugs , swim suit LZR Racer.

I should keep that in mind not to wear the shorts of that brand. ?:)

Racheal, Vancouver, BC, Canada

The difference between new suits and drugs?
1)Everyone can use the new suits (if they can afford them).
2)The new suits have no short or long term ill effects on the human body.
3)They're not illegal

Bart, fallschurch, usa

Also, is the point not to find the fastest over a distance? Why have each distance for each stroke? You wouldn't have a motor race where cars can only drive in 2nd gear....

Lawrence Ward, London, England

What the difference between these new swim suits and drugs?

Phil, Reading,

Phelps is the best swimmer when swimming awards more medals than seemingly all other sports combined. Greatest swimmer ever, sure. 'Greatest Olympian' is the bit people find boring. 100/200 metres - four strokes & IM, all with relays. He gets twenty+ very similar 'events' to choose from. Great.

Steve Jacks, New York, USA

The drama of watching Phelps is to find out exactly what incredible performance he will produce next!

Definitely not boring.

Andrew, Cape Town,