If you want to throw out wins and losses because of the huge discrepancy opportunities fine. Even lifetime swimmers have to admit that running fast is way more impressive than swimming fast. Ask 100 people if they would rather be able to swim at 30 mph or run at 30mph and 100 out of 100 would say run. Sure the Earth over 70% water but no one fucking lives in water. When was the last time you heard of two people settling a bet by going to the Y and racing in the pool? Okay now when was the last time you heard two people running a foot race to settling a pissing contest?
Still not sold? Look at some of the greatest iconic athletes of all time (Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Diego Maradona, etc.) what do they all have in common? They all have larger-than-life personalities. It makes listening to them talk as entertaining as watching them play. Usain Bolt is the kind of guy that would be perfectly happy talking to a brick wall, just loves the sound of his own voice. At the same time he is very respectful and never really goes over the line. Michael Phelps is an extraordinary athlete but doesn't have the personality to make him elite. I classify him with athletes like Joe Montana. Arguably the best to ever play their sport but once they retire they disappear, never to be heard from again.