Phelps nails 8 gold medals and Olympic record

lost in melb. · 08-17-2008, 05:12 AM

BEIJING — With the help of his teammates on Sunday, Michael Phelps surpassed Mark Spitz, 36 years after Spitz’s record haul of seven gold medals at the Munich Games. The United States won the 4x100-meter medley relay in 3:29.34, a world record, for Phelps’ eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games.
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Path to the Record

Aug. 10
400-meter Individual Medley »
Gold (WR)
Aug. 11
4x100-meter Freestyle Relay »
Gold (WR)
Aug. 12
200-meter Freestyle »
Gold (WR)
Aug. 13
200-meter Butterfly »
Gold (WR)
Aug. 13
4x200 Freestyle Relay »
Gold (WR)
Aug. 15
200-meter Individual Medley »
Gold (WR)
Aug. 16
100-meter Butterfly »
Gold
Aug. 17
4x100-meter Medley Relay»
Gold (WR)

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Times Topics: Michael Phelps
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Enlarge This Image
Doug Mills/The New York Times

Michael Phelps after winning his eighth gold medal in Beijing. At left is Aaron Peirsol.

Phelps swam the third — the butterfly — leg of the relay. His teammates were Aaron Peirsol (backstroke), Brendan Hansen (breaststroke) and Jason Lezak (freestyle). Australia took silver and Japan the Bronze.

How fabulous was Phelps’s feat? At Sunday’s start, Phelps would have ranked fourth in gold medals, ahead of all but 14 countries in the medal count. Every time Phelps dived into the water for a final here, the ripples extended into every corner of the Water Cube. On Friday, Andrew Lauterstein of Australia won the bronze medal in the 100 butterfly. Standing on the medals podium alongside Phelps, Lauterstein said he was thrilled to have had a cameo role in this recording of history.

Phelps had won his seventh gold medal on Saturday in dramatic fashion in the 100-meter butterfly, by out-touching Serbia’s Milorad Cavic.

Phelps was timed in 50.58, a personal best and an Olympic record. Cavic, a California-Berkeley graduate, was one-hundredth of a second behind. Phelps had caught Spitz by a whisker, tying Spitz’s record haul from the 1972 Munich Games and earning a $1 million bonus from Speedo, one of his sponsors.

With the win, he tied Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in one Olympics. His first six golds were all world records, but No. 7 came down to grit.

About two hours after the 100-meter butterfly, NBC’s Bob Costas interviewed Spitz, via satellite from Detroit, and Phelps, who was still poolside. Spitz said he had wondered what he would say at this monumental time.

“The word that comes to mind is epic,” Spitz said. “What you did tonight was epic, and it was epic for the whole world to see how great you really are.

“I never thought for one moment that you were out of that race,” he added. “That is a tribute to your greatness.”

Spitz went on to talk about role models, and how he admires Phelps not only for his swimming abilities, but also for the type of person he is.

“You weren’t born when I did what I did, and I’m sure I was a part of your inspiration, and I take that as a full compliment,” Spitz said. “They say that you judge one’s character by the company you keep, and I’m certainly happy to keep company with you.”

Phelps responded with admiration for Spitz, the man whose record he has been chasing for several years. In Athens four years ago, Phelps won six golds and two bronzes.

“There have been so many greats who have come before me, and what Mark did is still amazing,” he said. “It’s a very hard thing to accomplish. I think it shows whatever you put your mind to, you really can accomplish.

“When Mark won seven, he put his mind to something and he did everything he could to get there, and it’s the same thing with me.”

**Nemowork** · 08-17-2008, 03:57 PM

To be slightly embaressing, this guy has more golds than the enire British team

lost in melb. · 08-17-2008, 05:01 PM

Hahaha. Same here I think...

lost in melb. · 08-17-2008, 05:03 PM

you've undersold yourself Nemo, you guys are kicking arse!

http://www.abc.net.au/olympics/2008/results/medaltally/

Tinysmasher · 08-17-2008, 05:09 PM

What I want to know is, what kind of benefits do you get from doping shooters?

**PorkChopSandwiches** · 08-17-2008, 05:15 PM

He is amazing

Lee Is Bob · 08-17-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PorkChopSandwiches

He is amazing

No he's not he has FINS ffs

**Nemowork** · 08-17-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost in melb.

you've undersold yourself Nemo, you guys are kicking arse!

http://www.abc.net.au/olympics/2008/results/medaltally/

When i posted that we were still on 8, we've picked up a few since then

Jezter · 08-17-2008, 05:29 PM

I think he is developing into platypus....just amazing achievement!

**Nemowork** · 08-17-2008, 05:39 PM

Plunkett can swim?

Lee Is Bob · 08-17-2008, 06:04 PM

Are a streamlined manatee

08-17-2008, 05:12 AM	#1
lost in melb. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Way Down Under Posts: 2,772 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Phelps nails 8 gold medals and Olympic record BEIJING — With the help of his teammates on Sunday, Michael Phelps surpassed Mark Spitz, 36 years after Spitz’s record haul of seven gold medals at the Munich Games. The United States won the 4x100-meter medley relay in 3:29.34, a world record, for Phelps’ eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games. Skip to next paragraph Path to the Record Aug. 10 400-meter Individual Medley » Gold (WR) Aug. 11 4x100-meter Freestyle Relay » Gold (WR) Aug. 12 200-meter Freestyle » Gold (WR) Aug. 13 200-meter Butterfly » Gold (WR) Aug. 13 4x200 Freestyle Relay » Gold (WR) Aug. 15 200-meter Individual Medley » Gold (WR) Aug. 16 100-meter Butterfly » Gold Aug. 17 4x100-meter Medley Relay» Gold (WR) Related Times Topics: Michael Phelps Interactive Schedule Interactive Olympics Tracker Follow the schedules of your favorite sports, day by day and event by event. Times journalists and special contributors explore the Olympics in Beijing and on the Web from every angle — the politics, the culture and the competition. * The Rings RSS Feed \| Atom Go to the Rings Blog » Olympics 2008 Go to Complete Coverage » Enlarge This Image Doug Mills/The New York Times Michael Phelps after winning his eighth gold medal in Beijing. At left is Aaron Peirsol. Phelps swam the third — the butterfly — leg of the relay. His teammates were Aaron Peirsol (backstroke), Brendan Hansen (breaststroke) and Jason Lezak (freestyle). Australia took silver and Japan the Bronze. How fabulous was Phelps’s feat? At Sunday’s start, Phelps would have ranked fourth in gold medals, ahead of all but 14 countries in the medal count. Every time Phelps dived into the water for a final here, the ripples extended into every corner of the Water Cube. On Friday, Andrew Lauterstein of Australia won the bronze medal in the 100 butterfly. Standing on the medals podium alongside Phelps, Lauterstein said he was thrilled to have had a cameo role in this recording of history. Phelps had won his seventh gold medal on Saturday in dramatic fashion in the 100-meter butterfly, by out-touching Serbia’s Milorad Cavic. Phelps was timed in 50.58, a personal best and an Olympic record. Cavic, a California-Berkeley graduate, was one-hundredth of a second behind. Phelps had caught Spitz by a whisker, tying Spitz’s record haul from the 1972 Munich Games and earning a $1 million bonus from Speedo, one of his sponsors. With the win, he tied Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in one Olympics. His first six golds were all world records, but No. 7 came down to grit. About two hours after the 100-meter butterfly, NBC’s Bob Costas interviewed Spitz, via satellite from Detroit, and Phelps, who was still poolside. Spitz said he had wondered what he would say at this monumental time. “The word that comes to mind is epic,” Spitz said. “What you did tonight was epic, and it was epic for the whole world to see how great you really are. “I never thought for one moment that you were out of that race,” he added. “That is a tribute to your greatness.” Spitz went on to talk about role models, and how he admires Phelps not only for his swimming abilities, but also for the type of person he is. “You weren’t born when I did what I did, and I’m sure I was a part of your inspiration, and I take that as a full compliment,” Spitz said. “They say that you judge one’s character by the company you keep, and I’m certainly happy to keep company with you.” Phelps responded with admiration for Spitz, the man whose record he has been chasing for several years. In Athens four years ago, Phelps won six golds and two bronzes. “There have been so many greats who have come before me, and what Mark did is still amazing,” he said. “It’s a very hard thing to accomplish. I think it shows whatever you put your mind to, you really can accomplish. “When Mark won seven, he put his mind to something and he did everything he could to get there, and it’s the same thing with me.” __________________

08-17-2008, 03:57 PM	#2
Nemowork Klompendance? Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobilis in Mobilii Posts: 25,341 Thanks: 6 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	To be slightly embaressing, this guy has more golds than the enire British team __________________ “A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.” Moliere "You do the unseemly behavior, I'll handle the moderation" - Nemo

08-17-2008, 05:01 PM	#3
lost in melb. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Way Down Under Posts: 2,772 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hahaha. Same here I think... __________________

08-17-2008, 05:03 PM	#4
lost in melb. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Way Down Under Posts: 2,772 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	you've undersold yourself Nemo, you guys are kicking arse! http://www.abc.net.au/olympics/2008/results/medaltally/ __________________

08-17-2008, 05:15 PM	#6
PorkChopSandwiches Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Online Posts: 52,003 Thanks: 6 Thanked 442 Times in 180 Posts	He is amazing __________________ A Teabelly Original

08-17-2008, 05:09 PM	#5
Tinysmasher Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 532 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What I want to know is, what kind of benefits do you get from doping shooters?

08-17-2008, 05:29 PM	#9
Jezter Needs A Title Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,677 Thanks: 125 Thanked 373 Times in 112 Posts	I think he is developing into platypus....just amazing achievement! __________________

08-17-2008, 05:39 PM	#10
Nemowork Klompendance? Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobilis in Mobilii Posts: 25,341 Thanks: 6 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	Plunkett can swim? __________________ “A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.” Moliere "You do the unseemly behavior, I'll handle the moderation" - Nemo

08-17-2008, 06:04 PM	#11
Lee Is Bob Post Whore Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 29,236 Thanks: 19 Thanked 283 Times in 118 Posts	Are a streamlined manatee __________________

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