ISU Bengal

Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: MCT

In a long and strenuous span of seven days, eight Olympic events stood before American swimmer Michael Phelps in Beijing. From individual medleys, team relays, and his own individual competitions, he has conquered seven of them in world (and Olympic) record fashion while winning eight gold medals for the most gold medals at an Olympics. The unprecedented feat places him past Mark Spitz, who grabbed seven golds at the 1972 Olympic games.

Following the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Phelps gradually displayed glimpses of excellence leading up to these summer games in China. Sparked by critics and his opposition, he has redefined the meaning of a champion. Phelps beat out Serbian Milorad Cavic in a photo finish by 1/100 of a second, Hungarian Laszio Cseh in the 200-meter butterfly, and he torched the competition for his gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle.

Perhaps the most entertaining and drama-filled story was the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay where the United States battled France for the top of the podium. Alain Bernard, the anchor swimmer for the French, was quoted days before the Olympics saying, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for." It turned out that those same Americans came back to take Bernard up on his word. The last 50 meters of the race did the talking Jason Lezak beat out big mouth Bernard in the final strokes of the race and Phelps, led off the race.

Phelps failed to show signs of slowing down throughout the games. He always approached a race with a level head, whether it was a heat or a final. The 6'4" Phelps has the legs of a six-foot tall man and the wingspan of a 6'8" man. His size 14 feet make flippers for his progression through water and gives him a much greater advantage against his competitors.

With his mom and two sisters (both who were swimmers) on hand at every race in the 2008 Olympic games it was apparent that the 23-year-old from Baltimore, Md. has not only made a name for himself as a new American icon but an inspiration to many fans across the globe. It says a lot for one whom many claim is the greatest swimmer in the world.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools