Phelps: Simply the best

By DAVID NIELSEN

BEIJING — Capping an unlikely journey from suburban Baltimore to worldwide Olympic stardom, Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal today at the Beijing Olympics.

Phelps broke the mark of seven golds in a single Olympics set by American swimmer Mark Spitz at the 1972 Munich Games.

Phelps and his U.S. teammates won the 4 x 100-meter medley relay in a world-record time of 3:29.34. Australia won the silver in 3:30.04, while Japan took the bronze in 3:31.18.

“I don’t even know what to feel right now,” said Phelps, who swam the butterfly leg in the race. “I kind of just want to see my Mom.

“It’s been nothing but an upwards rollercoaster. It’s been nothing but fun.”

Like Jesse Owens in Berlin, Phelps’ accomplishment will forever link him with Beijing. The translucent rectangular building nicknamed the Water Cube at the corner of Huizong and Tianchen Donglu roads will be remembered as Phelps’ pool.

Eight years ago, only the most prescient could have seen this coming. At the 2000 Olympic swimming trials in Indianapolis, Phelps emerged on the swimming scene as a skinny, 15-year-old kid from Maryland racing - and beating - grown men. A fifth-place finish in his only event at the Sydney Olympics, the 200-meter butterfly, whetted his appetite for more.

So as he grew and matured, Phelps started setting world records - and signing contracts. He eschewed college and turned professional as a teenager, then worked with his coach Bob Bowman to attempt something audacious - a run for eight gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Phelps’ dream in Greece was foiled by stronger swimmers in the 200-meter freestyle, and a poor U.S. team effort in the 4 x 100-meter relay. Still, his six golds and two bronzes were more than any other swimmer - or American Olympian - had ever won in a single Olympics.