Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on this day, breaking Mark Spitz's single-event victory record. rice field.
Phelps was part of the USA team that won his relay in the 4x100m medley. That meant he won gold in all eight of his events in which he participated.
The United States was third behind Australia and Japan, but Phelps jumped into the third leg of the medley, only to finish the 100 m butterfly. , he gave teammate Jason Rezak a lead of half a second, setting a world record.
Michael Phelps, center, men's 100m butterfly final gold medal (Gareth Copley/PA)
(PA Archives)
} It was the seventh of his eight gold medals to set a world record. The only exception is his 100 m butterfly.
Spitz won his seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics and held his singles game record.
Phelps said after the race. “Anyone can do anything they set their mind to.”
Michael Phelps continues his success in London 2012 (Mike Egerton/PA)
(PA Archive)
Phelps, who won six Olympic titles at Athens 2004, won four more at London in 2012 won.
He subsequently announced his retirement, but reversed that decision in 2014. In Rio 2016 he also won five gold medals, becoming the most successful individual in his fourth competition.
He won his 28 Olympic medals when he retired for his second and final time. Of those, he won 23 gold medals, more than 161 countries.
