Olympics: US relay triumph lifts Phelps to historic eighth gold

Monday, 18 August 2008

BEIJING - Michael Phelps won an unprecedented eighth gold medal at the Beijing Games Sunday as the United States won the men's 4x100m medley relay in world record time.

With the victory, Phelps overtook compatriot Mark Spitz, whose seven swimming golds at Munich in 1972 were the most at a single Games.

At 23, and competing in his third Olympics, Phelps took his total of Olympic titles to 14, including six from Athens, where he also claimed two bronze.

The US squad of Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Phelps and Jason Lezak won a tight race in 3:29.34, Lezak holding off Australian individual world record-holder Eamon Sullivan on the closing freestyle leg.

The United States were lying third when Phelps hit the water for the penultimate butterfly leg.

He had given the United States a narrow lead by the time he handed over to Lezak.

"I don't know what to feel right now, there are so many emotions going through my head and so much excitement, I guess I just want to see my mom," Phelps said.

The Americans improved on the previous world record of 3:30.68, while Austraila finished second in 3:30.04 and Japan took the bronze in 3:31.18.

"It's a beautiful thing, I am so proud to be a part of this relay team," Peirsol said.

"It wasn't like we were doing this for Michael, but it's an honour to be part of it. It would have been something if we hadn't done it.

"Sullivan came back at the end, but I think at the end of a long competition we are all a little tired right now," Peirsol added.

Indeed when the much anticipated moment came, there was no scream of triumph, no fist-pounding gesture of victory from Phelps, who was hugged by his teammates and shook hands with his rivals before calmly raising his arms toward the crowd and drawing a roar from the Water Cube fans.