导读：Every four years, the best athletes from countries around the world come together in the spirit of peace and friendship
Every four years, the best athletes from countries around the world come together in the spirit of peace and friendship to compete in the Olympic Games With the lighting of the Olympic flame the games begin -- the Olympic spirit kept alive That flame has been brought many thousands of miles by relay runners all the way from Olympia, in Western Greece, where the ceremony began 2700 years ago This simple ceremony, and the lighting of the torch, is the spark that renews the Olympic flame wherever the games are played The games symbolized the early Greeks' ideal of man's unity, their vision of peace, and of human perfection
The Olympic began as a religious ceremony The First Games in recorded history book took place in the year 776 BC This was the time of the Western Zhou period in China All the Greek city-states participated States at war with each other would end hostilities for the duration of the Games
The Olympic motto is universally accepted as " Swifter, Higher, Stronger" One athelete from the games host country takes an oath at the Opening Ceremony on behalf of all the competing athletes:"In the name of all compe *** s, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sport *** anship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams"
In ancient time, winners were crowned with wreaths of the sacred olive Their names were proclaimed throughout the Greek city-states Things have not changed much in this regard Today, first place winners are awarded gold medals, second place winners, silver, and third place gets the bronze And, as in ancient times, Olympic stars become internationally famous
Let us hope that this living experience of peace and friendship between all the peoples of the world that began in Olmpia, in ancient Greece, will continue for many centuries to come
"The Games of the 29th Olympiad in 2008 are awarded to the city of Beijing"With the motto "New Beijing, Great Olympics", Beijing promises to host a "Green Olympics", a "Hi-tech Olympics" and the "People's Olympics"
Chinese people always appreciate the purposes and principles of Olympic ideal, support the efforts of Olympic Games to promote world peace The Chinese Government and people are doing our the utmost/best to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and shooting at the pageant with advocating Olympic ideal, sparkpluging world peace and enhancing the relationships among the world Olympic spirit are gonna spread again in orient cultural ancient China
The government and people of China have always admired the purposes and principles of the Olympic spirit and supported the efforts made by the Olympics in promoting world peace The Chinese government and people are doing our utmost in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing It is our hope to make it a grand gathering that will carry forward the Olympic spirit, promote world peace and enhance the friendship among people of the world, so that the Olympic spirit will flourish once again, this time in China, an oriental country with an ancient civilization
中国人民一向赞赏奥林匹克精神的宗旨和原则，支持奥林匹克运动为促进世界和平所做的努力。中国 *** 和中国人民正全力以赴，做好2008年北京奥运会的筹备工作，力争把2008年奥运会办成一次弘扬奥林匹克精神、促进世界和平、增进各国人民友谊的盛会，让奥林匹克精神在中国这一东方文明古国 再次得到发扬。
巴黎阿奎埃尔修道院院长亨利。迪东在一次学生户外运动会上，鼓励学生们说：“你们在这里的口号是更快、更高、更强。”奥运之父顾拜旦借用过来，成了奥林匹克的格言，表达了奥林匹克运动不断进取、永不满足的奋斗精神。虽然只有六个字，它所包含的内容却是十分丰富的：面对强手，敢于斗争，敢于胜利；面对自己，永不满足，超越自我。
同一个世界，同一个梦想。体育运动将人们融合为大同世界，奥运会把人类高尚的情感升华。这里虽然有喜怒哀乐，但这种喜怒哀乐应该是运动员在“挑战自我”、“超越自我”中所享受的喜怒哀乐，而不应该承载更多非体育因素。
“更快、更高、更强”是一种境界，到达这里的人们并不单单是追求金牌，更重要的是是追逐梦想。在二十九届北京奥运会上，运动员们不畏艰难，坚忍不拔，努力追寻着奥林匹克的梦想，完美的诠释了奥运精神，无论胜者还是负者，都赢得了世界的尊重。
八月二十一日，被誉为单腿美人鱼的南非残疾运动员纳塔莉·杜托伊特获得女子10公里马拉松游泳第16名，在奥林匹克历史上书写了人性最光辉的一笔。杜托伊特本是一位游泳健将，17岁的她在一次摩托车事故中失去了左小腿。此后，杜托伊特左腿装上假肢，克服了困难继续苦练游泳，在雅典残奥会上获得5枚金牌。她说：“我参加夏季奥运会，就是想向世界证明，残疾人同样可以与正常人竞争，同场竞技，我一样做得到！”
八月十四日，美国游泳选手埃里克-尚托参加了200米男子蛙泳半决赛。今年六月份他被确诊为癌症。尽管尚托因成绩不佳无缘决赛，但他说：“能来参加奥运会，我就已经得到了一切。就游泳方面来说，我完成了来这里的目标——创造我的个人更好成绩，我做到了。这已经足够了。”对于自己以后的治疗，尚托说，“这场战役要艰难得多，我相信我会胜利。现在我可以全力以赴投入这场战斗。我会像在游泳比赛中一样努力和病魔斗争，我也一定会取得胜利。”
八月二十一日，荷兰男子马拉松游泳比赛选手范德韦登以1小时51分51秒6的成绩在众多男选手的比拼中独占鳌头，成为奥运会历史上首位10公里马拉松游泳男子比赛的冠军。在被确诊为白血病后，接受了骨髓干细胞移植手术后，最终恢复得非常成功，很快又能投身于他所热爱的公开水域游泳比赛并接连在各项赛事中有所斩获。这枚金牌应该是对他多年来挑战病魔、自强不息的更好回报这位曾罹患白血病的独特经历与这枚独具意义的“奥运首金”必将一道载入奥运史册。
在北京奥运会女子马拉松比赛的后半程中，世界纪录保持者、英国名将拉德克里夫突然肌肉痉挛，连央视解说员都以为她将退出比赛，但她经过短暂的调整后再一次奔跑起来，最终位列第二十三名。
身残志坚，不懈追求；摔倒了爬起来继续比赛，受伤了坚持着跑完全程……奥运赛场上，运动员用自己的行动努力诠释着更高、更快、更强的奥林匹克精神。他们追寻着奥林匹克的梦想，更快更高更强！
1 奥运会即将于明年在北京
2 举行奥运会的重大意义
3 我们应该为奥运做些什么
Dear Friends, Fellow clas *** ates,
The exciting moment, I am convinced, must remain vivid in our mind, when Beijing, the Capital of China, was proclaim ed the final winner to host the Olympic Games in 2008 by Chairman of the International Olympic Committee Time flies, and the new Olympics is coming very soon!
Olympic Games, held every four years, boast a long history and offer rare opportunities for different nations to get together, which are far more than sports contests participated by professional athletes Through Olympics, new world records are set, resilient sport *** anship is highlighted, sport-related industries spring up and international goodwill and exchange get greatly enhanced
As college students, we ought to contribute our share to the imminent Olympic Games with responsibility of citizenship as well as focused knowledge For instance, it is advisable to give voluntary lectures to popularize Olympic knowledge and environmental awareness in some residential areas And we are looking forward to your suggestions and participation!
Student Union
我和北京奥运
Olympic ad Me
我盼望着2008年8月8日快点到来。这是北京奥运会开幕的日子，是世界体育大家庭聚会北京的日子，更是每一个中国人倍感骄傲的日子。
I am looking forward to the days coming of Aug8TH 2008, the day Beijing Olympic games will be opened, the day Sports family gather in beijing, and the day All the Chinese feel proud
作为一个小主人，我真想成为一名光荣的奥运志愿者，可是到了那时，我还太小，不能成为一个真正的志愿者，但是，我依然可以为北京奥运会做出自己的贡献。
As a littke host , I really want to be honorable volunteer for it, however, I am still too young to be a real volunteer , but I can still contribute for it (according as I am able)
首先，作为一个北京市的小市民，我要用我的热情、我的笑容迎接每一个来自世界各地的外国朋友，展示出我们北京人友好好客的精神风貌，让外国朋友们通过每一张北京人的笑脸感受北京。
First , as a citizen of Beijing, I will welcome every friend from all over the world with my enthusia *** and *** ile to show us beijing people’s friendship and hospitality And let theforeigh friends know(feel) Beijing from the *** ile on our face
其次，我要更加努力的学习英语，在奥运会举办期间，能够用英语和外国朋友们说话、交流，为他们提供我力所能及的帮助，比如：做个小翻译、帮外国人指路等等，让外国朋友通过每一个北京人热情的帮助喜欢北京。
Then/second, I will study English harderDuring the Olympic Games ,I can communicate with the foreigh friends in english and serve for them such as to be a interpreter and show them the way, let them love beijing more from our enthusiastic help
再次，我也要学习更多的有关北京、奥运的知识，将来可以为外国朋友介绍咱们美丽的北京，以及北京悠久的历史和灿烂的文化，要让他们通过和每一个北京人的交流更加了解北京，了解中国。 爱爱英语学习风站
Third, I will learn more knowadge about Beijing and The Olympic Games in order to introduce the beautiful beijing to foreigners and its long history and splendor culture in the futureLet them Kow more about China by talking to each Beijinger
最后，我还要动员我身边的每一个同学，大家一起学习文明礼仪，一起加强和宣传环保意识，为北京奥运会办成一个真正的“绿色奥运、人文奥运、科技奥运”从我做起、从现在做起。
At last I will mobilize every students around me to learn civilized manners andstrenth the consciousness of theprotecting the enivoement we should do from now on for beijing Olympic Game to be a real Green Olympics, humanities Olympics, technology Olympics
“同一个世界，同一个梦想”，我希望我的梦想能够变为现实
“One word One dream” I hope my dream will come true
2004年8月23日雅典奥运会上男子单杠决赛正在（激烈、热烈）进行28岁的俄罗斯名将涅莫夫第
三个出场,他以（连续、继续、陆续）腾空抓杠的高难度动作征服了全场观众,但在落地的时候,他出现了一个小的（失误、错误）————向前移动了一步,裁判
因此只给他打了9725分
此刻,奥运史上少有的情况吃现了：全场观众不停的喊着“涅莫夫”“涅莫夫”,并且全部站了起来,不停地挥舞手臂,用持久而响亮的嘘声,表达他们对裁判的（愤怒、愤概）比赛被迫中断,第四个出场的美国选手保罗·哈姆虽已准备就绪,却只能尴尬的站在原地
面对这样的情景,已退场的涅莫夫从座位上站起来,向朝他欢呼的观众挥手示意,并深深的鞠躬,感谢他们对自己的喜爱和支持涅莫夫很大度,但观众们却更加不满,他们的嘘声更响了,一部分观众甚至伸出双拳,拇指朝下,做出不（文雅、文明）的动作来
面对如此巨大的压力,裁判被迫重新给涅莫夫打了9762分可是,这个分数不仅未能平息观众的不满,反而使嘘声再次响成一片
这时,涅莫夫显示出了他非凡的人格魅力和宽广胸襟他重新回到赛场,举起右臂向观众致意,并深深的鞠了一躬,表示感谢；接着,他伸出右手食指做出噤声的手势,让后将双手下压,请求和（劝慰、安慰）观众保持冷静,给保罗·哈姆一个（安静、寂静）的比赛环境
涅莫夫的宽容,让中断了十几分钟的比赛得以继续进行
在那次比赛中,涅莫夫虽然没有拿到金牌,但他仍然是观众心目中的“冠军”；他没有打败对手,但他以自己的宽容征服了观众
涅莫夫的宽容值得称道在生活中,出现摩擦、不快和委屈,是常有的事我们不能以针尖对麦芒,因为怨恨就像是一只气球,越吹越大,最后会膨胀到无法控制的地步面对怨恨,我们应该不念旧恶、不及新怨,能宽容时就宽容,得饶人处且饶人
宽容是一种美德,是对他人人格的理解和尊重,是一种气质,一种勇气,一种智慧,一种文化底蕴和涵养
———— 题记
《宽容是金》是我所看过故事中的一个涅莫夫,一位俄罗斯的体育名将,在2004年8月23日雅典奥运会男子单杠决赛中,他的一套高难度动作征服了全场观
众,但在落地时,却因一小小失误只得了9725分,观众们为此不服,持久而响亮的嘘声使得比赛被迫中断涅莫夫起身向观众们挥手致意,可这更加深了观众
的不满,一部分观众甚至做出拇指朝下的不文雅动作,面对压力,裁判改了分,可观众们似乎还不买帐这时,涅莫夫重新回到赛场,深深鞠了一躬,并伸出右手食
指做出噤声的手势,请求观众保持冷静给下一个选手有一个安静的比赛环境正是因为涅莫夫的宽容,使得比赛得以进行而他在这次比赛中虽没拿到金牌,却仍
以自己的宽容征服了观众
涅莫夫的宽容值得称道
他告诉我们宽容是金,只有宽容才能赢得更多人的赞扬此刻,在生活中,出现摩擦,不快和委屈是常有的事,我们不能以针尖对麦芒,面对怨恨生活需要宽容在
生活中每个人都会有不如意,每个人都会有失败,当我们的面前遇到了竭尽全力仍难以逾越的屏障时,要记得:宽容是一片宽广而浩瀚的海,包容了一切,也能化解
了一切,会带着我们跟随着他一起浩浩荡荡向前奔涌
学会宽容,世界将会一绚烂的微笑面对你
Michael Fred Phelps (born June 30, 1985) is an American swimmer who has won 13 Olympic gold medals, the most of any athlete of the modern Olympic era
He shares the record with Mark Spitz of seven gold medals at a single Olympics[2] He also shares the record with Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin of the most medals (of any type) at a single Olympics—eight medals at Athens in 2004[3]
Overall, Phelps has won 15 Olympic medals He won 6 gold and 2 bronze medals at Athens in 2004, and 7 gold at Beijing in 2008, six of which were in world record time He currently ranks second in total career Olympic medals, after Larissa Latynina, who accumulated 18 medals (nine gold) spanning three Olympic Games Phelps' international titles, along with his various world records, have resulted in him being awarded the World Swimmer of the Year Award in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 and American Swimmer of the Year Award in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007
Phelps has won a total of 47 career medals thus far: 39 golds, 6 silvers and 2 bronze This includes all the Championships he has competed in The Olympics, the World Championships, and the Pan Pacific Championships Phelps has qualified to compete in eight swimming events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
Personal life
Phelps was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood He graduated from Towson High School in 2003[4] His father, Fred Phelps, worked for the Maryland State Police and his mother, Debbie Davisson Phelps, is a middle school principal[5] The two divorced in 1994[4] Michael, whose nickname is "MP", has two older sisters, Whitney and Hilary[4][5] Both of them were swimmers as well, with Whitney coming close to making the US national team for the 1996 Summer Olympics before injuries derailed her career
In his youth, Phelps was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)[4] He started swimming at age seven, partly because of the influence of his sisters and partly to provide him with an outlet for his energy He excelled as a swimmer, and by the age of 10 held a national record for his age group More age group records followed, and Phelps' rapid improvement culminated in his qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 15[6]
In November 2004, at the age of 19, Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Sali *** ury, Maryland He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired the following month and was granted probation before judgment and ordered to serve 18 months probation, fined $250, obligated to speak to high school students about drinking and driving and had to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) meeting[7][8] Questioned about the incident later that month by Matt Lauer on the Today Show, Phelps said it was an "isolated incident" and that he had "definitely let myself down and my family downI think I let a lot of people in the country down"[4]
Between 2004 and 2008, Phelps attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, studying sports marketing and management In May 2008, Phelps said he intends to return to Baltimore following the 2008 Olympics, joining Bob Bowman there when he leaves the University of Michigan, saying, "I'm not going to swim for anybody else I think we can both help the North Baltimore Aquatic Club go further I'm definitely going to be in Baltimore next year" The club has announced that Bowman is leaving the University of Michigan to become the club's CEO[9]
Physique and lifestyle
Phelps has a body particularly suited to swimming He has a long, thin torso with arms which span 6 feet 7 inches (200 cm), disproportionate with his height of 6 feet 4 inches (190 cm)[10] However, he has relatively short legs which reduce resistance through the water,[11] but despite this he has size 14 feet (495 Europe) and double-jointed ankles He can extend his ankle beyond the point of a ballet dancer which enables him to whip his feet for maximum thrust[12]
In a front page illustrated article profiling Phelps on the eve of the 2008 Summer Olympics, The Baltimore Sun described the hometown swimmer as "a solitary man" with a "rigid focus" at the pool prior to a race, but afterwards "a man incredibly invested in the success of the people he cares about"[4] Bowman told a Sun interviewer, "He's unbelievably kind-hearted", recounting Phelps' interaction with young children after practices[4]
According to an article in The Guardian, Phelps eats around 12,000 calories each day, or about six times more than the average *** male[13] Leslie Bonci, the University of Pitt *** urgh Director of Sports Nutrition, says that eating that many calories a day is "almost impossible"[14] She estimates that his intake is closer to 6,000 calories per day
Endorsements
He has made an estimated $5 million in endorsements, including a $1 million bonus from swimsuit maker Speedo for winning seven gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games[15]
Career
Early years
See also: Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics
As a young teenager, Phelps trained at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club under coach Bob Bowman At the age of 15, Phelps competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, becoming the youngest American male swimmer at an Olympic Games in 68 years While he did not win a medal, he was fifth in the 200 m Butterfly Phelps proceeded to make a name for himself in swimming shortly thereafter Five months after the Sydney Olympics, Phelps broke the world record in the 200 m butterfly to become, at 15 years and 9 months, the youngest man ever to set a swimming world record[16] He then broke his own record at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (1:5458) At the 2002 Summer Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Phelps also broke the world record for the 400 m individual medley and set American marks in the 100 m butterfly and the 200 m individual medley
In 2003, Phelps broke his own world record in the 400 m individual medley (4:0909) and in June, he broke the world record in the 200 m individual medley (1:5604) Then on July 7, 2004, Phelps broke his own world record again in the 400 m individual medley (4:0841) during the US trials for the 2004 Summer Olympics
In 2004, Phelps left North Baltimore Aquatic Club with Bob Bowman to train at the University of Michigan for Club Wolverine
2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games
See also: Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics
Event Results Time
200 m Butterfly 5th place 01:5650
2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games
See also: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics
Event Results Time
400 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record 4:0826[17]
100 m butterfly Gold Medal, Olympic Record 5125[18]
200 m freestyle Bronze Medal, American Record 1:4532[19]
200 m butterfly Gold Medal, Olympic Record 1:5404[20]
200 m individual medley Gold Medal, Olympic Record 1:5714[21]
4 x 100 m freestyle relay Bronze Medal 3:1462[22]
4 x 200 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, American Record 7:0733[23]
4 x 100 m medley relay Gold Medal, World Record 3:3068[24]
Phelps' dominance has brought comparisons to former swimming great Mark Spitz,[25] who won seven gold medals in the 1972 Summer Olympics, a world record Phelps tied Mark Spitz's record of four gold medals won in individual events Phelps had the chance to break Spitz's record of seven total gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics by competing in eight swimming events (five of which were individual events): the 200 m freestyle, the 100 m butterfly, the 200 m butterfly, the 200 m individual medley, the 400 m individual medley, the 4x100 m freestyle relay, 4x200 m freestyle relay, and the 4x100 m medley relay However, his 4x100 m freestyle relay team only won the bronze medal, and he personally placed for bronze in the 200 m freestyle Thus, he fell short of Spitz's record However, he did win eight medals in one Olympics, a feat only achieved by Alexander Dityatin, a gymnast, in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow
Had he won seven golds, he would have been eligible for a US$1 million bonus from his sponsor, Speedo[26] Phelps did, however, earn this $1 million by winning at least seven golds at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
On August 14, 2004 he won his first Olympic gold, in the 400 m individual medley, setting another new world record (4:0826) On August 16 he was beaten by the Australian winner Ian Thorpe and the Dutch Pieter van den Hoogenband in 200 m freestyle final, called the race of the century[27]
On August 20, 2004 in the 100 m butterfly final, Phelps defeated American teammate Ian Crocker (who holds the world record in the event) by just 004 seconds Traditionally, the Olympian who places highest in an individual event will be automatically given the corresponding leg of the 4x100 m medley relay This gave Phelps an automatic entry into the medley relay but he deferred and Crocker swam instead The American medley team went on to win the event in world record time, and, since he had raced in a preliminary heat of the medley relay, Phelps was also awarded a gold medal along with the team members that competed in the final
2004–2008
See also: 2005 World Championships, 2007 World Championships, and Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
Phelps swims the 400 IM at the 2008 Missouri GPPhelps moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan following the 2004 Olympics when his longtime coach at the North Baltimore Athletic Club, Bob Bowman, became head coach of the University of Michigan swimming team Phelps served as a volunteer assistant coach, but did not swim for the university's team in NCAA competition because of his loss of *** status, having accepted endorsement money from his sponsors Speedo, Visa, Omega and PowerBar[28] Instead, he trained with and competed for Club Wolverine, a USA Swimming club affiliated with the university, between 2004 and 2008 The Baltimore Sun said in August 2008 that Phelps earns $5 million annually in endorsements[4]
He competed in the 2005 World Championships, winning six medals, (five gold and one silver) and breaking one Championship record
At the 2007 World Championships[29] , Phelps won seven gold medals, tying the record, and broke five world records He co-founded the "Swim with the Stars" program, along with Ian Crocker and Lenny Krayzelburg, a program which promotes swimming and conducts camps for swimmers of all ages The 4x200 relay team he competed with received a disqualification for a false start during a changeover[30]
Event Results Time
200 m freestyle Gold Medal, World Record 1:4386
100 m butterfly Gold Medal 5077
200 m butterfly Gold Medal, World Record 1:5209
200 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record 1:5498
400 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record 4:0622
4 x 100 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, Championship Record 3:1272
4 x 200 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, World Record 7:0324
4 x 100 m medley relay Disqualified
2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games
This article is related to a current sports-related event
For information on the topic, see 2008 Summer Olympics
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See also: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics
Michael Phelps poses for a photo with US President George W Bush after Phelps won his first Olympic gold medal in the men's 400 meter individual medleyPhelps is representing the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics He qualified to compete in the following events:[4]
Date (in Beijing) Event Results Time
August 10 400 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record 4:0384[31]
August 11 4 x 100 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, World Record 3:0824[32]
August 12 200 m freestyle Gold Medal, World Record 1:4296[33]
August 13 200 m butterfly Gold Medal, World Record 1:5203[34]
August 13 4 x 200 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, World Record 6:5856[34]
August 15 200 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record 1:5423[35]
August 16 100 m butterfly Gold Medal, Olympic Record 5058[36]
August 17 4 x 100 m medley relay
Phelps set an Olympic record in the preliminary heats of the men's 400-meter individual medley[37] He followed that up in the final by winning the gold medal, as well as breaking his previous world record by nearly two seconds
Phelps swam the first leg of the men's 4x100 m freestyle relay in a time of 4751 seconds (an American record for the 100 m freestyle), and won his second gold medal of the 2008 Olympics, as well as setting his second world record of the Olympics (3:0824) Teammate Jason Lezak finished ahead of the silver medalists French team by eight hundredths of a second The top five teams in the final finished ahead of the world record of 3:1223 set the day before by the American B team in a preliminary heat[38]
For his third race, Phelps broke his previous World Record in the 200-meter freestyle by nearly a second and won his third gold medal He also set his third world record at the Olympics, 1:4296, winning by nearly two seconds over silver medalist Park Tae-hwan[39] Phelps became only the fifth Olympic athlete in recent history to win nine career gold medals, along with Mark Spitz, Larissa Latynina, Paavo Nurmi, and Carl Lewis Several Olympians in the days before the Olympics' relaunch in 1896 had achieved this honor
Phelps holds his gold medal on the podium on August 10 2008 Pictured with Ryan Lochte and Laszlo CsehThe next day, Phelps would have two finals In his first event, the 200-meter butterfly, Phelps made it four events, four gold medals and four world records by swimming the final in 1:5203, defeating silver medalist Laszlo Cseh by almost seven-tenths of a second despite his goggles filling with water and being unable to "see anything for the last 100 meters"[40][41] This fourth gold medal was his tenth, and made him the all-time leader for most Olympic gold medals won by an individual in the modern Olympic era
“ Epic It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet ”
—Mark Spitz (on Phelps winning his 7th gold medal)[42]
Less than one hour after his gold medal victory in the 200-meter butterfly, Phelps swam the lead-off leg of the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay He won his fifth gold and set his fifth world record as the American team finished first with a time of 6:5856 The Americans were the first team to break the seven-minute mark in the relay, and broke the previous record, set in Melbourne, Australia, by more than four and a half seconds[43]
After having a day off without any medal event finals to swim in (Phelps did swim in qualifying heats), he won his sixth gold of the Beijing Games by winning the 200-meter individual medley with a World Record time of 1:5423, finishing ahead of Cseh by over two seconds[44]
On August 16, Phelps won his seventh gold metal in the Men's 100 metre butterfly in Olympic record time, tying Mark Spitz's overall gold medal count in a single Olympics Phelps was out of the lead for much of the race, but put on a great spurt close to the end He finished in 5058 seconds and beat Milorad Čavić of Serbia by a hundredth of a second Čavić's coach submitted a protest soon after the event, though it was denied by the FINA panel who reviewed the final results using the high-speed overhead cameras installed, which confirmed that the Omega timing system installed at the games was accurate[45]
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