Has Michael Phelps got fins? Well for his outstanding performance in the water, is surely a positive sign to say that the Man from Atlantis should be worried. Phelps has not only triumphed over fellow competitors from all around the globe, but, made a mother very proud.
We talk of a superstar who has won 6 gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With still two events in hand - gold medallions may total eight if the touchline is tipped by his fingers before his rivals. Michael Phelps broke his own world record in the 200m individual medley. Phelps winning time of 1minute 54.23secs, took 0.57secs off his previous best in July setting his sixth world record of the games. Hungarian born Laszlo Cseh came in second and took silver while fellow mate Yankee Ryan Lochte placed 3rd won bronze.
Great Britain's finalists although giving a 100% were not enough for placement on the podium. James Goddard came sixth and Liam Tancock eighth.
Phelps 23 will be forever remembered from this day on for what he has achieved and given to the games. He has under his belt the 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay and now the 200m medley, all in world record time.
Will Mark Spitz record of seven golds at a single game in 1972 be beaten? Time will tell.
Minutes after being presented with his medal for winning the 200m medley Michael Phelps was back in the water for the semi-final of the 100m fly, winning in a time of 50.97secs. Phelps' although a strong fast swimmer with staying power he faces a tough race up against Milorad Cavic of Serbia and US team-mate and world record holder, Ian Crocker. His contenders are not out to put a stop to him getting yet another gold medal, but to win one for themselves. This is what you call good sportsmanship when another man`s glory is not brought in to the equation to prevent them breaking a record.
Michael Phelps
Born: 30 June 1985
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
He was raised in a family of swimmers and joined the prestigious North Baltimore Aquatic Club at age seven. If this young guy with fin arms and propelled flipper feet wins his remaining two events, he'll have eight gold medals, more than any other athlete at a single Olympics. Michael has his work cut out for him to match Mark Spitz's seven gold medals in swimming at the 1972 Olympics.
If Phelps is successful in his next two events he will have 1 gold medal more than Mark Spitz, but each will have won just under half the entire events. That's because there were fifteen men's events in 1972, but two more this time around: the 50-meter freestyle - which Spitz said he would have won if given the chance - and the 10-kilometer marathon race. Spitz was recognized for his amazing feats and not forgotten for setting a world record in all seven events; Michael has done the same in his first six.
Mark Andrew Spitz
Born: 10 February 1950
Birthplace: Modesto, California
At age of twenty-two, in 1972, Mark Spitz made history winning seven gold medals. Spitz won the one-hundred meter butterfly, the two-hundred meter butterfly, the one-hundred meter free-style, the two-hundred free-styles, the four-hundred meter free-style, the eight-hundred meter free-style, and the four-hundred meter medley relay. Sadly a few hours after his last race was over - Arab terrorists killed twelve Jews. Mark Spitz, being Jewish, was quickly flown out of Germany, where the Olympic Games were, back to the United States.
Michael Phelps will be acclaimed as the greatest Olympian ever if he wins his last two events. Good luck and bring home those gold medals which wait collection and which you greatly deserve.
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