Michael Phelps Wins Record 8 Gold Medals in BeijingFiled Under: Records

On August 16th, 2008, Michael Phelps became the “Alltime Olympian” winning a record breaking 8 gold medals in Beijing.

Not only did he swim his way past Mark Spitz who held the previous record of seven gold medals in one Olympics, but he also crushed the competition in total gold medals won with a career 14 gold medals. Thats 4 more than Track and Field’s Raymond Ewry.

He also tied Eric Heiden’s record of 5 individual gold medals won in a single Olympic Games.

On top of that he set seven world records in Beijing missing a world record in only one of his eight events, the 100m butterfly, in which he still set an Olympic record.

The only major record that Phelps lacks is in overall medals which is held by Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina who has 18 (9 gold) compared to Michael’s 16. However, Phelps could easily glide by Latynina at the 2012 London Games.

Michael Phelps 2008 Gold Medal Run:

• (Aug. 10, 2008) 400m individual medley (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 4:03.84
• (Aug. 11, 2008) 4×100m freestyle relay (Gold Medal, World Record ) Time: 3:08.24
• (Aug. 12, 2008) 200m freestyle (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 1:42.96
• (Aug. 13, 2008) 200m butterfly (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 1:52.03
• (Aug. 13, 2008) 4×200m freestyle relay (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 6:58.56
• (Aug. 15, 2008) 200m individual medley (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 1:54.23
• (Aug. 16, 2008) 100m butterfly (Gold Medal, Olympic Record) Time: 50.58
• (Aug. 17, 2008) 4×100m medley relay (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 3:29.34

If there is any question of Phelps’ status as the “Greatest Olympian of All Time”, London in 2012 should cement his legacy.

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Tags: 8 Gold Medals, Alltime Olympian, World Records