Countdown To The Comeback: Top 10 Michael Phelps Feats- #3

This week, we’ve been counting down the top 10 moments of Michael Phelps’ career so far. We asked readers to weigh in via Twitter and Facebook to help us decide the top three, choosing between Phelps’ record 8th gold medal in the 400 medley relay, the huge American comeback victory in the 400 free relay, or the narrow Phelps touchout of Milorad Cavic for the 100 fly, all from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Your votes have been tallied, and this Phelps moment came in at #3:

#3 – PHELPS WINS EIGHTH GOLD MEDAL IN BEIJING

After winning the 100m fly and tying Mark Spitz’ legendary seven golds at one Olympic games mark, Phelps was set up to win a never-before-seen-eighth.

On the 15th of August, the prelims team of Matt Grevers, Mark Gangloff, Ian Crocker, and Garrett Weber-Gale posted a 3:32.75 to take the top seed going into the final for the Americans. Everyone knew how much was at stake. The year before at the 2007 Worlds the American team was disqualified in prelims because Crocker left early off the blocks. This time, Crocker made sure to leave the blocks at an appropriate time.

The Americans were the clear favorites in the race, but these were the Olympic games and anything could happen. The morning of the final, everyone packed into the Water Cube anticipating what could be Olympic history never to be repeated again. Everything was at a standstill.

The whistle blew and all the backstrokers entered the water. Aaron Peirsol, America’s backstroker, entered the water and did his traditional few strokes before grabbing the wall. As always he was the last to assume his diving position. Take your marks, BEEP. Peirsol finished the 100m backstroke in first with a time of 53.16 giving the Americans a sizable lead over their closest competitors, the Australians.

Brendan Hansen dove in after Peirsol, but was quickly passed by both Kosuke Kitajima of Japan and Brenton Rickard of Australia. Kitajima threw down the fastest breaststroke split of all time with a 58.07, Hansen swam a 59.27 to keep the Americans in the race.

Next was Phelps, his last swim of the Beijing Olympics. Phelps went in and absolutely tore up the water. He passes both Andrew Lauterstein of Australia and Takuro Fujii of Japan with a wicked split of 50.15 (the fastest 100m fly split of all time) to give Jason Lezak the lead heading into the final 100m.

The next was all but history. Lezak dove in with a solid lead ahead of 100m freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan from Australia. For the second time that week, Lezak came home strong for the Americans and was able to get his hand on the wall first with a new world record of 3:29.34, giving Michael Phelps his eighth gold medal.

With that swim, Phelps sealed himself in history as the greatest swimmer of all time, the most decorated Olympian of all time, and the only swimmer to ever win eight gold medals at one Olympic games.

SEE ALSO

#4 – Phelps takes home first Olympic gold in a new world record

#5 – Phelps keeps the 8 for 8 dream alive by winning 200 fly blind in Beijing

#6 – Phelps takes down Ian Crocker at the 2004 Olympics

#7 – Phelps becomes youngest male in 68 years to make U.S. Olympic Team

#8 – Phelps proves he doesn’t need the Super Suit to win-2009 World Championships 100 Fly

#9 – Phelps Becomes First Male to Three-Peat in Same Event

#10 – Phelps Becomes the Youngest Male Swimmer to Break a World Record