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Phelps becomes greatest ever Olympian

13/08/2008

American swimmer Michael Phelps has become the most successful Olympic athlete in history after winning his tenth and 11th gold medals.

The Water Cube witnessed the 23-year-old claiming his fourth and fifth golds of the Beijing Games on Wednesday, adding to the six he won in Athens four years ago.

He broke his own world record in the men's 200m butterfly before the USA 4x200m freestyle team finished first to stand on the brink of further Olympic glory.

Phelps has now surpassed the nine career golds amassed by United States compatriots Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis, as well as Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi and Ukrainian gymnast Larysa Latynin.

Spitz's record of seven golds in a single Games now appears well in Phelps' grasp.

He is still to compete in the individual medley, 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley relay as he bids for an unprecedented eight golds.

Elsewhere in the Water Cube Italy's Federica Pellegrini won gold in the women's 200m freestyle, ahead of Slovenia's Sara Isakovic and Pang Jiaying of China.

And in the women's 200m individual medley Australi's Stephanie Rice emerged the winner, followed by Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry and American Natalie Coughlin.