Golden BoyMichael Phelps has broken Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at one Olympics. In the above photo, he poses with the first from these 2008 games, for his win in the 400m Individual Medley.

The Baltimore BulletAt the 2000 Sydney games, Phelps became the youngest American male swimmer to compete at the Olympics in 68 years. He was 15 years old. He failed to medal, finishing fifth in the 200m Butterfly.

A Light in the AtticaBy 2004, Phelps' star was on the rise. At the Athens Games, he claimed eight medals total, six gold and two bronze.

FastestIn the men's 400-meter Individual Medley in Athens, Phelps won the event, and set a new world record.

Not Resting on his Laurels Phelps grins after winning the medal for the IM, the first of many.

So CloseIn the 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, Phelps and the Americans came in third to the South Africans, who celebrate their win in the photo above. Had he won seven golds in Athens, Phelps would have been eligible for a $1 million bonus from his sponsor Speedo, an offer that now extends to the Beijing Games.

Tune UpPhelps wins the 400m Individual Medley at the 2007 World Swimming Championships in Melbourne.

Making a SplashPhelps would describe himself as a fish out of water on land, but he may be the greatest Olympic athlete of all time.

Two Down, Six to GoGarrett Weber-Gale and Phelps cheer their victory and world record time in the 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay in Beijing.

Another Day at the OfficeIn winning the 200m Individual Medley, his sixth gold of the Beijing Games, Phelps set another world record.

Making HistoryPhelps became the first man to win eight gold medals at the same Olympics when the US team won the men's 4x100m medley relay final in a new world record time.

Citius Altius FortiusPhelps won eight gold medals and set seven world records at the Beijing Games, giving him the most gold medals of any modern Olympic athlete, with 14.