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"Not everyone will be happy about this, but these are turning into a golden games for the golden arches.
As the "Official Restaurant" of the Olympic Games, McDonald's always expected to flip a few burgers in Athens.
It estimates that its three Olympic food service venues - at the Olympic village, the main stadium complex and the media centre - will get through "2m meat patties, 404,469 lbs of potatoes and 26,455 lbs of lettuce" during the Games.
As part of what McDonald's calls its "proud tradition of serving the athletes of the world", the company is also helping athletes to plan their meals at the Games with "nutritional information and suggestions for meal combinations".
What the company cannot have bargained for - or indeed dreamed of - is that US swimmer Michael Phelps, the phenomenon who won six golds and two bronzes in the Olympic pool, would proclaim the end of his active participation at Athens with the words: "It's McDonald's time".
After his first day off, a demob happy Phelps was delighted to provide more information.
"I had a Big Mac and that's all I had. I had McDonald's for both meals today. Two meals so far... double cheeseburgers.""
Read more at McDonald's strikes gold as US swimming star goes burger crazy
"Michael Phelps , who has won five gold medals in the Olympic pool, said Friday he was pulling out of Saturday's 4x100 meter medley relay final to give team mate Ian Crocker the chance to swim.
Having swum in the relay heats, Phelps would still get a medal and so stay on course for an Olympic swimming record eight in one Games if the American team finishes in the top three on Saturday.
Phelps, who beat Crocker in a desperately close 100 meter butterfly final Friday, said he wanted his team mate to have the spot because he had not been feeling well when he swam in the U.S. 4x100 freestyle relay squad, who were beaten into third place in the final last Sunday.
"I wanted to give him another chance," Phelps said."
Read more at Swimming: Phelps pulls out of relay
"Michael Phelps led from start to finish to win his fourth gold medal of the Athens Olympics with a comfortable victory in the 200 meters individual medley on Thursday.
Phelps, who stayed on course for a record eight medals at Athens, took charge on the opening butterfly leg and was never seriously challenged as he swept home in an Olympic record one minute 57.14 seconds."
Read more at Michael Phelps Wins Medley for Fourth Gold
The winner of the Gold Medal: Michael Phelps from United States
The winner of the Silver Medal: Ryan Lochte from United States
The winner of the Bronze Medal: George Bovell from Trinidad and Tobago
"Michael Phelps's chances of winning a record eight medals at the Athens Olympics were given a big boost on Thursday when U.S. team officials said he might swim the heats of the 4x100 medley relay.
The 19-year-old American would have missed out on swimming the relay final if he finished behind team mate Ian Crocker in the 100 butterfly final on Friday night. The possible decision to swim him in the heats means he will share any medals the final foursome get.
"We're standing on that side of the equation," U.S. head men's coach Eddie Reese said when asked if Phelps would swim in the qualifying heats."
Read more at Possible Eighth Medal Chance for Phelps
"With a pair of gold medals in the pool at the Athens Olympics Tuesday, American teen swimming sensation Michael Phelps has truly emerged from the shadow of Mark Spitz.
Phelps now has three gold and two bronze in Athens, and still has a shot at tying gymnast Alexander Dityatin's Olympic record of eight medals in one Games.
The 19-year-old from Baltimore started his golden day by taking the 200 metre butterfly in an Olympic record 1:54.04 seconds. Later, his strong lead swim helped the U.S. edge Australia in the 4x200 freestyle relay."
Read more at Phelps living up to the hype
Michael Phelps has just won the Men's 200m Butterfly Gold Medal.
The winner of the Gold Medal: Michael Phelps from United States
The winner of the Silver Medal: Takashi Yamamoto from Japan
The winner of the Bronze Medal: Stephen Parry from United Kingdom (Great Britain)
"Michael Phelps has not failed. He has merely miscalculated.
He is not a disappointment. He is a teenager.
He has chosen to give chase to swimming's greatest achievement and, predictably, he has fallen short. He will not match Mark Spitz's seven gold medals at these Summer Olympics, but he should not be chided for trying.
Water notwithstanding, swimming can be pretty dry. To the extent that Phelps has enlivened this monotonous sport, he deserves our gratitude. To the extent that he echoes Robert Browning's philosophy on striving, Phelps should be commended."
Read more at Let's compare Phelps, Spitz after Beijing
"Only one swimmer can leave Athens with eight Olympic gold medals, and it's not Michael Phelps.
While much of the pre-Games publicity focused on Phelps's bid to break Mark Spitz's record of seven victories at one Olympics, Ian Thorpe is the one with a chance for eight career gold medals before the Games are over.
The 21-year-old Australian captured his fifth Olympic title last night with a victory in the 200-meter freestyle, where he passed defending champion Pieter van den Hoogenband in the final 50 meters before a boisterous crowd of 11,000 at the Aquatic Center. Phelps finished third, ending the American's quest to match or break Spitz's mark from the 1972 Munich Games.
`` (Thorpe) was on top of his game,'' Phelps told reporters. ``He's one of the greatest swimmers of all time. He has a perfect stroke. It's unbelievable how he moves through the water.''
Thorpe won the most anticipated swimming matchup in Athens in an Olympic-record 1 minute, 44.71 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:45.35 that Van den Hoogenband set in Sydney four years ago. The 26-year-old Dutchman was second in 1:45.23, while Phelps swam a personal-best 1:45.32.
``It was a final that excited a lot of people on three continents, but I wasn't focusing too much on that,'' Thorpe said at a press conference. ``I wanted to concentrate on what I wanted to do in the race, and I did that.''"
Read more at Thorpe, Not Phelps, Has Chance to Win Eight Olympic Gold Medals
"Michael Phelps, the U.S. swimmer who set five world records at last year's world championships, may still take home as much as $510,000 in bonuses after failing in his bid to win a record-tying seven Olympic gold medals.
The 19-year-old will get $135,000 from U.S. Olympic and swimming groups for winning a gold and two bronzes in his first three events in Athens, and will receive $75,000 for each victory in his remaining five races. Swimwear maker Speedo International Ltd. had offered a $1 million bonus for matching Mark Spitz's record for gold medals in a single Olympics.
Two decades after the International Olympic Committee allowed athletes to be paid, the number of sponsors and sporting groups offering cash incentives is growing. Olympic teams from Albania to Zimbabwe plan to reward medalists, with the Singapore National Olympic Council pledging S$1 million ($583,000) for a gold medal."
Read more at Phelps May Get $510,000 as Olympic Payments Multiply
"This is the downside of great expectations: They set you up for great failures.
And given America’s win-or-else mentality when it comes to sports, the Olympic Games could prove to be one magnificent disappointment for the highest-profile U.S. stars.
The U.S. men failed to even qualify for Athens in baseball, this country’s national pastime. The typically dominant U.S. track and field team has been rocked by a doping scandal. And Monday night, less than 24 hours after the U.S. men’s basketball team was embarrassed by Puerto Rico in its Olympic opener, another American giant was toppled, if only by his own lofty goals.
Swimmer Michael Phelps picked up his third medal in three events Monday at the Olympic Aquatic Center. But after collecting his second bronze, any hopes of equaling Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals — along with perhaps tens of millions in additional endorsement money — were dashed."
Read more at Phelps' fall is latest big blow
"Ian Thorpe touched the wall, pumped a fist in the air and let out a yell that all but said, "Take that!"
Two lanes over, Michael Phelps was draped over the rope, huffing and puffing as he looked at the scoreboard.
Phelps' improbable pursuit of Mark Spitz is over, Thorpedoed by the man in black.
Thorpe thwarted Phelp's attempt to take home seven gold medals, winning the 200-meter freestyle Monday while the kid from Baltimore was relegated to bronze for the second night in a row - a medal to be savored, for sure, but not the color he needed to catch Spitz.
With his long arms churning smoothly, his enormous feet kicking furiously, Thorpe passed Pieter van den Hoogenband in the homestretch, finishing with an Olympic record of 1 minute, 44.71 seconds. The Dutchman's time was 1:45.23 - good enough for silver.
Though Phelps swam the fastest 200 of his life, it wasn't enough in this ballyhooed showdown."
Read more at Thorpedo sinks Phelps
"Ian Thorpe says Michael Phelps' bid to match Mark Spitz's record seven Olympic golds is doomed to failure. The Australian has defended his 400m freestyle title and hopes to add another gold when he races arch-rivals Phelps and Pieter van den Hoogenband in Monday's 200m freestyle.
Sunday's 4x100m freestyle relay bronze, means the 19-year-old from Baltimore can only equal Spitz's tally, but Thorpe - the undisputed star in the pool in Sydney - says that is unlikely.
"Personally, I don't think anyone, one day, will be able to repeat what Spitz did, even though I'm certain that he [Phelps] will have a good Games," said Thorpe.
Monday's 200m freestyle final has been billed as a 'Thorpe v Phelps' showdown, but the 21-year-old Australian says - despite media hype to the contrary - he and the American are not rivals."
Read more at Thorpe: 'No-one can equal Spitz'
"Soaking up the Olympic experience wasn't all it was cracked up to be for some Americans on Sunday.
While an early end to Michael Phelps' bid for eight swimming gold medals wasn't a stunning upset, Puerto Rico's 92-73 demolition of the men's basketball team was.
Phelps, who won the 400-meter individual medley Saturday, advanced through two rounds of the 200-meter freestyle Sunday. But his 8-for-8 hopes were dashed when South Africa swam to a wire-to-wire, world-record victory in the 400-meter freestyle relay.
What was supposed to be a dual between the United States and Australia instead was a South African tidal wave. Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neething combined to finish in 3 minutes, 13.17 seconds. The Netherlands, anchored by Pieter van den Hoogenband, got up for the silver in 3:14.36."
Read more at No eight golds for Phelps
Tonight was the first time we'd seen Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps swimming in the same race. It was only a Semi final of the 200m Freestyle - and they were around two seconds outside world record pace - but there was something special in thinking about what was to come in tomorrow's final and tonight's relay at the end of today's competition.
Obviously both were holding their cards close to their chest today but one has to wonder if we'll see some world records fall in the next few days.
"After winning their first gold medals on the opening day of the Athens Olympics, Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe will cross paths for the first time on day two of the Games.
The main clash between the pair is Monday's 200 metres freestyle final but the second day of swimming will offer a sneak preview into the most eagerly anticipated race in Athens.
There is an even chance they could meet in the semi-finals of the 200m freestyle, but even if they are drawn apart, they will at least meet in the men's 4x100m freestyle relays, one of four finals on the second day.
The US had never been beaten in the event at an Olympics until Sydney four years ago when Thorpe anchored Australia to a famous victory."
Read more at Thorpe, Phelps to clash in 4x100m free.
"Gold medalist Michael Phelps advanced to the semifinals of the Olympic 200-meter freestyle with a conservative swim Sunday, although rivals Ian Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband and teammate Klete Keller were faster.
Thorpe, who won gold in the 400 freestyle Saturday night, led the way with a preliminary time of 1 minute, 47.22 seconds. The Aussie world record holder swam in the same heat with Van Den Hoogenband, who won the race at the Sydney Games four years ago.
Van Den Hoogenband was second-quickest in 1:47.32. Thorpe finished second to the Dutchman in Sydney.
Emiliano Brembilla of Italy was third in 1:47.95."
Gold medalist Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin advance to semifinals in Olympic swimming
"Michael Phelps won his first Olympic gold medal and broke his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley Saturday, an impressive start to his quest to eclipse Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven gold medals.
Phelps won with a time of 4 minutes, 8.26 seconds, breaking the record of 4:08.41 that he set last month at the U.S. Olympic trials."
"Michael Phelps' magic number is now seven.
That's how many gold medals the 19-year-old American needs to break Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven, this after Phelps won the men's 400 meter individual medley Saturday by breaking his own world record.
Phelps finished the medley in a time of 4:08.26, besting his previous record of 4:08.41 from the Olympic Trials. He also broke American Tom Dolan's Olympic record of 4:11.76, set four years ago in Sydney, and now holds the five fastest times ever in the event.
American teammate Erik Vendt repeated his silver medal performance at the Sydney Olympics with a time of 4:11.81, beating out Laszlo Cseh of Hungary, who won the bronze with a time of 4:12.15."
Read more at Seven To Go: Phelps Wins First Gold in the 400m I
"Michael Phelps made his first day in the Olympic pool look easy.
He began his quest to break Mark Spitz's record of seven Olympic gold medals as the fastest swimmer in morning preliminaries for the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4 minutes, 13.29 seconds _ well off his world record of 4:08.41....
Ian Thorpe, the superstar of the Sydney Games, settled for being the second-fastest qualifier behind Australian teammate Grant Hackett in the 400 freestyle.
Hackett finished in 3:46.36. Thorpe, the world record holder, was next in 3:46.55.
"
"Michael Phelps began his quest to break Mark Spitz's record of seven Olympic gold medals by easily qualifying for the 400-meter individual medley final Saturday.
Phelps was the fastest swimmer in morning preliminaries with a time of 4 minutes, 13.29 seconds - well off his world record of 4:08.41.
He was to return Saturday night for the eight-man final as the overwhelming favorite to win his first gold medal of the Athens Games. American swimmers have finished 1-2 in the event at the last two Olympics.
Phelps is nearly four seconds faster than anyone else in the world this year. He lowered his own world record at last month's U.S. trials.
He won his heat by three body lengths over teammate Erik Vendt, who qualified sixth for the final in 4:16.68. Phelps slowed up on his final two laps. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary was second quickest in 4:14.26 and Alessio Boggiatto of Italy was third in 4:15.76. Greek fans cheered loudly for countryman Ioannis Kokkodis, who made the final in fifth place.
Phelps wiped off the starting block with a USA towel, then stripped down to his jammer suit that ended just above his knees. He removed the large headphones that covered his ears and climbed atop the block."
Read more at Phelps begins Olympic quest by easily qualifying in 400 IM
"All told, Michael Phelps will make 20 official leaps into the Olympic Aquatic Centre's outdoor pool, counting preliminary heats, semifinals and finals of each of his eight events. Not a day will go by between today and next Saturday that he will not compete.
And this from someone who remains insistent that he is pursuing only one gold medal at these Games.
"I'm here to take one event at a time," Phelps says, his tone unwavering. "The first goal is to get one. Once you're an Olympic gold medalist, you're one for life, no matter how many world records you have. How many people in the world have just one gold medal? I didn't win one in Sydney, and that's what I'm here to do.""
Read more at 1 gold medal is fine, says Michael Phelps, but 8 would be great
"Michael Phelps got his first Olympic win _ before the Athens Games even began. In a move that ticked off sprint star Gary Hall Jr. but should give Phelps his best chance to break Mark Spitz's record, the U.S. coaching staff tentatively reserved a spot for their most touted swimmer in the final of the 400-meter freestyle relay.
Swimming is perhaps the most highly anticipated sport at the Athens Games, beginning Saturday with Phelps as an overwhelming favorite to win his first gold medal in the 400 individual medley. He's the world record holder, going nearly four seconds faster than anyone else in the world this year.
"Obviously, he's going to win multiple gold medals," American backstroker Lenny Krayzelburg said. "There's no question about that. It's just a matter of how many.""
Read more at Phelps Lands on U.S. 400 Relay Team
"Speedo has promised Michael Phelps a $1 million prize if he wins seven gold medals in Athens.
You know Speedo, the swimsuit company dedicated to embarrassing anyone who has ever eaten a stack of flapjacks or downed a couple of beers. A person with more than 1 percent body fat looks like a complete whale in a Speedo.
Some of us suck in our stomachs and blush just walking past the Speedo section of a department store.
But it's not as if Speedo is being frivolous with its hard-earned money. Only Mark Spitz has won seven swimming gold medals at one Olympics. He did it in 1972 in Munich back in the days when athletes trained on steaks and cigarettes.
Yet Phelps, a floppy-eared teenager from Baltimore, is so good that some think he actually has a chance. He is projected to be the star of these Games, the face we will end up associating with Athens 2004.
"I'd be satisfied with one gold medal," Phelps insisted. "How many people in the world have one Olympic gold medal?"
Not many. And seven seems impossible."
Read more at Phelps leads real Dream Team.
"Michael Phelps' bid to emulate Mark Spitz's record seven-Olympic-gold-medal haul has taken a potentially fatal blow with reports US swimming chiefs will leave the teenager out of the 4x100m freestyle relay in Athens, sources tell Eurosport.
Despite being the second fastest American over the distance this year, Phelps did not compete in the event in the US Olympic trials.
And according to sources within the German swimming team - who shared the pre-Games training facility in Mallorca with the US squad - American coaches will choose the relay quartet from the swimmers who qualified through the trials.
The decision is expected to be confirmed at the US team's press conference in Athens on Wednesday.
This leaves Phelps - who was aiming to emulate Spitz's haul at the 1972 Munich Olympics by competing in eight events in Greece - with an uphill task to match his compatriot's exploits in the remaining seven events."
"Australia's Grant Hackett believes US swimming star Michael Phelps could leave the Olympics with six gold medals but still go home disappointed.
Phelps is bidding to go one better than Mark Spitz's record tally of seven golds in one Olympics but Hackett believes it will be "very difficult".
"It certainly does put a lot of pressure on you," said Hackett.
"If you win six gold medals it would be a disappointment, even though it's a fantastic result."
Hackett, the defending 1500m freestyle champion, will face Phelps, as well as compatriot Ian Thorpe, in the 200m freestyle."
Read more at Rival predicts Phelps pain.
"Pieter van den Hoogenband is happy to let American teenager Michael Phelps hog the limelight, as the Dutchman prepares for his 200 metres freestyle title defence at the Athens Olympics next week.
Phelps is hoping to better Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics and has entered eight events at Athens, including the 200m freestyle.
"I don't like the attention, he can have all the attention," van den Hoogenband told a news conference.
"I don't want to crash his party, I just want to do my best."
The 200m freestyle at Athens has been dubbed "the race of the century", as it should include the four fastest men in the history of event."
Read more at Hoogie shuns the limelight in Athens .
"He's the golden boy of the coming Olympics and has never won a single medal.
He's on more magazine covers than John Kerry, President Bush and JLo combined, and is still a teenager.
He's in Olympic promos, TV commercials, print ads -- everywhere but on that fast-food soda cup, but give him time.
Michael Phelps is about to determine if he's simply an excellent swimmer with one heck of a marketing campaign or one of the most memorable athletes of all-time.
In an era of specialization, what he's attempting is truly remarkable. He has entered in five individual swimming events, with a shot at a possible three relays.
Gold in all would surpass Mark Spitz's record of seven in a single Olympics. If Phelps equals the Spitz mark, Speedo has already announced he'll earn a $1 million bonus."
Read more at L.A. Daily News - Sports.
"Michael Phelps is motivated by more than gold and glory at the Athens Olympics. He considers himself an ambassador of his sport, and he wants to make good on a promise.
"When he became pro, one request he made when picking an agent was he wanted to elevate the sport of swimming," said his mother, Deborah Phelps. "He said, 'I want people to embrace the sport of swimming.'
Michael Phelps doesn't expect swimming to supplant track and field as the marquee sport of the Summer Olympics. But Phelps - the cover boy on Sports Illustrated and Time and the focus of several major ad campaigns - is certainly raising swimming's profile."
Read more at Phelps strives to boost swimming's popularity.
"James Hickman is hopeful of beating Michael Phelps to win Olympic gold in the 100m butterfly in Athens.
Phelps is aiming to beat Mark Spitz's haul of seven golds at the Games, but Hickman is confident he can stop the 19-year-old's record attempt.
"In American Michael Phelps I've got a really tough challenge," he conceded on BBC Radio Five Live.
"But when I stand on the blocks I'll be ready for it and confident of winning the gold medal."
Great Britain failed to win a single swimming medal at the last Olympics in Sydney but Hickman sees plenty of reason for optimism this time."
Read more at Hickman targets Phelps.
"For his trip to Greece, Michael Phelps has stored in his cell phone a snapshot of his car and one of his cat. He's got the number at Pete's Grille, if he wants to call his pals back in Baltimore. And he's got an IPod full of rap tunes, fit for any occasion.
Along with his talent, dedication and preparation, Maryland's teenaged swimming sensation has brought simple mementos from home this week as he takes the world stage in Athens to try to make Olympic history.
Starting Saturday, with the first day of swimming competition at the 2004 Games, the 19-year-old will stand before princes and kings, a former U.S. president and millions around the globe to start his assault on a record that has stood for 32 years.
Phelps, who lives near Towson, in Baltimore County, has a shot at winning eight Olympic gold medals -- something that has never been done before -- and a decent chance at winning seven, which has only been accomplished once.
Seven gold medals would tie him with the legendary swimmer Mark Spitz, now 54, who set the record in 1972, and who will be in Athens watching.
But when the versatile 6-foot-4 Phelps takes to the starting block Saturday morning with his goggles cinched and his ears tucked under his racing cap, he will also seek to divert the world, and the Olympics, from the worries of a troubled time."
Read more at Phelps draws attention in quest for history.
-- Six-foot-5 19-year-old will swim in seven, maybe eight, events.
-- At last year's worlds, he won four golds and set five world records.
-- Finished fifth in 200 fly as 15-year-old at Sydney 2000.
His schedule
Aug. 14 -- 400 IM heat, 400 IM final
Aug. 15 -- 200 free heat and semi, 4x100 free heat and final*
Aug. 16 -- 200 fly heat and semi, 200 free final
Aug. 17 -- 4x200 free heat and final, 200 fly final
Aug. 18 -- 200 IM heat and semi
Aug. 19 -- 100 fly heat and semi, 200 IM final
Aug. 20 -- 4x100 medley heat, 100 fly final
Aug. 21 -- 4x100 medley final
Note: Phelps may not swim in every relay heat and may not be in the 4x100 free at all."
Source - Swimming / Four to watch
"Australian swimming sensation Ian Thorpe has begun the war of words with rival Michael Phelps just over a week before the start of the Olympic Games.
American Phelps is aiming for a record eight gold medals at Athens and has taken over the mantle of number one male swimmer in the world from Thorpe.
"He's not the only one who can swim fast," Thorpe said of Phelps.
"There are also some Europeans but my name is Ian Thorpe and I will swim very fast in Athens.""
Read more at Thorpe throws down gauntlet
"Towson resident Michael Phelps is on the cover of Time magazine's Olympic Preview this month.
The swimmer has the potential to win eight medals, most of them gold, and eclipse the standard held by Mark Spitz, who won seven golds in 1972.
Pablo Morales, a two-time Olympian in the butterfly and Phelps' role model, told the magazine that Phelps is "redefining our expectations of swimming excellence.""
Source - Michael Phelps featured on cover of Time's Olympic Preview
"Michael Phelps might not get a shot at breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympics Games. He might only have the opportunity to tie it.
After dropping the 200 backstroke from his Olympics to-do list, Coaches told Phelps this week that he may not be swimming on the 4x100 freestyle relay team in Greece, ESPN The Magazine reported. If Phelps does not swim in the relay, it would bring his total to seven events, making it impossible for him to break Spitz's golden record."
Read more at MSNBC - Report: Phelps might be left off relay team.
Sports Network has a good profile of Michael Phelps and Gary Hall Jr.
"Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz are separated in age by 35 years, but soon they may share a place in swimming history.
That's what will happen if Phelps, a 19-year-old phenom from Baltimore, can match Spitz's 32-year-old record of seven gold medals in one Olympics. If he manages to break it, Michael Phelps will be a household name.
And with so many side issues being discussed as the Athens Games approach, there's a chance that in a few weeks no one will be talking about anything but the kid with the arsenal of swimming talents.
Nobody's saying it will be easy, but Phelps is almost expected to challenge the record Spitz set during the 1972 Munich Games after missing expectations four years earlier in Mexico City."
Michael Phelps is now an Omega Man.
'A release from Swatch Group announced that at the end of the Trials Phelps was to be introduced by supermodel Cindy Crawford and television personality Pat O’Brien as the newest member of the Omega family of Brand Ambassadors. ' Source - Phelps, the Omega Man
Michael Phelps has announced that he will compete in 8 events at the Athens Olympics in August.
He will take part in the 200 meters freestyle, 100 and 200 meters butterfly and 200 and 400 meters individual medley. He will also enter three relay races. Source - Phelps to Bid for Eight Olympic Golds
The Santa Cruz Sentinal takes a look at the attempt of Michael Phelps to win 7 Gold Medals at the Athens Olympics.
'Let’s get something straight. If Michael Phelps wins seven gold medals in Athens he will not have tied Mark Spitz’s record, but crushed it and done a huge service for swimming along the way.
He has already brought unheard-of attention to the U.S. Olympic trials, with networks cutting away from the track and field trials just to show Phelps’ semifinal races. Every year after an Olympics, USA Swimming reports a large increase in membership. Phelps’ quest to win the most gold medals in a single Olympics in any sport will boost those numbers even higher.
What makes the attempt at the record so enthralling is that, in order to bring home the hardware, Phelps and his relay teammates will have to swim their best races ever under the weight of crippling expectations.' Read More at Phelps chasing more than Spitz: Pursuit of seven golds may be loftiest goal in sports history
Michael Phelps became the first American male swimmer Tuesday evening to qualify in six Olympic events, but once again he proved he is not invincible.
It should be noted, however, that Peirsol and Crocker both required world records to hold off Phelps. With a time of 50.76 seconds in the 100 fly, Crocker bested his own world mark of 50.98, which he set last year. Phelps finished second at 51.15.
Michael Phelps, the American swimmer with the golden ambition of taking home seven golds at Athens was outclassed by fellow team mate Aaron Peirsol in the 200 metre backstroke who set a new world record, handing Phelps his first loss of the US Olympic simming trials in the process.
'Peirsol and Phelps were both under record pace for the first three laps, but Peirsol led all the way and pulled away on the final leg for a time of 1 minutes, 54.74 seconds -- breaking his own mark of 1:55.15 set two years ago'
'Michael Phelps made it three in a row at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials Saturday, dominating the 200-meter butterfly to stay on course in his bid to break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in Athens.
In a symbolic moment, Phelps and Spitz met for the first time during the award ceremony. Spitz presented Phelps with his medal and pulled the 19-year-old close, whispering something in his ear.
Spitz then climbed atop the medal stand and held Phelps' right hand in the air, as if passing off the baton to the swimmer who could break one of sport's most revered records — seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games.' Source - Spitz passes baton as Phelps makes it three in a row
Michael Phelps is Eying off the Gold Medal for 200 meters butterfly amid speculation of more World Records to come.
'World record-holder Michael Phelps cruised into the semi-finals of the 200m butterfly and prepared to face the escalating demands of his ambitious six-event programme at the US Olympic swimming trials.
Phelps, 19, launched his Athens qualifying campaign by improving his own world record in the 400m individual medley on Wednesday.
But coach Bob Bowman said he didn't expect to see Phelps better his butterfly world mark in his semi-final Friday night, which will fall less than an hour after he competes in the 200m freestyle final.
' Found at - Olympics: Phelps takes aim at 200m freestyle title
'Michael Phelps began his quest for Olympic history with a world record.
Phelps, 19, who hopes to break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in Athens, broke his own mark in the 400-meter individual medley with an electrifying swim at the U.S. Olympic trials last night.
In the first final of the eight-day event, Phelps put up a time of 4 minutes, 8.41 seconds, eclipsing the record of 4:09.09 he set at last year's world championship in Barcelona.' Source - Phelps breaks his own 400-meter world record at U.S. trials
World Record holder, Michael Phelps, has qualified for the Mens 400 Individual Medley in a time of 4:16.11.
'The man who will chase Mark Spitz's seven gold medals from the Munich Olympics took early command of his heat and held off Ryan Lochte, who qualified for the finals in second (4:19.75). ' Source - Men's 400 IM Prelims: Surprise!: Phelps Cruises to the Top Spot
