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Phelps: Eight golds
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Michael Phelps claimed his record-breaking eighth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics after the USA won the 4x100 metres medley relay.
The swimming sensation swam a powerful butterfly leg as the American quartet - completed by Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak - stormed to glory ahead of Australia and Japan in a time of 3:29.34 to break the world record by 1.34 seconds and complete his astounding achievement.
Phelps has now eclipsed Mark Spitz's record of seven golds at a single Olympics - set in Munich in 1972 - but it was far from easy as he went into the water trailing as Japan led at halfway.
The 23-year-old then put the USA back in front and the 100m freestyle bronze medallist Lezak was able to hold off a late rally from Eamon Sullivan to spark wild celebrations in the Water Cube.
Phelps will leave Beijing having collected golds in the 100m and 200m butterfly, the 200m and 400m individual medley and the 200m freestyle as well as being part of the relay teams which won the 4x200m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay.
