Michael Phelps Wins 8th Gold Medal

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Michael Phelps Wins 8th Gold Medal

Michael Phelps wins his seventh gold of the Beijing Games and ties Mark Spitz's 1972 Munich Games record.

The 4x100-meter medley relay team from the United States, from left, Aaron Peirson, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak celebrate their win and Phelps' eighth gold medal at the National Aquatics Center Sunday.

Michael Phelps is greeted by his mother Debbie and sisters Whitney Flickinger, to the left of Debbie, and Hilary Phelps, partially obscured, after the medal ceremony for men's 4x100-meter medley relay final.

Phelps responds to questions during a press conference after winning his record-setting eighth gold medal.

Michael Phelps wears his gold medal and carries the U.S. flag after winning his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics.

Michael Phelps celebrates after winning the 4x100-meter medley relay for his record eighth gold medal.

Phelps does his part in winning the gold by swimming the breastsroke leg of the 4x100-meter relay.

Phelps (right) beats Serbia's Milorad Cavic by 0.01 seconds to win the gold.

No. 7! Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly for his seventh gold medal of the 2008 Olympics.

Phelps celebrates after winning the men's 100 meter butterfly on Saturday...

...and goes into the stands to greet family members watching him make history in Beijing.

Wearing his latest gold medal, Phelps celebrates after the race.

With the win, Phelps passed Mark Spitz for the most gold medals at a single Olympics. Spitz is shown here holding five of the seven gold medals he won at the 1972 Munich Games.

Phelps' road to the Olympics began at a young age. Here he is at 8 years old swimming with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

Phelps competed in his first Olympics at 15 years old at the 2000 Sydney Games. He did not medal and finished fifth in his only event, the 200-meter butterfly.

Phelps won eight medals, six golds and two bronzes, at the 2004 Athens Games in his first attempt to break Spitz's record.

Phelps and teammate Garret Weber-Gale, right, celebrate their team's dramatic victory in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. Phelps won his second gold in Beijing when teammate Jason Lezak beat France's Alain Bernard in the final leg by .08 second.

Phelps celebrates with his mother, Debbie, after the medal ceremony for the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, his fifth gold in Beijing.

Phelps dives in at the beginning of the 200-meter butterfly, which he won for his fourth gold in Beijing.

Phelps won his sixth gold in Beijing in the men's 200-meter individual medley.

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The 4x100-meter medley relay team from the United States, from left, Aaron Peirson, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak celebrate their win and Phelps' eighth gold medal at the National Aquatics Center Sunday.

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