Michael Phelps collects his 3rd GOLD medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He makes it look so easy and he breaks another world record to boot.
For those of you who want a full 411--from the NYT:
Phelps Wins Third Gold
By JASON STALLMAN
BEIJING — Michael Phelps moved one step closer in his drive to capture eight gold medals on Tuesday, winning the 200-meter freestyle by a full body-length in 1:42.96, a world-record. It was the second of five individual events Phelps will be swimming in Beijing.
In the semifinals of the event on Monday morning, Phelps never held the lead in his heat, botched his finish and qualified fourth with a time that was two seconds slower than what he clocked at the trials in July and one second slower than his target number.
“I just wanted to save as much energy as I could for the relay,” Phelps said afterward, between labored breaths, referring to the 4x100-meter relay a hour later.
That strategy paid off, as Phelps and his teammates pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the relay, with Phelps swimming the opening leg. Jason Lezak, who swam the anchor leg, mounted a stunning comeback over the French team in the last 25 meters.
Phelps, a 23-year-old from Baltimore, was timed in 47.51 on the first leg of the relay, an American record, nearly half a second faster than he clocked at the United States Olympic trials but behind the the world-record time of 47.24 by Eamon Sullivan of Australia, who set a world record.
Only the first relay leg can qualify for records because it comes with a traditional standing start.
Next up for Phelps are two more finals on Wednesday morning here, the 200 butterfly and the 4x200 freestyle relay.
In his first of eight events, on Saturday, Phelps won the 400-meter individual medley, beating his own world record with a time of 4:03.86, more than a second faster than his previous mark, set at the at Olympic trials. At the 2004 Athens Games, Phelps won eight medals — six gold, two bronze.
Phelps Wins Third Gold
By JASON STALLMAN
BEIJING — Michael Phelps moved one step closer in his drive to capture eight gold medals on Tuesday, winning the 200-meter freestyle by a full body-length in 1:42.96, a world-record. It was the second of five individual events Phelps will be swimming in Beijing.
In the semifinals of the event on Monday morning, Phelps never held the lead in his heat, botched his finish and qualified fourth with a time that was two seconds slower than what he clocked at the trials in July and one second slower than his target number.
“I just wanted to save as much energy as I could for the relay,” Phelps said afterward, between labored breaths, referring to the 4x100-meter relay a hour later.
That strategy paid off, as Phelps and his teammates pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the relay, with Phelps swimming the opening leg. Jason Lezak, who swam the anchor leg, mounted a stunning comeback over the French team in the last 25 meters.
Phelps, a 23-year-old from Baltimore, was timed in 47.51 on the first leg of the relay, an American record, nearly half a second faster than he clocked at the United States Olympic trials but behind the the world-record time of 47.24 by Eamon Sullivan of Australia, who set a world record.
Only the first relay leg can qualify for records because it comes with a traditional standing start.
Next up for Phelps are two more finals on Wednesday morning here, the 200 butterfly and the 4x200 freestyle relay.
In his first of eight events, on Saturday, Phelps won the 400-meter individual medley, beating his own world record with a time of 4:03.86, more than a second faster than his previous mark, set at the at Olympic trials. At the 2004 Athens Games, Phelps won eight medals — six gold, two bronze.
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