
MICHAEL Phelps today swept to an astonishing eighth gold medal at the Beijing Games with victory for the US in the 4×100m medley relay.
He gives the U.S. the lead in the 4 x 100 medley relay in the butterfly, then Lezak completes a world-record performance, as Phelps earns his record eighth gold medal, topping Mark Spitz’s 1972 performance.
The American cemented his place as the greatest swimmer — and perhaps sportsman — in history by completing a perfect eight victories from eight swims, seven of them in world records.
The Americans held off a determined Australian team to win in a world record of 3.29.34, beating the previous mark of 3.30.68.
The Australians also broke the old world record in 3. 30.04 secs with Japan taking bronze in 3.30.18.
The Americans took an early lead courtesy of Olympic 100m backstroke champion Aaron Peirsol and turned almost a second in front of the Russians and the Japanese with Australia fourth.
Brendan Hanson bolstered that edge although Australia’s Brenton Rickard swam brilliantly to keep Australia in touch.
Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein had a massive challenge to keep up with Phelps on the butterfly leg but he fought on magnificently to give Eamon Sullivan an outside shot at hauling in America’s Jason Lezak on the freestyle leg.
The 100m silver medallist responded with a lightning quick 46.65 but it was not enough to catch Lezak.
Sullivan said the Australians had thrown everything they had at their arch rivals.
“It’s something we have been working towards for four or five years now,” he said.
“The (men of the Australian team) have really lifted.”
Lauterstein said the silver medal performance was a sign of better things to come for the Aussies.
“We said we were going to give these guys a shake and we certainly did,” he said.
“There are good things to come for us four. We are four young guys, they have Jason Lezak and Aaron Peirsolwho are a bit older.”
The US victory sealed a remarkable 25th world record at Beijing’s Water Cube.