Phelps Joins Olympic Greats!

This combo of file photos shows US swimmer Michael Phelps (L) holding his gold medal on the podium after the US team swam to victory in the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 13, 2008, with former Olympic greats, Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina (C-top) at the Melbourne Olympic Games in July, 1956; US swimmer champion Mark Spitz (top R) during the Olympic 200m butterfly final on August 31, 1972 in Munich; Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi (bottom R) during the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris and US athlete Carl Lewis landing in the sand during the final of the men’s Olympic long jump competition on August 6, 1992 in Barcelona. Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian in history on August 13, 2008, capturing the 10th gold medal of his Games career with a world record-setting triumph in the men’s 200m butterfly. The 23-year-old Phelps moved past Olympic icons Paavo Nurmi, Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz and Larysa Latynina, who all won nine golds in their careers. Phtos: AFP/AFP/Getty Images.