the greatest, grandest, winningest olympian ever - MICHAEL PHELPS

Michael Phelps with his incredible tally of 14 gold medals - won in Beijing and Athens, is now the most successful Olympian in history. With the eight gold medals from Beijing, he has set a record of most number of golds in a single Olympics.

400m Individual Medley 4:03.84 (world record)
Aug. 9

4x100m Freestyle Relay 3:08.24 (world record)
Aug. 10

200m Freestyle 1:42.96 (world record)
Aug. 11

200m Butterfly 1:52.03 (world record)
Aug. 12

4x200m Freestyle Relay 6:58.56 (world record)
Aug. 12

200m Individual Medley 1:54.23 (world record)
Aug. 14

100m Butterfly 0:50.58 (olympic record)
Aug. 15

4x100m Medley Relay 3:29.34 (world record)
Aug. 16

This combination of photos shows United States' Michael Phelps holding each of his eight gold medals after (top, left to right) the 400m individual medley, 4 x 100m freestyle relay, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, (bottom, left to right) 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly and the 4x100-meter medley relay at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing

1st GOLD

2nd GOLD - Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak

3rd GOLD

4th GOLD

5th GOLD - Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens and Peter Vanderkaay

6th GOLD

7th GOLD

8th GOLD - Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak

(Clockwise from top L) Brendan Hansen, Aaron Piersol, Jason Lezak and Michael Phelps of the United States stand behind the block prior to swimming their way to the gold medal in the Men's 4x100 Medley Relay at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. The United States team won the gold medal with a new world record time of 3:29:34.

US swimmers Michael Phelps (R), Aaron Peirsol (C) and Brendan Hansen (L) react during the men's 4 x 100m medley relay swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Michael Phelps became the first man to win eight gold medals at the same Olympics when the US won the men's 4x100m medley relay final in a new world record time

US swimmers Michael Phelps (L) and Brendan Hansen stand on the podium looking at a certificate from FINA while on the podium for the men's 4 x 100m medley relay swimming final medal ceremony at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Michael Phelps became the first man to win eight gold medals at the same Olympics when the US won the men's 4x100m medley relay final in a new world record time.