On August 21, 2004, one of the most remarkable feats in modern Olympic history took place at the Athens Games. American swimmer Michael Phelps, then just 19 years old, won his eighth medal of the games, becoming the first athlete to win eight medals in a single Olympic Games.
Phelps's journey to this historic achievement began with a gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley on August 14. He followed this up with gold medals in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly, 4x200-meter freestyle relay, and 200-meter individual medley.
On August 20, Phelps tied Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven gold medals in a single Olympic Games when he won the 100-meter butterfly. However, Phelps's bid for eight golds appeared to be in jeopardy in this race. He was trailing behind his teammate Ian Crocker for most of the race, but in a thrilling finish, Phelps managed to out-touch Crocker by just 0.04 seconds, winning the gold with a time of 51.25 seconds.
The stage was set for Phelps to make history on August 21 in the 4x100-meter medley relay. The U.S. team of Aaron Peirsol (backstroke), Brendan Hansen (breaststroke), Phelps (butterfly), and Jason Lezak (freestyle) was the favorite to win, but they faced tough competition from the Australian and Japanese teams.
Peirsol and Hansen gave the U.S. a solid lead, and then it was Phelps's turn. Swimming the butterfly leg, Phelps extended the lead, giving Lezak a comfortable cushion for the freestyle leg. Lezak maintained the lead, touching the wall first and securing Phelps's historic eighth gold medal. The U.S. team set a new world record with a time of 3:30.68.
With this victory, Phelps surpassed Spitz's record and became the most successful athlete at a single Olympic Games. His eight medals also tied the record for the most medals of any kind in a single Olympic Games, equaling Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin's record from the 1980 Moscow Games.
Phelps's achievement was the result of years of hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His performance in Athens cemented his status as one of the greatest Olympians of all time and set the stage for even more record-breaking performances in the years to come.
The 2004 Athens Games marked a significant milestone in Phelps's illustrious career, but it was just the beginning. He would go on to win a total of 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals, over the course of his career, making him the most decorated Olympian in history.
Phelps's achievements have inspired countless athletes around the world and have helped to elevate the sport of swimming to new heights. His legacy extends beyond his medal count, as he has also become a vocal advocate for mental health and has used his platform to raise awareness about issues such as depression and anxiety.
On this day in 2004, Michael Phelps made history and forever changed the face of Olympic swimming. His remarkable achievement in Athens remains one of the greatest feats in sports history and a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence.
