8 Golds!!!!!!!!

[arkienurse]

Just totally unbelievable. Michael Phelps has gotten his 8th gold medal, with 7 world records.

And I didn't even realize I was a swimming fan.


Oh, now Visa is putting up a congratulatory commercial just now

[Help!]

I think he should sign up for a couple more events just to see how many more gold medals he can collect. He is phenomenal!!! (And so is the rest of the US Swim Team... so proud). Love those commercials, just wish they had nothing to do with VISA.

[FLBK7]

Phelps is just amazing. I'm still stunned! I'm so proud of him and of the U.S. Swim Team. Go USA!!!

Let's just hope Phelps won't accept to do commercials for Visa..........

[magyar123]

Don't want to take anything away from his accomplishments - BUT - he swam the first two races in one of those made for "swimmers suits" - the type of material used by astronauts in outer space, making him "faster.
Mark Spitz in 1972 only swam in his swimming shorts.

[cool33097]

Whatever pp.
He is just amazing!!

[rfassett]

Don't want to take anything away from his accomplishments - BUT - he swam the first two races in one of those made for "swimmers suits" - the type of material used by astronauts in outer space, making him "faster.
Mark Spitz in 1972 only swam in his swimming shorts.

I am not sure I understand the point. All of the athletes have progressed over the years, whether with better equipment, better clothes, better training, better drugs (oh, wait, no I did not just say that ). Anyway, they call that progress. Just as Mark Spitz was the greatest of his era, so is Michael Phelps the greatest of his. This does not demean the accomplishments of Mark Spitz one iota. He was the greatest of his time.

[mynameainttracy]

Michael Phelps is officially a bad***, however, not only did Spitz swim in a normal speedo, he had a mustache and a full head of hair. Nowadays the swimmers all look like a bunch of hairless cats. Lots of the women look like they don't even have any eyebrows.

[Lajazz947]

Michael Phelps is officially a bad***, however, not only did Spitz swim in a normal speedo, he had a mustache and a full head of hair. Nowadays the swimmers all look like a bunch of hairless cats. Lots of the women look like they don't even have any eyebrows.

My Mom had a hairless cat who hated water.

[arkienurse]

Don't want to take anything away from his accomplishments - BUT - he swam the first two races in one of those made for "swimmers suits" - the type of material used by astronauts in outer space, making him "faster.
Mark Spitz in 1972 only swam in his swimming shorts.

Nowadays they are ALL wearing these suits. Why do you think there were something like 20 world records set? As long as they are available to all the competitors to even out the mix, I don't have a problem with it.

And I think Spitz stands in a class by himself BECAUSE of the lack of technology that went into his record setting olympics. I doubt there were trainers there to massage and loosen muscles prior to his races. No space age suits. All that hair to drag him down. And I believe they have modified the way one or more of the strokes are done as well.

Phelps is just the newer bionic version of Spitz.

[PoorGrammyinBK7]

I was very proud of Michael Phelps last night too. The whole week has been very exciting!

I do have one complaint though - not for Michael Phelps, but the media (NBC at least). They kept the camera on Michael Phelps continuously during the medal ceremony last night when he won the 8th one - the one he won with the TEAM. Yes, I know it was his moment in a way - but it was also THEIR MOMENT - they ALL won gold!!!

I would have liked (and I am sure their families, friends and fans would have liked) to see the others while the Star Spangled Banner was playing: Piersol, Hansen and especially Lezak, who absolutely delivered a FANTASTIC swim as well. Michael would NOT have won that last medal without his great U.S.A. teammates and the camera unfortunately completely ignored them. That was very annoying.

[Lacy]

Don't want to take anything away from his accomplishments - BUT - he swam the first two races in one of those made for "swimmers suits" - the type of material used by astronauts in outer space, making him "faster.
Mark Spitz in 1972 only swam in his swimming shorts.

I rarely ever watch the olympics but did while visiting cousin and was watching it when he won his 6th medal... I made a comment about their suits that they were wearing. I said what happen to the days of just wearing swimming shorts? And that's when he informed me what those suits were made of... I had no idea.

[Bandit]

They were like what? 1/100th of a second faster wearing those suits?, than the people in the 70's?
Not sure.

[arkienurse]

They were like what? 1/100th of a second faster wearing those suits?, than the people in the 70's?
Not sure.

Was just watching Shepard Smith on Fox. I believe they said the suits cause a 2% improvement. Not sure what that translates too. But the company that makes the suits said they were indeed offered to all the swimmers.

And I got a small tickle, when Shep called Phelps the bionic version of a swimmer. Just like I said the other night.

[Bandit]

Was just watching Shepard Smith on Fox. I believe they said the suits cause a 2% improvement. Not sure what that translates too. But the company that makes the suits said they were indeed offered to all the swimmers.

And I got a small tickle, when Shep called Phelps the bionic version of a swimmer. Just like I said the other night.

I wonder what would happen if they had to do it in a regular suit? No more records? LOL! I have not watched any of it, just the opening with fireworks and then a few pics here & there...so don't take my word for anything on this.

I do remember reading someone beating someone (or a record) by 1/100th of a second and I think it was this Michael Phelps.

[Cali]

Phelps is good, but athletes have more of an advantage in sports now. When Spitz and other athletes did amazing things they did it on pure talent.