Mark Spitz's Olympics Record vs 2008 Beijing Olympics

Singapore
March 26, 2008 8:59am CST
This is a follow up on my previous post on "Will the record of Mark Spitz Be Broken?" (http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1443215.aspx) As written on the tabloids, that Mark Spitz's feat in the '72 Munich Olympics not only made him the greatest swimmer in history; but also the most extraordinary achievement of the modern day Olympics. Very rightly so as each of his 7 gold medals came with 7 world records (4 individual and 3 team events). For the record his 7 remarkable gold medals in that '72 Munich Olympics were: Individual Events- 100m Freestyle (51.22s)WR 200m Freestyle (1:52.78)WR 100m Butterfly (54.27s)WR 200m Butterfly (2:00.70)WR Team Events- 4 x 100m Freestyle (3:26.42)WR 4 x 200m Freestyle (7:35.78)WR 4 x 100m Medley (3:48.16)WR (He swam the 3rd leg for the 4 x 200 Freestyle and 4 x 100m Medley and anchored for the 4 x 100m Freestyle) I really admired his achievement and his dedication. Now, for this 2008 Beijing Olympics, I have read that Michael Phelps might be the one to look out for. It is disclosed that he has been entered for not 7 events but 9 events. 6 individual events which includes the gruelling 400m Individual medley and 3 relays. By this mention, I could not but cringe and wonder just how he is going to manage such a feat. His individual events are mostly the middle distances the 200m and 400 Individual Medleys (he holds the world record for both events), the 100m and 200m Butterfly (in which he holds the world record for the 200m) , the 200m Freestyle and the 200m Backstroke. With this mammoth task and tremendous pressure on Phelps I am just wondering if he will be achieving the extra ordinary, for this is no simple feat and certainly not for the faint hearted. Seems like the swimming world expects it, whilst the rest of the sporting world would wait to see. What do you sporting world out there think? Will Michael Phelps be able to achieve the impossible? Or will someone rise from the unknown and topple this legendary record? Any comments?
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