This past weekend we learned that Nicole Kidman would be receiving a special tribute from Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine at the 15th annual Women In Hollywood Tribute event hosted by Elle magazine — and last night was the big night. Celebs of varying stature and caliber made their way out to The Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, CA last night to partake of Elle magazine’s tribute to, in their estimation, the most worthy women in Hollywood. Here are a few pics from the event’s red carpet arrivals last night:

Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton and Halle Berry joined dozens of other stars in a ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel on Monday for Elle magazine’s 15th annual Women in Hollywood tribute, honoring seven noteworthy women in entertainment. Fonda served as an informal entertainment ambassador before the program, chatting up actress Kat Dennings and introducing Amber Tamblyn to Shirley MacLaine. Meanwhile, the evening’s host, Chelsea Handler, shared laughs with Jenny McCarthy and Cheryl Hines. Other guests included Kate Beckinsale, Courteney Cox, Eva Mendes, Angie Harmon and Cheryl Tiegs. Elle’s annual dinner pays tribute to women “who are telling our stories” in Hollywood, said editor Roberta Myers. This year’s honorees included Berry, Fonda, Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Sigourney Weaver, Isla Fisher and director Catherine Hardwicke — all of whom are featured in the magazine’s November issue. “Someday hopefully it won’t be necessary to allocate a special evening to celebrate where we are and how far we’ve come,” Weaver said. “Someday women writers, producers and crew members will be so commonplace, and roles and salaries for actresses will outstrip those for men, and pigs will fly.” Though things have improved for women, “we do have a long way to go,” she said. Hathaway said in today’s Hollywood “women are about so much more than how they look. I think it’s pretty remarkable that, at 25, I’m able to say that my role as a woman in Hollywood is purely as an artist, not a cause,” Hathaway said. “I’m free to play my characters as I imagine them, far beyond what size jeans they wear.” Fisher thanked “my baby daddy SBC” (Sacha Baron Cohen) and paid homage to Kidman, “who paved the way for all us Aussies.” MacLaine continued the praise. “Nicole Kidman has been a revelation to me, and it’s not easy for me to be revelated,” she said, calling Kidman “my star child.” Kidman thanked all the directors who “molded” her, particularly Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack. “They were men in Hollywood who loved women,” she said. Fonda thanked all the women in the house — and Hollywood itself. “Aren’t we glad we’re not bankers,” she said. “We are in the most fantastic business.”

I feel I must echo Sigourney Weaver‘s comments and am also very much looking forward to the day when events like this are no longer necessary. Hopefully the day will soon come when there’ll be no need to honor women in Hollywood on a singular night of tribute because they will be afforded the same tribute as their male counterparts every single day. I find it criminal that Johnny Depp (and no offense to him in any way) can demand $55 million dollars for a film role when women cannot garner the same pay. There is still a huge disparity between wages paid to men over women. We may have come a long way (baby) but there is still a long way to go yet. In any event, congrats and kudos to the women honored at last night’s event. It sounds like due tribute was paid to some very deserving women.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Jennifer Lopez gave a very candid and thorough interview with the just launched new website The Daily Beast wherein she talks about topics ranging from her new experiences with motherhood, to the possibility of sending her twin children to a Scientology-based school, to what she plans to do with the money she made by selling the first photos of her kids. This new interview took place about 4 months after she gave birth to her twins and was conducted at her home. Here are pics of J. Lo at ELLE Magazine’s 15th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute event which took place at The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, CA last night … and portions of her new interview:

After refusing to have a nanny for the first four months of her children’s lives, she has reluctantly ceded that she may need one. “I’m trying out my first one today,” she whispers. “But I still can’t stand the sound of my babies crying without tending to them myself.” Lopez, wearing an orange Scoop T-shirt dress, looks as gratefully exhausted as any new mother. I ask her if she needs some privacy so she can nurse the twins who are beginning to squirm. “Is that something you’ve chosen to do? To breast-feed?” “No,” she says as I ask if the La Leche League has come after her for such a decision. She laughs and readjusts the twins in her arms. “No. No. Some people are radical about it. But to each his own.” “If you had had only one child would you have chosen to breast-feed?” “No … I … ah …. it’s not that … I’d rather not discuss it. It’s a whole other thing. If you want to go off-the-record I’ll tell you.” We decide to stay on-the-record … Any sort of depression is hard to imagine from a woman who seems to barrel through any sort of emotional problem. “I don’t get nervous. I don’t get depressed. Blah blah blah,” she says, but pauses to reconsider. Still staring into her daughter’s eyes, she reaches an instant, instinctual decision. She will start now, in this moment, not-lying in her daughter’s presence. “There was a time when I was very overworked and I was doing music and movies and so many things. I was suffering from a lack of sleep. And I did have a kind of nervous breakdown. I froze up on a set. Well, not on a set, but in my trailer. I was like – I don’t want to move. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to do anything. It was on that movie Enough,” she says, referring to the film in which she played a battered wife who finally fights back. “Yeah. I did. I had a nervous breakdown” … The conversation turns to Scientology. “I know a lot of your friends are Scientologists,” I say. “Your father has been a Scientologist for about 20 years …” “More than that now,” she says. “Scientologists don’t believe in shrinks. Would you ever call on Scientology if you were having those problems again?” I ask. “I do know a lot about Scientology. And I know about the practices. I know all about what the technology is and all that kind of stuff. It’s very helpful. So in a sense, yeah, you do call on it.” “Do you consider yourself a Scientologist?” “No.” “If you were, would you be open about it?” “Yeah. I wouldn’t have a problem saying it because I know what it is. I have no problems with it and it really actually bothers me that people have such a negative feeling towards it.” “That it is too exotic? Too cultish?” “Just negative feelings.” “Would you consider schooling Emme and Max in a Scientology school?” I ask. “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind. Not at all. Because I know that the technologies that they have are very helpful… It’s all about communication. That’s the thing I really don’t like about talking about this. I do know so many great people who do do it, who choose it as a lifestyle and really follow it and it is their religion…I just wish that people wouldn’t judge it without knowing what it is.”

Interesting … she seems very open about discussing Scientology and would even consider sending her kids to a Scientology school but she does not consider herself a Scientologist. If she really is trying to combat the “negative feelings” that surround the religion, why not just come out and embrace it publicly? I suspect her career restraints are keeping her from going down that path … a path that she would happily send her kids. It’s not necessarily a bad thing (I believe everyone has a right to follow whatever religion they choose) but it is an interesting revelation. The interview goes on to discuss the huge sum of money that J. Lo was paid for the publication of the first photos of her children. She reveals that she donated a portion of the money to charity and put the rest away expressly for her children’s future. She also confesses that the whole “diva thing” is a misrepresentation of who she really is and believes that she is only a target for such classification because her success has made her “a favorite to pick on”. You can read the interview in its entirety HERE. Personally, I think it is the most candid interview I think I’ve ever read from her. She really opened up about some things in an honest and real way. What do y’all think … is this the Jennifer Lopez you thought you knew?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was given the Honorary Patronage award from the Trinity College Philosophical Society during a special ceremony in Dublin, Ireland yesterday afternoon. While I’m not entirely clear on what qualified JRM for this honor, you can tell by the look on his face that he was thrilled to be honored so by this award:

Speaking on behalf of the Trinity College Philosophical Society, president Barry Devlin was quoted as saying, “We look for people who we feel represent the spirit and values embodied by former pioneering Irish people like Oscar Wilde. We are delighted to present this award to such a list of diverse and talented individuals such as Jonathan Rhys Myers.” At least JRM was able to control his ecstatic glee long enough to pose for these photos. Er, yes, I guess congrats are in order as well.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

Disco superstars Village People were honored with their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in an award ceremony that took place in Hollywood, CA yesterday afternoon. The costumed performers, known for their mega hits Y.M.C.A., In The Navy and Macho Man (which, apparently, is enough to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame family), were all on hand at yesterday’s award ceremony … behold:

The iconic disco group the Village People received the 2,369th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, honoring a more than 30-year career that has included such hits as “YMCA” and “In the Navy.” The Village People were approved for a star five years ago, but were unable to schedule the ceremony until today, according to Leron Gubler, president and chief executive officer of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees of the Walk of Fame. The Village People are scheduled to perform Saturday at the Los Angeles County Fair. “When people walk by that star, you’re going to see a lot of people taking photographs,” Gubler said. The star is one block north of the Hollywood YMCA and between the stars of two other pop culture icons, Liberace and Betty Grable. “It’s one of the honors as a kid, you think about, but when you actually start working, you sort of forget about and focus on work,” said Eric Anzalone, the group’s biker/leatherman. “Then when you get the call, it’s like Christmas morning.” The inspiration for the Village People came when producer-composer Jacques Morali and partner Henri Belolo noticed Felipe Rose dancing in his Indian costume before an enthusiastic crowd in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1977. Morali and Belolo decided to put together a group of Greenwich Village icons from various American social groups, with Rose being a member of the group since its inception. The group’s initial hit was “Macho Man.” “YMCA,” released in 1978, made the Village People one of the most successful disco groups. More than 100 million copies of their albums and singles have been sold. The Village People’s distinctions include having both Madonna and Michael Jackson performing as their opening acts … The group is known for its stability and longevity. Alexander Briley, the G.I. and sailor, has also been with the group since its formation. David Hodo, the original construction worker, left the group in 1982, but returned in 1985 and has remained a member. Ray Simpson has been the cop and lead singer since 1979, replacing Victor Willis. Jeff Olson replaced Randy Jones as the cowboy in 1980, just after the release of “Can’t Stop the Music.” Anzalone became the biker/leatherman in 1995, replacing original member Glenn Hughes, who died in 2001 following a long battle with lung cancer.

Holy shizz! I had no idea that both Madonna and Michael Jackson opened up for the Village People back at the height of their fame … now that’s impressive. 80′s Latin star Charo came out yesterday to help celebrate the Village People‘s Walk of Fame induction … here is a pic of the sassy lady giving us a dose of her famous cuchi-cuchi:

You know, a woman her age who is still shaking her maracas in this way deffo deserves props … I totally

It’s official. Michael Phelps is now the Greatest Olympic Athlete in the history of the Modern Olympic Games. There is no question, no argument to the contrary. He stands alone as the sole Olympic athlete to win 14 Gold Medals overall and has won more Gold Medals in a single Olympic Games than any other athlete of the Modern Olympic Games — it simply cannot be denied that he is the greatest. With a little help from his teammates Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak, Phelpsie swam his way into the history books by winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s 400-meter Medley Relay in, yet again, World Record time:

Michael Phelps locked arms with his three teammates, as though they were in a football huddle calling a play, then hugged each one of them. It took a team to make him the grandest of Olympic champions. And one last big push from Phelps himself. Going hard right to the end of a mesmerizing nine days in Beijing, Phelps helped the Americans come from behind Sunday in a race they’ve never lost at the Olympics, cheering from the deck as Jason Lezak brought it home for a world record in the 400-meter medley relay. It was Phelps’ history-making eighth gold medal of these games. “Everything was accomplished,” he said. “I will have the medals forever.” Phelps sure did his part to win No. 8, eclipsing Mark Spitz’s seven-gold performance at the 1972 Munich Games. Aaron Peirsol got the Americans off to the lead in the backstroke, but Brendan Hansen — a major disappointment in this Olympic year — slowed them down with only the third-fastest breaststroke leg. By the time Phelps dived in for the butterfly, the U.S. was trailing Australia and Japan. That’s when he really went to work. With his long arms whirling across the water like propellers, Phelps caught the two guys ahead of him on the return lap and passed off to Lezak a lead of less than a second for the freestyle. The Australians countered with former world record-holder Eamon Sullivan as their anchor. “I was thinking not to blow the lead,” Lezak said. “I was really nervous.” Sullivan tried to chase down Lezak and appeared to be gaining as they came to the wall, but Lezak finished in 3 minutes, 29.34 seconds — Phelps’ seventh world record in his personal Great Haul of China. The Aussies took silver in 3:30.04, also under the old world record of 3:30.68 set by the U.S. in Athens four years ago, while Japan held on for the bronze … Spitz’s iconic performance was surpassed by a swimmer fitting of this generation: a 23-year-old from Baltimore who loves hip-hop music, texting with his buddies and wearing his cap backward. “I don’t even know what to feel right now,” Phelps said. “There’s so much emotion going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom.” Debbie Phelps was sitting in the stands at the Water Cube, tears streaming down her cheeks, her two daughters by her side. After getting his gold, Phelps quickly found his family, climbing through a horde of photographers to give all three a kiss. Mom put her arm around his neck and gave him a little extra hug. Her son sure earned it. “The Beijing Olympics has witnessed the greatest Olympian of all time — Michael Phelps of the USA,” the announcer said as Phelps posed with his teammates. The Americans still had to wait a couple of tantalizing minutes for the official results to be posted. Finally, it flashed on the board. World record. Gold medal No. 8. “Nothing is impossible,” Phelps said. “With so many people saying it couldn’t be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that’s something I learned and something that helped me” … “Without the help of my teammates this isn’t possible,” he said. “I was able to be a part of three relays and we were able to put up a solid team effort and we came together as one unit. For the three Olympics I’ve been a part of, this is by far the closest men’s team that we’ve ever had. I didn’t know everybody coming into this Olympics, but I feel going out I know every single person very well. The team that we had is the difference.” Phelps set seven world records and one Olympic record, doing a personal best time in every event … Phelps won some races by ridiculously large margins, others with the closest of finishes — most memorably, his seventh gold by one-hundredth of a second over Serbia’s Milorad Cavic in the 100 fly. Along the way, he became the winningest Olympian ever and left China with 14 career golds — five more than anyone else with at least one more Olympics to go. “It’s been nothing but an upwards roller-coaster and it’s been nothing but fun,” Phelps said.

“Nothing but fun” — that is exactly the kind of attitude that can take a person far in life. You know, even tho I said that I could “feel” that Phelpsie was going to win his 8 Gold Medals at these Summer Olympic Games, a little bit of me mebbe kinda doubted it a little … I actually did a little jump when I got word that he won his Gold last night. Much congrats and lurve goes out to Michael Phelps for giving us a thrilling Olympic Games thus far … he was deffo the story for the first half of the Games and we still have the second half to look forward to. Amazing, he is just amazing … and very deserving of every accolade he receives for his incredible efforts and accomplishments. Michael Phelps is the Gold Standard … future Olympic athletes will be looking to him as the new benchmark of Olympic Glory. He is deffo the man.

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It was close … verrrrrry close … but Michael Phelps managed to eke out a win in the Men’s 100-meter Butterfly event at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing last night (today in China). Phelps did not set a World Record with this win, his 7th Gold Medal of these Summer Games, but he did manage to set an Olympic Record … and managed to foil his closest competitor Milorad Cavic of Serbia by one-hundredth of a second:

His Olympics looking lost, Michael Phelps decided to flap those gangly arms one more time. Milorad Cavic, inches from spoiling it all, glided along just under the surface, convinced he had won gold. But it didn’t matter who was fastest. Just first. Phelps swam into history with a magnificent finish Saturday, tying Mark Spitz with his seventh gold medal by the narrowest of margins in the 100-meter butterfly. One-hundredth of a second, the time it takes lightning to strike the ground. Whew! “Dream as big as you can dream and anything is possible,” Phelps said. “I am sort of in a dream world. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it is real.” Call it the Great Haul of China — and it’s not done yet. Phelps has one more race on Sunday, which will likely complete his coronation as the greatest Olympian ever. Spitz already ceded the title. “It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he’s maybe the greatest athlete of all time,” said the icon of the 1972 Munich Games. “He’s the greatest racer who ever walked the planet.” The finish was so close the Serbian delegation filed a protest and swimming’s governing body had to review the tape down to the 10-thousandth of a second. Phelps thought he lost — until he saw the “1″ beside his name on the scoreboard. “When I did chop the last stroke, I thought that had cost me the race,” he said. “But it was actually the opposite. If I had glided, I would have been way too long. I took short, faster strokes to try to get my hand on the wall. I ended up making the right decision.” Phelps’ time was 50.58 seconds, the only time in these Olympics that he won an event without breaking the world record. Not to worry. The 23-year-old from Baltimore has now pulled even with the greatest of Olympic records. “One word: epic,” Spitz told The Associated Press from Detroit. “I’m so proud of what he’s been able to do. I did what I did and it was in my day in those set of circumstances. For 36 years it stood as a benchmark. I’m just pleased that somebody was inspired by what I had done. He’s entitled to every second of what’s occurring to him now. “I feel a tremendous load off my back.” Phelps will return on Sunday to swim in his final event of these games, taking the butterfly leg of the 400 medley relay. The Americans will be heavily favored to give him his eighth gold, leaving Spitz behind. Phelps slapped his hands on the water and let out a scream after the astonishing finish. The crowd at the Water Cube gasped — it looked as though Cavic had won — then roared when the “1″ popped up beside the American’s name. Cavic’s time was 50.59. The Serbian delegation filed a protest, but conceded that Phelps won after reviewing the tape provided by FINA, swimming’s governing body. USA Swimming spokeswoman Jamie Olsen said the tape was slowed to one frame every 10-thousandth of a second to make sure Phelps actually touched first. It was impossible to tell on regular-speed replays. “We filed the protest but it is already over,” said Branislav Jevtic, Serbia’s chief of mission for all sports. “They examined the video and I think the case is closed. The video says (Phelps) finished first. “In my opinion, it’s not right, but we must follow the rules. Everybody saw what happened.” FINA referee Ben Ekumbo of Kenya said there was no doubt who won after a review of the super-slow replay. “It was very clear that the Serbian swimmer touched second after Michael Phelps,” he said. “One was stroking and one was gliding.” Cavic still wasn’t sure he actually lost, but said he would accept FINA’s ruling.

To be totally honest, my ass would’ve lodged a complaint if I were Cavic, too. That was a close finish and if it weren’t for the digital photo finish technology, I don’t know that I’d have been satisfied losing to Phelps this time. But, the proof is, as they say, in the pudding and Phelps won his 7th Gold Medal of these Olympic Games and his 13th (!!!!!) overall. Click HERE to see Sports Illustrated‘s frame-by-frame photos that show Phelps the winner. It was just too damn close this time. Again, much congrats goes out to our dear Phelpsie. He’s got one more event tonight (tomorrow in China) that may bring him one more Gold Medal. At this point, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t win. This is his time, I can feel it. Go, Phelpsie, Go!

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Not to be outdone by those guys in the pool at the Water Cube at this year’s Olympic Summer Games, the US ladies aren’t doing too shabby themselves. Last night (today in China), US gymnasts/teammates/friends Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson took home the Gold and Silver Medals respectively in the Women’s All-Around Gymnastics Final. Nastia becomes on the third US Olympic Gymnast to win the Gold Medal in this event … the very same event that America’s Sweetheart Mary Lou Retton won at the 1984 Olympic Summer Games which were held here in Los Angeles, CA:

No runner-up finish to her friend and rival this time. Nastia Liukin won the biggest prize of all. Liukin edged teammate Shawn Johnson for the all-around gold in women’s gymnastics Friday in an intense matchup that lived up to its billing at the Beijing Games. Liukin finished with 63.325 points, a mere six-tenths ahead of Johnson, the reigning world champion who beat Liukin at the U.S. championships and Olympic trials only a few weeks ago. Yang Yilin of China won the bronze. “I don’t think it’s really set in, but I feel like this journey has been so long,” Liukin said. Made even longer by having to wait for Johnson to follow her on the floor exercise. Liukin paced back and forth while Johnson, the final competitor, completed her performance, clapping as her teammate floated high in the air. In the end, it was Liukin who soared. When Johnson’s score was posted and Liukin realized she won, tears filled her eyes. Her father and coach Valeri grabbed her in a bearhug, squeezing her tight for several minutes. Valeri Liukin was a double gold medalist for the Soviet Union 20 years ago, but came up achingly short in a rivalry with his own teammate in the all-around. There would be no such disappointment for his only child. “It’s not possible to describe how proud I am,” he said afterward. Liukin wore a smile that lit up her face as she climbed atop the medals podium and waved to the crowd. She blinked back tears as the gold medal was placed around her neck, but let them flow when the U.S. anthem began to play. “Standing on the podium and hearing `Olympic champion’ next to my name was a dream come true,” Liukin said. “Everything pays off at this very moment” … But this was no surprise. Johnson and Liukin have been the world’s two best gymnasts for two years now, and most expected the teammates would be each other’s biggest competition. Johnson came in with all the momentum, winning every matchup with Liukin but one in the last few years. It was Liukin’s grace under pressure, though, that made the difference. It had to, with everything coming down to the very last event, and the last two performers. “I gave my heart and soul out there today,” Johnson said. “Nastia deserved the gold.”

These ladies are class acts, much congrats to them both for their stellar performances. I’m sure the ladies were disappointed when they had to content themselves with the Silver Medal in the Women’s Gymnastics Team event earlier this week but they’re prolly feeling much better about themselves today. It’s amazing how much the Olympic Games can lift one’s spirits as spectators … despite having nothing whatsoever to do with the athleticism that goes on in the Olympic Games, I can’t help but feel a bit of pride at the achievements by the US Olympic athletes. It’s great that the World can, generally, come together for 2 weeks every 2 years to share this great experience. Go Team USA … we’re all rootin’ for y’all :)

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Woot! It is my happy duty to report that Michael Phelps, the all-around star of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, continued his Gold Medal winning streak last night (today in China) by winning the Men’s 200-meter Individual Medley in World Record time, a feat that is quickly becoming commonplace for the Olympic athlete. Phelps won his 6th Gold Medal of these Olympic Games, his 12th Gold Medal overall. Oh yeah, and Ryan Lochte had himself a great night, too:

Michael Phelps hung on the lane rope in a familiar pose, admiring another world record while his rivals gasped for breath. Make it 6-for-6 at the Beijing Games. Next up: Mark Spitz and the grandest of Olympic records. Blowing away the field, Phelps won the 200-meter individual medley in a record 1 minute, 54.23 seconds — more than two seconds ahead of the next guy. He knocked off his own mark of 1:54.80 set at last month’s U.S. trials, his sixth world record in China. Phelps matched his wins from Athens four years ago, where he also took six golds along with two bronzes. He’s already the winningest athlete in Olympic history with 12 golds, but his sights are on eight. Spitz won seven golds at the 1972 Munich Games. Phelps has two more events to leave little doubt he’s the greatest Olympian ever. Ryan Lochte tried to pull off a daunting double, going against Phelps just 29 minutes after winning the 200 backstroke. He couldn’t keep up, though he did hold on for bronze. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary picked up his third silver of the games — all of them trailing Phelps. When the official results were posted, Phelps extended his right hand to Lochte in the next lane. The friends shook hands and patted each other on the head. Later, they yukked it up on the medal stand before Phelps hustled off to grab his racing gear; he had to come right back for the semifinals of the 100 butterfly. “I switched from my dress sweats to my parka, shoes, threw my cap and goggles on and then they pushed us on out. No time,” he said. “The medal was in my warmup jacket.” History can’t wait. A half-hour after winning another gold, Phelps was second fastest behind Milorad Cavic of Croatia in the 100 fly, setting himself up to tie Spitz’s record in Saturday’s final. World record-holder Ian Crocker of the U.S. bounced back from a disappointing swim in the prelims to post the third-fastest time. “There wasn’t much time,” Phelps said, “but I think there’s going to be a lot of time for me to rest over the next 18 hours or so, and I’ll be able to be ready for tomorrow morning’s 100.” If all goes according to plan, Phelps will get No. 7 in the fly — his signature stroke — and have the coronation Sunday in the 400 medley relay. The Americans are always heavily favored for gold in that one … “It’s never a relief,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be a tough race. For me to be a player in that race, I have to be closer at the 50. If I’m not, then it will be tough. I was over a body length behind at the 50 in the prelims and came up a bit short, so I have to be there.” Still, he showed little signs of tiring from the grueling schedule. He’s already raced 15 times and has two more left — both going for gold. “I actually don’t feel too bad now,” Phelps said … The official Xinhua News Agency dubbed Phelps “the American superfish.” Lochte got quite a consolation price: a world record and the first individual gold medal of his career in the backstroke. The laid-back Floridian edged teammate Aaron Peirsol in 1:53.94 to break the mark he shared with Peirsol. “I touched the wall and was like, ‘Thank you, finally,”‘ Lochte said. “It felt good the whole way.” Lochte was known as “Mr. Runner-up” for his frequent second-place finishes to Phelps and Peirsol. Then he stunned Peirsol at last year’s world championships in 1:54.32, before Peirsol matched the time in beating Lochte at the U.S. Olympic trials last month. Lochte got Peirsol back despite a problem with his LZR Racer. “My suit came undone after the first 50,” Lochte said. “I was just trying to control my legs” … Phelps’ win was the 21st world record set in swimming during the Olympics, with two days left.

Simply amazing … these US Olympians are so inspiring … watching them soar to these heights of athleticism leaves one with a really great feeling. While I’m thrilled that Michael Phelps is still on course to make more Olympic History, I’m very happy that Ryan Lochte is able to enjoy some time in the spotlight as well. These guys are really doing the US proud. Phelpsie is up to tie Mark Spitz‘s Olympic Record of 7 Gold Medals in a single Olympic Games tonight (tomorrow in China) … I can’t wait!! Again, I say Woot!

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I suppose Michael Phelps‘s performance at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games last night (today in China) should be unbelievable but waking up to report that the man has not won just one Gold Medal but 2 Gold Medals in competition isn’t all that surprising for me … not when we’re talking about our dear Phelpsie. Michael Phelps did win 2 Gold Medals last night and set 2 World Records in the process (thus far, he’s 5 for 5 attempts at Gold Medals at this Summer Olympic Games and 5 for 5 World Records) bringing his overall Gold Medal count to 11 — the most Gold Medals won by any Olympic athlete in the 100+ year history of the Modern Olympic Games. First up last night (today in China), Michael Phelps took home the Gold and set the World Record in the Men’s 200-meter Butterfly event:

Michael Phelps has become the winningest Olympic athlete ever, earning his fourth gold medal of the Beijing Games with a world record in the 200-meter butterfly. The American touched in 1 minute, 52.03 seconds, breaking his old mark of 1:52.09 set at last year’s world championships in Australia. It was Phelps’ 10th career gold medal, breaking a tie with Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis and two others for most golds. He is 4-for-4 so far, setting world records in each of his events.

But that was just his first event of the night, next up came the Men’s 4×200 Freestyle Relay where Phelps and his teammates Ricky Berens, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay won more Gold, set another World Record:

On the fifth day of swimming at the Beijing Games, Phelps collected his fourth and fifth gold medals, becoming the career leader in Olympic golds with 11. He broke his own world record in the 200-meter butterfly of 1 minute 52.03 seconds, trimming 0.06 off his 17-month-old mark even though his goggles filled with water when he dived into the water. Less than an hour later, Phelps led off the United States’ 4x-200 freestyle relay in 1:43.31, almost three seconds faster than his nearest competitor, to set the tone for the Americans’ rousing victory. The squad of Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens and Peter Vanderkaay clocked a 6:58.56 — the first sub-seven minute performance — to finish 5.14 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Russia, which was only 0.46 seconds off the listed world record. In a sport where races often are decided by hundredths of a second, Phelps, 23, has won three of his five golds here by a margin of 1.89 seconds or more. “There’s nobody in any sport that can win like he wins,” Reese said. “He’s not just winning, he’s crunching world records and crunching the fields. It’s amazing” … “I couldn’t see anything for the last 100,” said Phelps, who said he gauged where the walls were by counting his strokes. He could not tear his goggles off because he was wearing two caps and the strap was safely tucked between them. “It just kept getting worse and worse through the race,” he said.”I wanted to break the record. I wanted to go 1:51 or better, but for the circumstances I guess it’s not too bad.” Shaking his head at Phelps’s goggles mishap, Reese said: “Just think how fast that would have been. We were looking for an amazingly fast swim the way he had swum in the semifinals and the prelims. He would have been at least a second faster.” Physical exhaustion, mental stress, equipment malfunctions — all of it falls away when Phelps hits the water.

Holy Shizz! He can even win Gold Medals with his eyes shut! Oh yeah, I think at this point it is very safe to say that Michael Phelps is THE greatest Olympic Athlete of all time … arguably the greatest American athlete and by the end of these Olympic Games, possibly the greatest athlete of all time. It sounds like hyperbolic exaggeration but if you consider that the man just keeps winning Gold Medals and keeps doing so in World Record time … it’s not a tough case to make. Phelps has 3 more chances to win Gold Medals/set World Records … bring it on, I say, I have a feeling that Olympic History is going to continue to be made inside the Water Cube at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

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Welp, he did it again … Michael Phelps won his 3rd Gold Medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China in the Men’s 200-meter freestyle event last night (today?) … and his 9th career Gold Medal overall — and he, yet again, won his event in record time. He is now tied with Olympic greats Larisa Latynina, Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi and Mark Spitz as the athletes with the most Gold Medals. Later on today (tomorrow?), Phelps will compete for his 10th overall career Gold Medal … and something tells me, he’s gonna get it:

He cuts through the water like he’s shredding through the record books at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps won his third gold medal and record-tying ninth of his career on Tuesday morning, breaking his own world record in the 200-meter freestyle. The American won in a time of 1 minute, 42.96 seconds, lowering his old mark of 1:43.86 set at last year’s world championships in Australia. It was expected he would face a strong challenge for the gold from the other finalists, but he led from the start, cruising to the wall nearly 2 seconds ahead of silver medallist Park Tae-hwan of South Korea, who finished in 1:44.85. American Peter Vanderkaay earned the bronze in 1:45.14. Phelps already has nine career gold medals, tying him with four others, including swimmer Mark Spitz and track star Carl Lewis, for the most in Olympics history. He’s got five more chances for gold in Beijing — the next one comes Wednesday. And he’s just 23 … Phelps finds himself on the verge of diving into history. He has the opportunity to break the Olympics’ most hallowed record and eclipse Marc Spitz’s seven gold medals in the 1972 games. Even if he gets gold in just half of the eight events he has entered, Phelps will hold the record for the most gold medals in Olympic history and could arguably be called the greatest Olympian ever. “There are a lot of things that people haven’t done, and I want to change the sport and be the first person to do new things,” Phelps said.

Oh yeah, he is right on track to do just that. I am just amazed by his accomplishments. He shows no sign of stopping or even slowing down … in fact, he just keeps getting faster and faster. I have no doubt that he will walk away from these Olympic Games with the most Gold Medals won by a single athlete and he has a great chance to beat Mark Spitz‘s record of winning the most Gold Medals at a single Olympic Games. Phelps just looks so focused, relaxed and happy … and I think it’s that joy of competition that keeps fueling him that extra bit at each event that is allowing him to not only win but to win in record time (just like Spitz did in 1972, who won each of his 7 Gold Medals each in record time). Will Michael Phelps win 8 Gold Medals in record time in Beijing? I think it’s quite possible … it’ll be fun to watch and see. Go Phelpsie!

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