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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These pics are way too cool to not post … the Hong Kong Lego User Group decided to pay homage to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China by creating a model of the Olympic Stadium (the Bird’s Nest), the Aquatics Center (the Water Cube) and the Olympic Village using about 300,000 Lego bricks and 4,500 Lego people characters … check out their stunning creation:

As if their creations weren’t impressive enough, all of the model recreations were fashioned in under 100 hours. Now, I dunno how many folks worked on these models but it strikes me as pretty astounding that such a feat could be put together so quickly. Head on over to the HKLUG’s official website to check out some more of their amazing work.

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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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In what I hope will become a semi-regular event thruout the rest of the Olympic swimming competitions, it is my extreme pleasure to report that Michael Phelps won his second gold medal (and his 8th gold medal overall) of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China yesterday (today?) as his relay team made up of teammates Jason Lezak, Garrett Weber-Gale and Cullen Jones not only took the gold in the Men’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay race but they also set a new world record … by 0.08 of a second:

Would Michael Phelps’s bid for eight gold medals in the Beijing Games dissolve in a pool at the Water Cube on Monday? The answer was a resounding No. Not over Jason Lezak’s 32-year-old body. Lezak, swimming the anchor leg of the United States’ 4×100-meter freestyle relay, hit the water a half-second after Alain Bernard of France, who came into the race as the world-record holder in the 100-meter freestyle. “I knew I was going to have to swim out of my mind,” Lezak said, adding, “I had more adrenaline going than I’ve ever had in my life.” Dragging off Bernard, who was hugging the lane line that separated them, Lezak made up ground, but with 25 meters remaining it appeared as if he would run out of pool. Trailing Bernard by half a body length, Lezak put his head down and surged to the wall. A three-time Olympian, Lezak had been in this predicament before. He anchored the American 4×100 relay teams at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics that came up short. This time, he was part of a photo finish. When the water settled, the giant video scoreboard showed that Lezak had out-touched Bernard by 0.08 of a second. Phelps’s pursuit of Mark Spitz’s record of seven swimming gold medals in one Olympics remained alive with a little help from his mates. Lezak’s split of 46.06 seconds was the fastest anchor leg ever, by 0.73, and his personal best by over 1.2 seconds. “His last 50 meters were absolutely incredible,” Phelps said. “He had a perfect finish.” After Lezak touched, Phelps, who swam the first leg, raised his arms and let out a primal scream. Garrett Weber-Gale, who swam second, came up from behind him and swallowed him in a hug. The United States was timed in 3 minutes 8.24 seconds, shattering by nearly four seconds the world record that its B team had set the previous night. France won the silver in 3:08.32. Australia, benefiting from a world-record setting lead-off swim of 47.24 from Eamon Sullivan, was third … With his surge, Lezak kept alive Phelps’s drive to break Spitz’s record and collect a million-dollar bonus from Speedo. Asked if he would demand a cut if Phelps succeeds, Lezak grinned and joked, “We’ve already talked about that.” Phelps, 23, was timed in 47.51 on the first leg, an American record, nearly half a second faster than he clocked at the United States Olympic trials but behind Sullivan’s 47.24. Only the first relay leg can qualify for records because it comes with a traditional standing start.

Wow … I wasn’t able to watch the race live on TV last night (since I was at dinner with my peeps) but I did DVR and watch it afterwards … it was close, y’all … Phelps owes Lezak a big cut of his $1 million if he ends up winning all of his gold medals ;) Again, much congrats to the US Team for this win … and good luck, Phelpsie … just 6 more gold medals to go.

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US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps won his first gold medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China yesterday (or today? I’m still not sure how the time difference works) and he did so by also setting a new world record for the Men’s 400-meter Individual Medley:

This latest gold medal is his 7th overall, which has him closing in on Olympic athletes Larisa Latynina, Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi’s 9 gold medals (which is the most gold medals of any single Olympian) … but with quite a few more events still to come in these Olympics, I think that Phelps will end up surpassing Spitz and will end up as the most successful Olympian of all time. But, let’s just focus on this gold medal right now:

Michael Phelps got one of his toughest races out of the way, and it couldn’t have been any easier. With U.S. President George W. Bush cheering him on, Phelps dominated his first event of the Beijing Olympics on Sunday morning, crushing his own world record and all hopes of his challengers with a mark of 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds in the 400-meter individual medley. This was thought to be a potential stumbling block in Phelps’ quest to win eight gold medals after fellow American and good friend Ryan Lochte matched him stroke for stroke at the U.S. Olympic trials just over a month ago. Both went under the previous world record in the 400 IM then, with Phelps touching first in 4:05.25. But Phelps beat Lochte when it really mattered. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary took the silver in 4:06.16, while Lochte faded to third in 4:08.09 — more than 4 seconds behind the amazing Phelps. “I’m pretty happy. That was a pretty emotional race,” Phelps said. “I knew it was going to be a tough race all the way through” … On the medal stand, Phelps’ eyes watered as the U.S. flag was raised to the rafters. The only glitch came during the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” which cut off a few seconds before the end, cracking up Phelps. Lochte, who thought he could give Phelps a run for the gold, was blown out by the world’s greatest swimmer.

Amazing. Michael Phelps is like a machine … and he just keeps getting better and better. I have no doubt that he’s going to pick up at least a couple more gold medals, if not more. He really makes the US Olympic Team proud. Well done, Phelpsie … I’m looking forward to seeing you atop a few more medal stands as the Olympic Games carry on.

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Yesterday afternoon I got to hang out with my friend Tony for a late lunch/hanging out session in Burbank, CA. He and I were supposed to meet in London for the first Kylie Minogue concert (that David and I attended) but he couldn’t get a flight out there in time … yesterday, he told me all about how he finally did make it to London later on in the week and was able to see 3 Kylie shows at the O2 Arena :)

Last night I was supposed to hang out with Mike but I had to take a raincheck since I wasn’t feeling all that great … instead, I stayed home and watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games:

I don’t think I’ve ever been more impressed by an Olympic ceremony, ever. The orchestration of so many performers, the use of technology and the orgy of fireworks that I witnessed last night was just awe-inspiring. The entire spectacle was just so amazing to watch, I can’t even convey it in words. I truly hope all y’all got to watch the ceremonies last night because it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime show to behold. I wonder how any country will be able to top it … the sheer cost and number of people utilized, it was just insane. If anything, it got me really amped up for the Olympic Games to be had over the coming 2 weeks. The sad news of the murder that occurred in Beijing was a cold slap in the face that not even the majesty of the Olympic Spirit can overcome the darkness of man :(

In the end, tho, I hope that only positivity can come from the rest of the Olympic experience this year.

How’s about a bit o’ cuteness this afternoon … with the 2008 Olympic Games underway in Beijing, China I thought it would be nice to introduce the official mascots of the 29th Olympic Games. This year, a collection of 5 mascots collectively called Fuwa will serve as the messengers of peace, sportsmanship and goodwill to all the children of the world. Here are pics and an overall description of the 5 mascots that make up Fuwa — Nini, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Beibei:

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace — and good wishes from China — to children all over the world. Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China’s most popular animals — the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow — and the Olympic Flame. Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name — a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow. When you put their names together — Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni — they say “Welcome to Beijing,” offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games. Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature — the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky — all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation. In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading good wishes through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing — and will honor this tradition by carrying their good wishes to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe. At the heart of their mission — and through all of their work — Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games — and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.

Aww, this is so cute. And I love that by saying their names together you get the greeting, Welcome to Beijing — clever idea. I’m curious to know what Fuwa’s stance on human rights and environmental issues is … er, just kidding ;)

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