Michael Phelps has left a trail of records in his wake

Phelps will forever be linked to his remarkable performance in Beijing, where he won eight gold medals (five individual, three relays) to break Mark Spitz's iconic Olympic record. Only 11 other athletes have won as many gold medals in their careers as Phelps won during that magical week in China. For good measure, he set or was part of seven world records. The only time he missed out might have been his most impressive triumph - rallying to beat Milorad Cavic by one-hundredth of a second in the 100-metre butterfly.

Phelps became the first swimmer to set world records in two different events on the same day at the 2003 world championships in Barcelona. He took down the mark in the 100m butterfly during a semi-final heat and smashed his own record in the final of the 200 individual medley about an hour later.

In 2000, Phelps qualified for his first Olympic team at age 15, making him the youngest US male swimmer since 1932. The following year, still three months shy of his 16th birthday, he became the youngest male to set a world record in the 200 butterfly.