A week to remember

Michael Phelps makes waves, history with 6 gold, 2 bronze

Athens 2004

Saturday, Aug. 14

Michael Phelps' delivered the United States' first gold medal of the Athens Olympics, shaking off his nerves to win the 400-meter individual medley. He enjoyed the victory even more because teammate Erik Vendt won the silver.

400 individual medley

Preliminary

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 4:13.29

2. Laszio Cseh, Hungary, 4:14.26

3. Alessio Boggiatto, Italy, 4:15.78

Final

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 4:08.26*

2. Erik Vendt, United States, 4:11.81

3. Laszio, Cseh, Hungary, 4:12.15

* World record

Sunday, Aug. 15.

Phelps' chances to surpass Mark Spitz's seven gold medals ended when the American team finished third in the 400 freestyle relay. The finish only stirred the controversy over Phelps' selection to the relay team.

400 freestyle relay

Final

1. South Africa, 3:13.17*

2. Netherlands, 3:14.36

3. United States, 3:14.62

200 freestyle

Preliminary

1. Ian Thorpe, Australia, 1:47.22

2. Pieter van den Hoogenband, Netherlands, 1:47.32

3. Emiliano Brembilla, Italy, 1:47.95

5. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:48.43

Semifinal

1. Pieter van den Hoogenband, Netherlands, 1:46.00

2. Ian Thorpe, Australia, 1:46.55

3. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:47.08

* World record

Monday Aug. 16

Phelps' pursuit of Spitz eneded on Day 3. With a bronze medal i the 200 freestyle, he no longer could win seven golds in Athens. "I guess you could say the pressure is off," Phelps said after the race.

200 freestyle

1. Ian Thorpe, Australia, 1:44.17*

2. Pieter van den Hoogenband, Netherlands, 1:45.23

3. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:45.32

200 butterfly

Preliminary

1. Takashi Yamamoto, Japan, 1:57.36

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:57.36

3. Pawel Korzeniowski, Poland, 1:57.45

Semifinal

1. Stephen Parry, Great Britain, 1:55.57

2. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:55.65

3. Pawel Korzeniowski, Poland, 1:56.40

* Olympic record

Tuesday, Aug. 17

One victory seemed certain; the other was more in doubt. But Phelps still came away with two gold medals in one night, winning as expected in the 200 butterfly and then sharing in a stirring U.S. victory over Australia in the 800 freestyle relay.

200 butterfly

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:54.04*

2. Takashi Yamamoto, Japan, 1:54.56

3. Stephen Parry, Great Britain, 1:55.52

800 freestyle relay

1. United States, 7:07.33

2. Australia, 7:07.46

3. Italy, 7:11.83

*Olympic record

Wednesday, Aug. 18

In his only day without a final to swim, Phelps could catch his breath - relatively speaking - while setting himself up in the 200 individual medley. His field-leading time in the semifinals was an Olympic record.

200 individual medley

Preliminary

1. Laszlo Cseh, Hungary, 1:59.50

2. Michael Phelps, United States, 2:00.01

3. George Bovell, Trinidad and Tobago, 2:00.65

Semifinal

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:58.52*

2. Ryan Lochte, United States, 1:59.58

3. Laszlo Cseh, Hungary, 1:59.65

*Olympic record

Thursday, Aug. 19

Phelps joins Spitz as the only male swimmer with at least three individual gold medals in one Olympics with a victory in the 200 IM. Phelps had to swim a 100 butterfly semifinal shortly after a medal ceremony.

100 butterfly

Preliminary

1. Ian Crocker, United States, 52.03

2. Andriy Serdinov, Ukraine, 52.05

3. Michael Phelps, United States, 52.35

Semifinal

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 51.61*

2. Andriy Serdinvo, Ukraine, 51.74

3. Ian Crocker, United States, 51.83

200 individual medley

Final

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 1:57.14*

2. Ryan Lochte, United States, 1:58.78

3. Georgee Bovell, Trinidad and Tobago, 1:58.80

*Olympic record

Friday, Aug. 20

Phelps avenged his U.S. trials loss to Ian Crocker by .04 of a second and matched Spitz with a fourth individual gold. It turned out to be his last race of the Games, as he gave up his spot in the 400 medley relay final.

400 medley relay

Preliminary

1. United States, 3;35.10

2. Germany, 3:36.65

3. Great Britain, 3:36.94

100 butterfly

Final

1. Michael Phelps, United States, 51.25*

2. Ian Crocker, United States, 51.29

3. Andriy Serdinov, Ukraine, 51.36

*Olympic record

Saturday, Aug 21

While Phelps watched and cheered, the U.S 400 medley relay team swam to a world record. As a swimmer in an earlier round of the relay, Phelps shared in the gold, his sixth of the Games and eighth medal overall.

400 medley race

Final

1. United States, 3:30.68*

2. Germany, 3:33.62

3. Japan, 3:35.22

* World record