BEIJING - A frenzy of golden energy, Michael Phelps exited the pool, shaking water off his lithe and lean body. Onto the pool deck splashed the droplets - those Baltimore roots, the memories from Greece and the immaculate show he'd just put on in China.
It all gathered together beautifully and perfectly in a puddle. The swimmer made of gold had made history. In winning his eighth gold medal of these Olympics, Phelps broke Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record, a mark once thought untouchable.
"This is all a dream come true," an emotional Phelps said.
When the 400-meter medley relay was finished - the Americans once again the first to the wall - Phelps calmly celebrated. In the stands, his mother and two sisters - both of whom were dressed gold - were soaked in tears, exchanging hugs with anyone and everyone. The party wasn't one of restraint; it was one of shock. How was all of this possible?
"Every day it seems like I'm in sort of a dream world," Phelps had said during his quest. "Sometimes you sort of have to pinch yourself to see if it's really real.
"I'm just happy I'm in the real world."
The real world, the one of his own design. The one where water is no obstacle and no record is unbreakable. The one where a young boy from Rodgers Forge could take the entire world along on an incredible journey.
His face is now etched permanently on Baltimore's Mt. Rushmore of athletic icons. But make no mistake, he's different from the other legends who've made Maryland glow. Johnny Unitas, Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr. were recognized from coast to coast. Babe Ruth was a small blip on global radar.
But millions of people in China know about Phelps. And millions more around the world do, too. There's never been a Baltimore athlete - or perhaps any Baltimorean - who transcended not just the city, but also the entire nation quite like this. Phelps' popularity is proportional to his athletic brilliance, which is to say it's nearly unmatched.
President Bush stopped by the Beijing pool last week. So did Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Everyone had to see this in person in order to be believe it to be true.
Phelps is being debated, celebrated and admired in every language. As he passed Spitz, Mexico's El Universal debated, "Crees que toco primero?" while France's L'Equipe announced, "Entre dans l'histoire" and Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport blared, "Fenomeno nella leggenda." The gossip columnist for China Daily speculated on Phelps' love life. And a writer from The Sydney Morning Herald was urging him to hook up with Australia's top female swimmer "and produce golden children."
