Falling Records
Move over Tiger. Take a seat Mr. Federer. There is a new athlete dominating his sport at a torrid pace, and his name is Michael Phelps.
Phelps, the 21-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, is currently rewriting the record books at the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Championships, breaking 4 world records in as many days.
On Tuesday, Phelps broke Australian great, Ian Thorpe's 200 freestyle world record by two tenths of a second, posting a time of 1 minute, 43.86 seconds. The following day, Phelps broke his own 200 meter butterfly world record by a full second when he swam it in 1 minute, 52.09 seconds.
On Thursday, Phelps again broke his own world record, this time in the 200 meter individual medley. He came home in 1 minute, 54.98 seconds, bettering his old mark of 1 minute, 55.84 seconds he set in August. And earlier today, Phelps broke his fourth world record by helping his American teammates win the 800 meter freestyle relay.
In total, Phelps has won five gold medals, and hopes to win three more, in his unprecedented quest for eight titles in eight days.