Beat the record set by Mark Spitz in 1972 in Munich, by winning eight gold medals at one Olympic Games.

Phelps was only in eight events, so like Spitz he won every race he was in - including three relays. Also, Spitz broke the world record in each race he swum, either as an individual or as part of a relay. Phelps also broke seven world records, with the only one race he won that didn't break the world record was the 100 metres butterfly.

It was the butterfly swim that equalled the record, and that left the 4x100 medley relay on the final day of swimming in Beijing. Phelps swam the butterfly leg - the third leg of the relay - before handing over to Jason Lezak for the freestyle. Lezak managed to hold off Australia's Eamon Sullivan and the team from Japan to take gold for the US and give Phelps gold medal number 8.

Spitz himself is apparently delighted for Phelps, and has been quoted on Wikipedia as calling the effort "epic". And he's not wrong, given how monumental Spitz's effort was back in 1972.

This is the sort of stuff that legends are made out of, and Phelps has etched himself not just in Olympic history, but in Olympic folklore. Spitz won't be forgotten, as great as his effort was. It just goes to show - that records are only made for one reason.

To be broken.