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Eric Shanteau has grown more in the past year than any of the other main characters from the engrossing swimming dramas. Swimming through cancer? That can move the needle in a real-world way.

Thank you, Michael Phelps. Your latest "youthful transgression" provided the opportunity to teach my kids that role models are best chosen from those you know well, not those you know through a TV screen.

Michael Phelps' eight gold-medal swims were all magnificent. But the world needs lists, so we're here to rank his great haul of China from most memorable to least.

When you look back at all of Michael Phelps' performances in Beijing, you can come to this conclusion: He is the Olympic ideal and single-handedly just saved the Olympics.

Do you believe in heartbreak? No, just believe in Phelps. Don't ask how he does it, because sometimes, especially after a race like the one we saw Saturday, there are no rational explanations. Just believe.

Katie Hoff was supposed to be the Phemale Phelps in these Games, but there's nothing Phelpsian about her performance. She has underachieved in Beijing.

Friday was full of great stories from the Water Cube. Ryan Lochte won gold. Rebecca Soni pulled off an upset. But all of them were overshadowed by the golden gold. Chalk it up to bad timing, folks. You all were born at the wrong time, in the era of the Phelps Dynasty.

Who is the mastermind behind this insane plan to have Michael Phelps compete in 17 swims in nine days? The man responsible for every arm stroke and dolphin kick? Meet Bob Bowman.

Say bye-bye Carl, Nadia, Jesse and Mr. Spitz. You all had a nice run as the greatest of Olympians, but it's over. You have been replaced on the throne by Michael Phelps.

If you were an American swimmer not named Michael Phelps, you weren't really enjoying Beijing up to this point. But two veterans saved the U.S. swim team from becoming a one-pony show at these Olympics.

Michael Phelps called the race "unbelievable." If he said that, imagine how it looked to us. Words can't describe the Americans' gold-medal comeback performance in the 4x100 relay, but we'll try.

On an otherwise inglorious morning for American swimmers, this was an unmistakable message that Michael Phelps is on top of his game.

There is plenty of young talent in the U.S. swim team, but if the United States is going to succeed on a grand scale next month in Beijing, it will do so on the Speedo-covered backs of its veteran stars.

Pat Forde wants to believe Dara Torres' unprecedented feat. But after years of being conned, we've become conditioned to question the unprecedented.

Brendan Hansen deserves a gold medal for class. But it's hardly the medal he was looking for Thursday night at the Olympic swimming trials.

Katie Hoff has already stolen the spotlight from Michael Phelps at the U.S. trials, but will she be able to put her disastrous Athens outing behind her for good in Beijing? Don't bet against her.