Swimming into History: Michael Phelps Quest For Eight Gold Medals

Hi-res photos of Michael Phelps record-setting performance in Beijing, inside ESPN's ZOOM Gallery.

Nick D'Innoncenzo; BOS DEC 2008; Boys' Swimming; Andover High School; Story Idea: Nick D'Innocenzo is Massachusetts' top swimmer. A senior; D'Innocenzo was...

Megan Romano; ORL Oct. 2008; Girls' Swimming; Northeast High School; Story Idea: Romano has won state championships in each of her first three seasons...

US winner of eight swimming gold medals Michael Phelps (R) attends a photocall for the Speedo Athlete Media Day during the 2008...

Megan Romano; ORL Oct. 2008; Girls' Swimming; Northeast High School; Story Idea: Romano has won state championships in each of her first three seasons...

Olympic men's swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps and his mother Debbie Phelps arrive for the taping of the season premiere...

...gold medal at the medal ceremony for the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final during the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008...

...der Weijden of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 10km marathon swimming event held at the National Aquatics Center during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on...

US supporters cheer for US swimmer Michael Phelps during the men's 200m butterfly swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 13...

...leaves a p US swimmer Michael Phelps (C) leaves a promotional event at the end of the Olympic swimming competition in Beijing on August 18, 2008. The 23-year-old Phelps won an historic eighth...

BEIJING - AUGUST 20: Natalie Du Toit of South Africa competes in the Women's Marathon 10km swimming event at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games...

Swimming stars Ian Thorpe from Australia and Michael Phelps addresses the audience from the stage of the OMEGA...

Olympics Day 9 - Swimming BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Michael Phelps of the United States smiles with the American flag as he wears...

...in the Olympic Green on August 18, 2008 in Beijing. Phelps, who completed his stunning display of swimming supremacy with an historic eighth gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, serves as global ambassador...

...during the 1972 Munich Olympic games. Spitz won seven gold medals and set seven world records in swimming for the USA