Swimming > Day by Day Recap

Michael Phelps completed the greatest Olympic performance in history Sunday, winning his eighth gold medal by swimming the butterfly leg of the 4x100m medley relay.

Michael Phelps made history Saturday, but the women represented too. Two world records fell, including the oldest mark in swimming, and 41-year-old Dara Torres blazed to a win in her 50m freestyle semifinal.

Michael Phelps hung on the lane rope in a familiar pose, admiring another world record while his rivals gasped for breath. Make it 6-for-6 at the Beijing Games.

Kosuke Kitajima made Olympic history with his breaststroke win, the Chinese women thrilled the crowd by going 1-2 in the 200m fly, and it was redemption time for Frenchman Alain Bernard in the 100m free.

Day 5 of swimming at the Water Cube started out in blazing-fast fashion, with the world records falling all morning long.

With Michael Phelps leading the way with his third gold of the Games, it turned out to be a red, white and blue morning for the American swimmers. Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin also won golds, while Matt Grevers, Margaret Hoelzer and Rebecca Soni also medalled for the U.S.

World records continued to fall at the Water Cube on Monday morning's session, and Michael Phelps' run at history continued.

Michael Phelps highlighted a historic day of swimming in the first day of finals at the Water Cube, breaking his own world record in the 400m IM. Stephanie Rice of Australia also set the mark in the women's race.

Michael Phelps lowered his own Olympic record as the fastest qualifier in the 400-meter individual medley preliminaries.