Michael Phelps wins eighth gold at Beijing Olympics

MICHAEL Phelps today swept to an astonishing eighth gold medal at the Beijing Games with victory for the US in the 4x100m medley relay.

The American cemented his place as the greatest swimmer - and perhaps sportsman - in history by completing a perfect record of eight victories from eight swims, seven of them in world-record time.

Click to see Michael Phelps win eight gold at the Beijing Olympics.

The Americans won in world-record time of 3:29.34, taking 1.34sec from the previous mark.

Australia finished second in 3:30.04 and Japan took the bronze in 3:31.18.

"I don't know what to feel right now, there are so many emotions going through my head and so much excitement, I guess I just want to see my mom," Phelps said.

"It's a beautiful thing, I am so proud to be a part of this relay team," teammate Aaron Peirsol said.

"It wasn't like we were doing this for Michael, but it's an honour to be part of it. It would have been something if we hadn't done it.

"(Eamon)Sullivan came back at the end, but I think at the end of a long competition we are all a little tired right now."

The Americans took an early lead courtesy of Olympic 100m backstroke champion Peirsol, and they went into the breaststroke leg almost one second in front of the Russians and the Japanese, with Australia fourth.

Brendan Hansen bolstered that edge although Brenton Rickard swam brilliantly to keep Australia in touch.

Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein had a massive challenge to keep up with Phelps on the butterfly leg, but he fought magnificently to give Sullivan an outside shot at hauling in America’s Jason Lezak on the freestyle leg.

The 100m silver medallist responded with a lightning quick 46.65sec, but his effort was not enough to catch Lezak.

Sullivan said the Australians had thrown everything they had at their arch rivals.

“It’s something we have been working towards for four or five years now,’’ he said.

“The (men of the Australian team) have really lifted.’’

Lauterstein said the silver medal-winning performance was a sign of better things to come for the Aussies.

“We said we were going to give these guys a shake and we certainly did,’’ he said.

“There are good things to come for us four. We are four young guys, they have Jason Lezak and Aaron Peirsol, who are a bit older.’’