No Limits (26 page)

Seeing clearly in the prelims of the 100 fly in Beijing—in goggles borrowed from teammate Ricky Berens—after a nearly disastrous goggles malfunction the day before in the 200 fly final.

Anchored by coach Bob Bowman (center) the high-performance Club Wolverine training crew—Michael at the far right—a few months before the Beijing Games.

Michael tuning in before turning it on in the 200 individual medley final in Beijing, his sixth gold. His 2008 Games iPod favorites: Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy.

The beauty and grace of swimming at its highest levels as so elegantly revealed underwater: Michael (center) in the heats of the 200 fly at the Water Cube in Beijing.

His butterfly a study in power and fluidity, Michael helps lift the United States to a gold medal and a world record in the medley relay at the 2008 Olympics.

A furious comeback capped by a chopped half-stroke at the wall leads to elation in the 100 butterfly in Beijing: victory for Michael by one-hundredth of a second, his seventh 2008 Games gold.

The defining image of victory in Beijing: Garrett Weber-Gale (left) and Michael as the United States, with Jason Lezak anchoring, defeats the French in the 400 freestyle relay.

Tearfully, joyfully amazed in the stands: mom Debbie Phelps (left) and oldest sister Hilary after Michael wins his eighth gold medal in Beijing.

Huddling up on deck after the stirring 400 free relay victory in Beijing: Garrett Weber-Gale, Jason Lezak, Michael, Cullen Jones.

Michael, enveloped by clamoring photographers, finds his mother and sisters after his final race, the medley relay, at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Honoring America in victory: teammates Brendan Hansen (left) and Jason Lezak (right) flanking Michael after the 2008 Beijing Games medley relay.

Stillness before the storm: The scene inside the Water Cube, Beijing's Olympic swimming and diving venue, before competition at the 2008 Games gets underway.

Eight gold medals, fifth
Sports Illustrated
cover shot—what
SI
jinx?