It’s official. Michael Phelps captures gold in the 4×100 medley relay to become the first athlete in the history of the Olympics to win 8 gold medals in one Olympics.

It was a magical night in Beijing as Michael Phelps did the impossible and surpassed Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals.

Phelps along with his USA teammates Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, and Jason Lezak edged out their only competition in the race, the Aussies, finishing the relay in world record time (3:29.34).

Phelps now with a career total of 16 medals, 14 of them gold, leaves the 2008 Beijing Olympics with more gold medals than anyone else in history.

USA, who won the 4×100 medley relay in Athens in 2004, bettered their world record time by 1.34 seconds. Australia took the silver in 3:30.04 and Japan won the bronze in 3:31.18.

Michael Phelps Gold Medal Run:

• 400m Individual Medley (Gold)
• 4×100m Freestyle Relay (Gold)
• 200m Freestyle (Gold)
• 200m Butterfly (Gold)
• 4×200m Freestyle Relay (Gold)
• 200m Individual Medley (Gold)
• 100m Butterfly (Gold)
• 4×100m Medley Relay (Gold)

In addition to winning 8 gold medals, Phelps set 5 individual world records and two team world records, for a total of 7 world records at this Olympics. He also tied Mark Spitz’s with a career total of 32 world records, 26 of them individual.

It’s safe to say that Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer of all time. His performance at these Olympics will change the face of men’s swimming for years to come.