Superlatives are superfluous in trying to describe what Michael Phelps has achieved at the Beijing Olympics. Five individual and three team gold medals - surpassing Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals in Munich in 1972.
A total of 14 gold medals in three Olympic Games! Can it get any better than this? Only time will tell, as records are made to be broken. But till that happens, Phelps will hold the undisputed title of the 'greatest athlete ever'.
I had the privilege of watching both Mark Spitz and Mike Phelps reach their milestones live on TV. Spitz's considerable achievement was unfortunately marred by two episodes.
The first was the extremely gruesome kidnap and murder of 11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists - now immortalised in Spielberg's movie "Munich". (That episode was followed by an equally violent elimination of Palestinian operatives across Europe - spread over several years - by the Israeli Mossad.)
The second was the 'smart business sense' demonstrated by Mark Spitz which smacked of a crude display of commercialism. Mark refused to pose with his seven gold medals for the press photographers from all over the world.
Instead he returned to the USA and sold his picture with seven golds for a bag full of money. So what is wrong with that? Nothing - other than the fact that the Olympics used to be a sporting event for amateurs only. Participants were supposed to bring glory to their country and not to themselves.
Now that professional sports persons are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, making money off one's achievements at the games will not raise even an eyebrow.
Phelps will probably follow the path of Spitz and become a multi-millionaire by selling his picture with eight gold medals. But times have changed and his business sense will probably get appreciated by a world audience.
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