Michael Phelps Wins Record 7th Gold at Worlds

Michael Phelps stands on the deck, glaring at the lane in front of him with a look that would make Mike Tyson cringe. He soaks up the hip-hop on his headphones. Then he unzips his suit, climbs atop the starting blocks, leans over and flaps his arms furiously. It never changes. Not ever.

The routine is the same every time, and who can argue with the results?

Phelps is the ultimate in monotony, both in routine and outcome. He went to the blocks at worlds with the same song on his iPod (Young Jeezy's "Go Getta"), his mind roiling with thoughts of best times and split performances. When it was done, he had seven gold medals in seven races — five of them in world-record time.

"That," said U.S. head coach Mark Schubert, "was the greatest performance of all time."

Phelps is poised to be the biggest star at the Beijing Olympics, which is actually the role he claimed at the last games in Athens. He's an athlete of remarkable talent, poise and focus, improving since he fell just short — six golds and two bronzes — of Mark Spitz's iconic record at the 1972 Munich Games.
(AP)