That's Michael Phelps on the big scoreboard at the National Aquatics Center here in Beijing after getting his eighth gold medal Sunday morning.

It's fitting. He was larger than life at these Olympic Games.

Eight gold medals!

A writer from Finland opened his question by telling Phelps that his country has never won a gold medal in swimming since 1896.

Even Phelps had to laugh at that.

In listening to Phelps speak, one gets the sense that he might be the most humble superstar ever.

"This is all a dream come true,'' he said. "To just imagine anything and to work toward is, to have the ups and downs and to be able to accomplish everything you've ever dreamed of … ''

His goal, he says, is to raise the sport of swimming to its highest level possible, where it isn't in our nation's consciousness just every four years.

If anyone can do it, surely Phelps can.

It's a work in progress. "It's going to take some time to get the sport where I want it to be,'' he said.

He captured everyone's imagination. Other swimmers, from other nations, stopped what they were doing on days he raced and came to watch.

"You can't put into words the level of his achievement,'' said Australian's Grant Hackett. "In my opinion, we'll never see it again.

"Michael is a great racer and a nice guy. Over the past few years I've never seen him change.''

Asked if he needed any mementos to treasure from this historic meet, Phelps said he has everything he needs: the suits, the goggles, the caps, the warmups, the medal, mostly the memories he shared with his U.S. teammates.

Phelps said he's going to take a little vacation, enjoy the rest of the Games with some friends, then it's back to getting swimming on the U.S. sports culture radar screen.

"I just want more people to get involved,'' he said. "I want them to be aware of what we do every day. And I think it's going to happen.''

Now it's off to rowing, where three Mainers go for gold today, and then back to the track for Anna Willard's run for steeplecase gold.

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