Sports Illustrated commemorates U.S. swimmer and Olympian Michael Phelps‘ historic achievement at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.  Michael Phelps wears his eight gold medals in the iconic Mark Spitz 1972 pose on the cover of the Sports illustrated August 25, 2008 issue.  The iconic photograph was taken by Simon Bruty.

See the historic Sports Illustrated coverage on Mark Spitz:

• Spitz wins a record-setting seven gold medals
• View every page of the Sept. 11 1972 issue

Sports Illustrated has published amazing photographs, chronicling Michael Phelps’ historic achievement at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.  An online feature interviews famed Sports Illustrated photographer Heinz Kluetmeier who, with his assistant, Jeff Kavanaugh, captured Michael Phelps beating Serbia’s Milorad Cavic to the touchpad in the 100 butterfly:

• Photo gallery: Phelps Frame-By-Frame
• Q&A with SI’s Heinz Kluetmeier

Michael Phelps has been on two other covers of Sports Illustrated; the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics preview issue in July and the August 18, 2008  issue.

Photo credit: August 25, 2008 cover: Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated; Additional covers Sports Illustrated
Composite cover photo credit: O’Neill/Getty, Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated – image via: Record-setting Michael Phelps emulates Mark Spitz on Sports Illustrated cover

Related posts:

• Photos: Michael Phelps Wins 8th Gold Medal at Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics  
• Video & Photos: U.S. Men’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay Takes Gold 2008 Summer Olympics

Eight Gold Medals Michael Phelps Sports Illustrated Cover August 25, 2008