Michael Phelps' Gold Medal Spitz Take On "Sports Illustrated" Cover

Olympic hero Michael Phelps graces the cover of Sports Illustrated on newsstands Thursday. On it, he mimics and one-ups the iconic image of Mark Spitz wearing 7 gold medals that was on posters sold for $2 back in 1972.

With 8 gold medals from Beijing around his neck, Phelps smiles from beneath the label "The Alltime Olympian" The photo was taken inside an ancient temple in Beijing on Sunday night

"This one being the first [photo] of him with all eight medals, we hope that our cover will stick in everyone's mind," SI's managing editor Terry McDonell said.

Phelps also tops Spitz on the number of SI covers on which he's featured: 5-3.

Also today, Phelps addressed reports he is dating fellow swimmer Amanda Beard.

Comments

[GG1985]

First, it must be men who are making the not so nice comments here about Michael Phelps' appearance because all I've heard females say is "Ohhhhh, he's so cute!"

Second, it's comments like these that keep cosmetic surgery and photoshopping a big business.

Third, I just can't imagine how much low self-esteem a person has to have to write negative things about a world class athlete's ears on Huffington Post. Maybe commenting on Michael's ears make them feel better about their own bodies. I hope that those people find someone to make them feel good about themselves so they can just enjoy the happiness and achievements of others.

[CuriousPerson]

Ok, he won 8 gold medals, a great achievement to be sure, but the greatest of all time?

That's a stretch..

There will never be a way to compare athletes of past eras with current or future ones, the most truthful things that can be said is that he was the best swimmer for the last 2 Olympic games.

To truly make a comparison, you would have to be able to gather all the greats of all time, subject them to the same training techniques, scientific research and latest equipment, then let them complete together.

Relying purely on stats is ridiculous because stats only indicate how well you performed based on the current competition you have.

[Tellecter]

Are you kidding me. Phelps has 16 medals -- 14 of them gold. If anything -- Phelps is BY FAR the greatest Olympian ever because these 2008 Games have been more diverse, including more countries, with more competitors. And Phelps has beaten them all -- and accomplished an amazing feat.

Olympians compete against their peers -- there is no way to compare Spitz to Phelps -- agreed. However, Phelps has dominated his peers more than anyone else in the history of the game, in the history of swimming. That is what makes him the greatest ever.

Could Ali beat Tyson -- could Babe Ruth hit today's pitching -- would Jesse Owens beat Carl Lewis -- who knows. All we can do is compare them against their peers. And though Spitz was remarkable in 72 -- Phelps is slightly better in 08. And the fact that he won 8 in 04 -- that makes him the greatest.

[strandwolf]

He broke the records, too.

[ethancorso]

The photo of Spitz with his 7 golds is one of the most iconic portraits in sports. I bet he's not too happy about this.

[Rendon76]

They could've done something original...

[daddydamon]

Original? In America in 2008? No way. Watched tv lately? Every show is the same. All the actors look the same. We're all supposed to think the same. Phelps is great. Nastia is great. Say this 100 times per day. Hate the Chinese. They are bad. We are good. Intergalactic.

[DickTater]

It is a pretty stark difference, what slavish hero-worship-in-order-to-make-big-money-and-ratings
the modern press is able to ladle on; compared to what Spitz got back in 72. I am sure the media tried to milk it for all it was worth back then (and corporate gold-digging too)....but the order of magnitude today is much much greater. The ladles are bigger I guess.

I think Spitz accomplishment may have been greater. It wasn't all so perfectly "set-up" for him. The whole thing wasn't rigged to give him a set goal to break. Consider all the decisions coaches and the American Team and the Olympic committees had to make to gerrymander Phelps onto those team events.
I take nothing away from Phelps, but Spitz was plowing thru the water into the unchartered areas and without nearly the same support or coverage or national aspirations buoying him.

Does anyone know Spitz's 68 or post-72 record in the olympics?

[BradPittsburgh]

Spitz predicted he would win 6 golds in the 1968, he won one silver and one bronze, both in relays. 1972 was his last.

[ccwpmarcus]

The only relay where he was even questionable (before the Olympics) in was the 4x100 free. He swam that event in the Olympic qualifier to assuage doubts of him not making it on speed. Then, he set the American record on the opening leg of the relay. Now he's the fastest American in that event too. Still gerrymandering?

[Tellecter]

Gerrymandering? Please.

When Phelps goes out and blisters the World Record 7 out of 8 times -- that ain't gerrymandering. Phelps is the real deal -- and he has beat the best in the world in their best events. He is the best that has ever lived in swimming.

[BradPittsburgh]

14 gold medals and more to come in london. those attacking phelps wished they had at least one gold tooth to brag about.

[CuriousPerson]

Projecting?

[BradPittsburgh]

smile for me.

[daddydamon]

Why don't we just ask Phelps to compete in every event? That would be great. I want to see him shotput, and do the vault, fence, beach volleyball, equestrian, and sculls. He's the greatest athlete of all time, right? Then it should be no problem for him.

[Asinistra]

Phelps here just a little too much Sarah Jessica Parker...

[tombollocks]

heh. heh-heh-heh. ......hahahahahaha!!!!

Thanks for that.

[mexicanamerican1948]

This man has discipline , they say he practiced two three hours a day for years, he deserves all the metals he got plus more...

[preatorius]

Mark Spitz was hot. This guy, yeesh!

[littlepuffycloud]

Mark Spitz was HOT in the day! Remember it was the 70's and 'staches ruled!

[gaither83]

Jesus Christ, what's with all the Phelps bashing? I didn't expect to see so much of it. Then again, the narcissistic hippies on the 'ole HuffPo never cease to amaze me.

[newworldman777]

For all of those bloggers who are criticizing Phelps' "funny-looking face." Did it ever occur to you that those same genetics that gave him his distinct facial features also gave him those unique body features that enable him to swim faster than any other human in history? His tall frame has exceptionally long arms and short legs in relation to his powerful torso, as well as large hands and feet -- all perfect for swimming.

Too bad his looks don't conform to your disturbing and contrived idea of beauty. I am sure that as you laugh at him, he will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[jwatso7]

Absolutely! I can't get over the shallow people slamming him for something like his looks and his ears. Besides, I bet he gets laid a lot more than the people posting these petty comments on this site. All of these Phelps critics should stick that in their pipe and smoke it.

[doc3osh]

No kidding. The guy won the genetic lottery in his sport, and won the financial lottery this past week-- should pull in at least $50 Million they say. So between his fame and fortune, it's unlikely he will ever want for beautiful female companionship! (or male if he prefers) I doubt he's too concerned about his ears.

Besides which, he seems to be a pretty nice guy in the interviews.

[preatorius]

There are good genes, and there are better genes.

[newworldman777]

And your assessment of Phelps's genes is...? If you are implying that he only has "good" genes -- as opposed to "better" ones (of which I assume that you consider yourself to be the proud possessor) -- then he is probably thanking his lucky stars that he wasn't born with "better" genes, since his "good" genes have made him rich and famous.

[preatorius]

Large hands? Hmmmmm

[newworldman777]

You can probably "extrapolate" along any direction that you wish, though I will offer no further comments on that point, though.

[belmontdevil]

I wonder if his large appendage(s) creates unwanted drag in the water.

..but I'm not sure my self esteem could handle seeing his Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis

[Sparty1]

He looks just fine to me. No one seems to have a problem with people reusing movies or ads, but since SI chose to remake Spitz' ad all h*ll has to break loose. I think they are paying respect to Spitz by acknowledging his achievement. Go Phelps!!!!!!

[TerryWrist]

If there's a Chinese swimmer half as good as Phelps, people in this site will desperately requesting the IOC to conduct a drug test on him.

[jwatso7]

Why don't you educate yourself before posting comments like this? Do you really think this guy hasn't been drug tested? In fact, he went through two blood tests every day once he arrived in Beijing, which meant that by the time he won the 8th gold he had already done more than a dozen blood tests. In addition, he is one of a group of athletes who have created an organization to combat doping in sports. He has volunteered to have his blood stored for up to 8 years so that if new technology comes along to indicate if he was doping during Beijing, such tests can be done. That sure doesn't sound like a guy who has something to hide. I'm so tired of all these comments implying he's doping. He's gone above and beyond what other athletes do to prove he's not. Doping has done a lot of damage to a lot of sports, but when you educate yourself about Michael Phelps, his accomplishment is even more amazing. So sad that people have to tear his accomplishment down to try and feel better about their petty lot in life.

[TerryWrist]

I hate to mention the name of the American lady.
The point if trying to make is the people here will be really mean to any Chinese swimmer who could achieve half Phelps did. But to my surprise the people here are quite mean to Phelps as well. And I have nothing to say but personally I think Phelps looks cute.

[samtaylor1]

Spitz could easily have taken a few seconds off by shaving that mustache.

[aubrey8]

If Phelps had pinned his ears back he could of shaved off a good 10 seconds or more....