Phelps trumps Spitz, gets four-finger salute

When Phelps looked up, Spitz flashed four fingers. One finger for each individual gold medal. In 1972, Spitz won four individual gold medals and added three more in relays, all in world-record times, at the Munich Games, an unmatched achievement.

Phelps came closer to Spitz in these Games than anyone else had in the last 22 years, winning four individual gold medals, two more golds in relays and two bronzes, one in the 200 freestyle and another in the 400 freestyle relay. He finished with eight medals in eight events.

Put it this way: If Phelps stood alone as a country in the standings, he would have the most individual gold medals, four, in the men’s swimming competition, followed by the United States and Australia with three each, Japan with two and the Netherlands one.

‘‘I’m impressed he could handle the pressure,’’ Spitz said Saturday, noting he watched all of Phelps’ medal swims. ‘‘I never doubted that he wasn’t able to compartmentalise. But when he got third in the 200 and the relay got third, he put that aside, forgot about it and went about his business. That’s a true sign of a champion.’’

(LA TIMES and WASHINGTON POST)