Michael Phelps

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps won eight medals--six gold and two bronze--at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the most by any athlete in a non-boycotted Olympiad. Phelps fell one short of American swimmer Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals, set in 1972. "There's nobody in the last 20 years, in any sport, who can say they did what Michael did," said his Olympic coach, Eddie Reese, according to Kelli Anderson in Sports Illustrated.
The swimmer's final act at the Summer Games was one of sportsmanship. Phelps was already assured of a medal as part of the 4x100 medley relay, having won the 100 butterfly gold. He offered his spot for the final round to Ian Crocker so Crocker could get a medal. Crocker, ironically, cost Phelps a shot at a seventh gold medal with what Anderson called a "disastrously slow" starting leg in the 4x100 freestyle relay. "Ian's one of the greatest relay swimmers in history," Phelps said, according to Anderson. "I was willing to give him another chance." The Americans won the event and Phelps his eighth medal.