For the fifth time, swimmer Michael Phelps will don the cover of Sports Illustrated that hits newsstands Aug. 25.
For the first time, Phelps, 23, will wear all eight gold medals he won at the Beijing Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz’s record of seven golds won at one games.
Phelps also became the most decorated Olympian of all time in Bejing, increasing his total to 14 gold medals, swimming by the old record of nine, once held by Americans Carl Lewis and Mark Spitz, Fin Paavo Nurmi and Russian Larisa Latynina.
SI’s decision to put Phelps on its cover was an easy one, SI Group Editor Terry McDonell said. The photo was taken by Simon Bruty in Beijing. Visit SI.com here
