American Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, will make his return to competitive swimming today.

THE lure of trying to beat Michael Phelps’ record of eight Olympic gold medals is becoming an irresistible goal for Ryan Lochte, who has now surpassed his fellow American as the world’s best all-round swimmer.

A SOUTH CAROLINA county sheriff yesterday warned he will charge Michael Phelps with a crime if an investigation determines that the Olympic great smoked marijuana.

A South Carolina county sheriff today warned he will charge Michael Phelps with a crime if an investigation determines that the Olympic great smoked marijuana.

Michael Phelps’ quest for swimming immortality became a reality on Sunday morning as the United States’ 4x100m medley relay team handed him his historic eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games.

Michael Phelps' bid to win eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics came within a fingertip of failure in the 100metres butterfly, his penultimate event at the Water Cube.

Michael Phelps moved to within a single victory of equalling Mark Spitz's hallowed Olympic gold medal-winning record as he destroyed the opposition once again to win the 200metres individual medley at Beijing's Water Cube.

Michael Phelps became the most successful Olympic athlete of all time by claiming the 10th and 11th gold medals of his amazing career.

US SWIMMER Michael Phelps joined an elite list of Olympic greats by becoming only the fifth competitor in history to win nine gold medals.

American Michael Phelps equalled the record for the most Olympic gold medals in history by claiming his third at the 2008 Games on Tuesday.

Michael Phelps underlined his determination to dominate the swimming with the destruction of the world record in the 400 metres Individual Medley as he picked up his first gold of the 2008 Beijing Games.

LET the games begin!

Michael Phelps will become the most successful athlete at one Olympics by winning eight gold medals in Beijing, according to Mark Spitz - the man he is bidding to overtake.

Mark Spitz expects to be displaced as the most successful swimmer at one Olympics when fellow American Michael Phelps bids for eight gold medals at the Beijing Games.

Michael Phelps issued a statement of intent after his fifth individual victory in the US Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska last night.

Michael Phelps claimed a record seventh gold medal at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne to stake his claim to swimming immortality.

IN A sport where personality is hidden behind goggles and below the water mark, Ian Thorpe did virtually the impossible.

THE 1972 Olympics are featured in a controversial Steven Spielberg movie called Munich later this month - but pentathlon athlete Margaret Murphy was there at the real games.

Ronan Keating was given the news that his wife has gone into labour at the moment his team romped home to victory in this weekend’s celebrity golf tournament.

The European team today taking part in a celebrity golf tournament prepared for the final day of the competition with another late night in the bar.

Ian Thorpe took gold in a thrilling 200m freestyle final tonight – setting a new Olympic record on his way to victory and a second gold medal.

British swimmer Stephen Parry knows he could be one of many competitors racing for second place if Michael Phelps lives up to his star billing in Athens.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, the unchallenged master of motor sport, has been named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second time.

United States Olympic hero Mark Spitz has raised the spectre of an American withdrawal from this summer’s Athens Games due to security concerns.

FOR four years they have been forced to do things the hard way, with semi-finals in Bordeaux, Lille, Beziers and Toulouse.

THOSE truly defining moments in sport are rare gifts, burned into the memory by their achievement or standing as a monument to marvel for those too young to recall the instant.

Ian Thorpe began his bid for a record seven golds with an easy win in the heats of the 400 metres freestyle at the Commonwealth Games.