Michael Phelps Joins Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi, Larissa Latynina With 9 Golds

Michael Phelps won the 200-meter freestyle today in a world-record time of 1:42.96, earning his third gold medal of these Olympic Games and the ninth gold medal of his career.

Phelps' goal is to win a record eight golds in these Games, but no matter what else happens from here, he has already achieved an impressive feat: He's now tied the record for the most gold medals of any Summer Olympian in history. Below is a look at the other four athletes who have nine golds at the Summer Games.
Mark Spitz, swimming: Spitz was his era's version of Phelps, winning two relay golds in 1968 and then returning in 1972 to go 7-for-7 and set world records in all seven events he entered. (If there had been a 50-meter freestyle, as there is now, Spitz likely would have gone 8-for-8.) Spitz has said he feels snubbed because the U.S. Olympic Committee didn't invite him to Beijing to watch Phelps' attempt to break his record.

Carl Lewis, track and field: Lewis was the dominant athlete of the 1984 Games, when he won the 100, 200, long jump and 4x100. He won four golds in the long jump; no one else has ever won the long jump even twice.

Paavo Nurmi, track: The Flying Finn was the most dominant middle distance runner in history, with three golds in 1920, five in 1924 and one in 1928. At one point or another he owned world records at every distance between 1,500 meters and 20 kilometers.

Larissa Latynina, gymnastics: The Soviet was the first female athlete to win nine Olympic golds, and she still owns the record for the most Olympic medals, with her five silver and four bronze bringing her to a total of 18. Latynina's greatest achievement was her longevity; she won at least five medals -- and at least two golds -- in three different Games.