American swimmer Michael Phelps smiles on a press conference during a promotional event at the end of the Olympic swimming competition in Beijing, China, on August 18, 2008. The 23-year-old Phelps achieved historic feat of eight golds in Beijing Olympics. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    By Chad Lee    

    SYDNEY, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The American superfish Michael Phelps has completely dominated the headlines during the Olympic swimming competition at the Water Cube. His achievement to win eight gold medals and break a 36 year record is phenomenal and may never be surpassed.

    In regard to his tally of gold medals Phelps responded that "I guess eight is a lucky number for me, maybe it was meant to be."

    This whimsical comment could not disguise the incredible statistic that each of his gold medals was won in a personal best time.

    On the home front, the Australian swimming team has performed admirably but not spectacularly well in the Beijing Olympic competition. The women have outperformed the men with Stephanie Rice's triple gold medal haul an outstanding achievement.

    Libby Trickett and Liesel Jones would have been a little disappointed with their silver medals in individual events that they previously dominated, however they finished on a high, breaking the world record with fellow team members Seebohm and Schipper to win gold in the 4x100m women's medley relay.

    Trickett and Jones said they enjoyed the team relay success more than their own individual performances. "We were all having so much fun!" said Trickett.

    On the men's side, there were promising performances from the rising star Eamon Sullivan, who has shown he is capable of world record performances.

    Meanwhile Hackett, Olympic veteran and swimming team captain, hoped to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career by becoming the first man ever to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the physically demanding 1,500m freestyle.

    Unfortunately, he did not achieve his fairytale finale, being eclipsed by unheralded Tunisian rival Oussama Mellouli in the final. The Tunisian had only recently returned from an 18 month doping ban and his swim was more than 7 seconds faster than his previous personal best. Hackett, gracious in defeat, only had praise for his rival.

    "He was the better competitor on the blocks, and in relation to the rules, he's abided by them now and he just did a good race and good on him," he said.

    Since the retirement of Ian Thorpe, there is no longer the aura of invincibility about the Australian swimming team and the search has begun for a new champion to carry their hopes forward to the London 2012 Games and beyond.