I think sometimes I guess you see records, say you want to get there and use that as motivation. In a way, it's kind of cool if there is a possibility to rewrite history and be up there with the greats of Olympic history.

In his second event the 100-meter butterfly Phelps just edged out Ian Crocker 51. 62. 23.

He expects to do further work with his foundation after the 2012 Olympics which he has said will be his last. Five of those victories were in individual events tying the single Games record. In the 2012 Summer Olympics in London Phelps won four golds and two silver medals making him the most successful athlete of the Games for the third Olympics in a row.