Some refer to him as the greatest Olympian ever, and with a solid record to back him up, Michael Phelps is now the most decorated athlete to participate in the games.

Phelps has been a main focal point of the few games and while some would say that the 2008 Olympics was the height of his career, this past week has by no means been without excitement. Phelps has won more medals than any other athlete by finishing his career with 22 medals, 18 of them being gold.

When comparing the 2012 Olympics to the 2008 ones, some might say that Phelps’ successes were less impressive than his previous eight gold medal run. Phelps had a rough start to the games after not medaling in the 400 IM, an event in which he currently holds the world record.

That disappointing race seemed to bring out the old intensity that the world is used to seeing whenever Phelps enters the pool. The following races added six medals to Phelps’ impressive résumé, four of them being gold.

In the following days, Phelps won gold in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, 4×200 freestyle relay and 4×100 medley relay. Phelps became the first swimmer to win gold in the same event three games in a row; he did this twice in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

It seems every time Phelps steps into an Olympic pool he breaks a new record or becomes the first swimmer to make some achievement. It is hard to imagine another swimmer ever being as successful as Phelps, but with the young talent that has immerged this summer, particularly on the women’s team, the USA is likely to continue to be dominant in the sport of swimming.