Although Spitz has pointed out several hurdles to Phelps in Beijing, including the performances of other swimmers in relay events, many believe that Phelps now is closer to the target than he was in Athens.

In Athens, Ian Thorpe of Australia was a formidable obstacle. The Australian successfully halted Phelps's gold rush by snatching the gold in men's 200 freestyle. With Thorpe's retirement, it seems that no one could be a threat to Phelps.

In Beijing, Phelps is expected to swim only one individual event in which he doesn't hold the world record. Fellow American Ian Crocker is the current world record holder of the 100 butterfly, but Phelps has won 12 of 16 races against Crocker, including the last four.

Phelps said there are still a few little things he could work on between now and the Olympics so that he would be "able to nail the finish and have better turns."

"At the Olympics, it's going to be harder than it was here," Phelps was quoted as saying after the Olympic trials. "Hopefully, it's something I can be successful at."

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2008)