Michael Phelps is the Winningest Olympic Athlete Ever

Nabbing his 10th and 11th career gold medals on Wednesday, Michael Phelps swam into Olympic history as the winningest Olympic athlete ever. He's also set an amazing five world records in five events at the 2008 Beijing Games.

As Phelps joined the ranks of Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis when he scored his 9th gold medal earlier in the week, Phelps set a new gold standard winning the 200-meter butterfly Wednesday morning. Just an hour later, he swam leadoff in a victory by the US 800-meter freestyle team, which crushed the old world record by more than four seconds.

After six gold medal performances at the 2004 Athens Games, he only needed five days in Beijing to surpass Spitz, Lewis, and Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina and Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi as the winningest Olympian ever. Phelps now stands alone at the top of the career golds list, with three more chances remaining to stretch his lead even further. Before leaving China, Phelps will also swim in the 200 individual medley, the 100 fly, and the 400 medley relay.