BEIJING Eight is considered a lucky number in China. Michael Phelps now understands why.

Phelps won his eighth gold medal in eight events at these Summer Olympics, this time as part of the U.S. 400 medley relay. That victory broke the record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics that U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz had set in 1972.

In today's surprisingly close relay that completed the swimming competition, the U.S. men lowered their world record with a time of 3minutes, 29.34seconds. That was the seventh world record Phelps set in his eight events. Swimmers with Charlotte connections had a modest role in three of those gold medals, all in relays.

“Without the help of my teammates,” Phelps said, “this wouldn't be possible. From winning by one-hundredth of a second to doing a best time in every event, it's been nothing but a roller coaster and it's been nothing but fun.”

Phelps, however, wasn't the only story in the pool on the final day of competition.

Dara Torres, a five-time Olympian, won her 11th and 12th medals. The oldest Olympic swimmer in history at age 41, she proved her agelessness by winning silver medals in the 400-meter medley relay and the 50-meter freestyle. The events were contested within 37 minutes of each other.

Still, Torres nearly pulled out a U.S. victory in the relay, making up ground on world record-holder Lisbeth Trickett before Trickett edged away in the final 20 meters.

That followed Germany's Britta Steffen's one-hundredth of a second win in the 50 freestyle with an Olympic record of 24.06.

Phelps' eighth gold medal (and 14th of his career) was supposed to be more of a coronation than a competition. The Americans have never lost the 400 medley relay in the Olympics.

But his final race – at the Water Cube in front of a sellout crowd that included U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant – was no picnic.

Phelps swam the third leg – the butterfly. By that time, Aaron Peirsol (backstroke) and Brendan Hansen (breaststroke) had finished and the United States trailed Japan and Australia.

Phelps, however, did what he does, and after his 100 meters he had pushed the Americans to first. Then U.S. relay king Jason Lezak (freestyle) dove into the water for the final 100 meters and extended the lead slightly. Australia took the silver – seven-tenths of a second back – and Japan the bronze.

The victory in the medley relay also meant all three U.S. Olympic swimmers with deep North Carolina connections – Ricky Berens, Cullen Jones and Mark Gangloff – ended the Olympics with gold medals.

Each of the three won a gold in a relay event – Berens in the 800 freestyle, Jones in the 400 freestyle and Gangloff in the 400 medley.

Gangloff, a Charlotte resident and Mecklenburg Aquatic Club swimmer, swam the breaststroke in the preliminary round to help get the U.S. team qualified for the final.

Berens (who grew up in Charlotte) and Jones (who starred at N.C. State and now lives in Charlotte) won their golds in a more visible manner. They earned the right to swim in the final after posting the fastest leg in their respective preliminary heats.

Both swam alongside Phelps in their respective finals.

And Phelps coached them both a little.

Phelps reminded them – as well as every other relay teammate who made it to the podium – to put their hand over their heart when the national anthem was played.

And Phelps gave them each some instructions right before their relay legs. Phelps helped Jones – who was shaking before the race because of nerves – to calm down with words of encouragement. And Phelps helped fire up Berens just before he dove into the water.

“When you have a guy like that yelling at you,” Berens said with a laugh after his relay win with Phelps, “you better do what he says.”

After his eighth victory, Phelps seemed a bit overwhelmed.

“I don't really know what to feel right now,” he said. “There is so much emotion going through my head, so much excitement. I guess I just want to see my Mom.” OBSERVER NEWS SERVICES CONTRIBUTED.

Eight is considered a lucky number in China. Michael Phelps now understands why.

Phelps won his eighth gold medal in eight events at these Summer Olympics, this time as part of the U.S. 400 medley relay. That victory broke the record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics that U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz had set in 1972.

In today's surprisingly close relay that completed the swimming competition, the U.S. men lowered their world record with a time of 3minutes, 29.34seconds. That was the seventh world record Phelps set in his eight events. Swimmers with Charlotte connections had a modest role in three of those gold medals, all in relays.

“Without the help of my teammates,” Phelps said, “this wouldn't be possible. From winning by one-hundredth of a second to doing a best time in every event, it's been nothing but a roller coaster and it's been nothing but fun.”

Phelps, however, wasn't the only story in the pool on the final day of competition.

Dara Torres, a five-time Olympian, won her 11th and 12th medals. The oldest Olympic swimmer in history at age 41, she proved her agelessness by winning silver medals in the 400-meter medley relay and the 50-meter freestyle. The events were contested within 37 minutes of each other.

Still, Torres nearly pulled out a U.S. victory in the relay, making up ground on world record-holder Lisbeth Trickett before Trickett edged away in the final 20 meters.

That followed Germany's Britta Steffen's one-hundredth of a second win in the 50 freestyle with an Olympic record of 24.06.

Phelps' eighth gold medal (and 14th of his career) was supposed to be more of a coronation than a competition. The Americans have never lost the 400 medley relay in the Olympics.

But his final race – at the Water Cube in front of a sellout crowd that included U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant – was no picnic.

Phelps swam the third leg – the butterfly. By that time, Aaron Peirsol (backstroke) and Brendan Hansen (breaststroke) had finished and the United States trailed Japan and Australia.

Phelps, however, did what he does, and after his 100 meters he had pushed the Americans to first. Then U.S. relay king Jason Lezak (freestyle) dove into the water for the final 100 meters and extended the lead slightly. Australia took the silver – seven-tenths of a second back – and Japan the bronze.

The victory in the medley relay also meant all three U.S. Olympic swimmers with deep North Carolina connections – Ricky Berens, Cullen Jones and Mark Gangloff – ended the Olympics with gold medals.

Each of the three won a gold in a relay event – Berens in the 800 freestyle, Jones in the 400 freestyle and Gangloff in the 400 medley.

Gangloff, a Charlotte resident and Mecklenburg Aquatic Club swimmer, swam the breaststroke in the preliminary round to help get the U.S. team qualified for the final.

Berens (who grew up in Charlotte) and Jones (who starred at N.C. State and now lives in Charlotte) won their golds in a more visible manner. They earned the right to swim in the final after posting the fastest leg in their respective preliminary heats.

Both swam alongside Phelps in their respective finals.

And Phelps coached them both a little.

Phelps reminded them – as well as every other relay teammate who made it to the podium – to put their hand over their heart when the national anthem was played.

And Phelps gave them each some instructions right before their relay legs. Phelps helped Jones – who was shaking before the race because of nerves – to calm down with words of encouragement. And Phelps helped fire up Berens just before he dove into the water.

“When you have a guy like that yelling at you,” Berens said with a laugh after his relay win with Phelps, “you better do what he says.”

After his eighth victory, Phelps seemed a bit overwhelmed.

“I don't really know what to feel right now,” he said. “There is so much emotion going through my head, so much excitement. I guess I just want to see my Mom.” OBSERVER NEWS SERVICES CONTRIBUTED.