Swimming - Phelps out of this world admit rivals

By Derek Parr

BEIJING (Reuters) - To some of his rivals, Michael Phelps is a swimming Superman.

"He may be human but he's from a different planet," said Russia's Alexander Sukhorukov after the 4x200 metres freestyle relay which provided Phelps with Olympic gold number 11.

"A different galaxy," the Russian said with a smile when asked to expand. "(No) he's from this planet, of course, but he's just tremendously talented."

Five Beijing golds, with a world record accompanying each, have launched the 23-year-old Phelps beyond nine-gold winners Paavo Nurmi, Larysa Latynina, Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis, and three more in his sights would make it a stratospheric 14.

"Now to be the most decorated Olympian of all time, it just sounds weird saying (it). I have absolutely nothing to say, I'm speechless," the American said after adding 200 butterfly and relay gold on Wednesday.

"It started sinking in a little bit after the butterfly. I was trying to focus on my next race, I was just thinking 'wow, the greatest Olympian of all time'.

"It's a pretty cool thing, it's a pretty cool title, I guess you could say. It's pretty neat and I'm definitely honoured."

Phelps still has more to achieve in Beijing. Three more golds would take him past the seven Spitz achieved at the 1972 Munich Games and he is now one individual world record away from matching Spitz's record total of 26.