2012 Summer Olympics: Michael Phelps Gunning for Record 10 Gold Medals

Michael Phelps already has a piece of the record for most gold medals in a single Olympic Games—he won eight at Beijing in 2008, tying him with Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin—but the American swimmer isn’t satisfied with sharing a piece of history. 

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports is reporting that Phelps will be entering seven events at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha, Neb. next week. If he makes the team for each event and participates in all three relay races, there is a chance for him to win a record 10 gold medals at the London Games this summer.

According to Forde:

"

A source told Yahoo! Sports Tuesday morning that Phelps is entered in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys, the 100 and 200 butterflys, the 100 and 200 freestyles and the 200 backstroke.

"

This report is likely to be officially confirmed by USA Swimming at some point on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old swimmer is apparently taking this year’s Games across the pond as seriously as any event in his prolific career.

It was widely thought that he would ease off in his training and preparation after breaking swimmer Mark Spitz’s seven-gold medal record. Phelps is the most decorated gold medalist of all time with 14 and is just four away from Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s record of 18 total medals. 

The fact that Phelps is willing to enter all of these trials and attempt to shatter the records that are still within his reach is a testament to his skill, dedication and fortitude.

It will be interesting to see if he remains in each event or decides to scratch some in order to concentrate on a select few.