PHOTO: Michael Phelps's Sports Illustrated Cover Revealed!

Tuesday August 19, 2008 12:55 PM EDT

Michael Phelps on the cover of Sports Illustrated

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Michael Phelps has already celebrated his record-breaking Olympic performance with his family in Beijing – and now the swimmer is celebrating his historic achievement by gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated, adorned with his eight gold medals.

The athlete has won the most gold medals of any Olympian ever – famously beating out swimmer Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

But Phelps's SI cover is a nice tribute to Spitz. In the portrait, the swimmer strikes an identical pose to an iconic picture of Spitz also adorned with all his medals.

Another milestone for Phelps: This latest appearance on the magazine's cover marks the 23-year-old's fifth cover shot for the magazine, giving him the record for appearing on the cover more than any other swimmer.

Mark Spitz posing with his seven gold medals Photo by: Terry O'Neill / Getty