NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who won a record-setting eight Olympic gold medals this year, was selected the 2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
Phelps, 23, was involved in seven world records -- some of the performances came as part of relay teams -- in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and has collected a record 14 gold medals in his career.