Phelps can eclipse Spitz - Hackett

Phelps can eclipse Spitz - Hackett

Australian swimming great Grant Hackett said on Tuesday he believes American Michael Phelps could beat Mark Spitz's record haul of seven gold medals at an Olympic Games.

Phelps has set his sights on bettering Spitz's historic 1972 tally in Beijing next month, insisting those who say eight golds at a single Games are impossible are wrong.

Retired Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe earlier this month dismissed Phelps's chances, but Hackett said he wouldn't bet against it.

"I think Michael is capable of anything," he said in Kuala Lumpur where he is preparing for his own piece of history -- to become the first swimmer ever to win three consecutive 15 00m Olympic gold medals.

"If a couple of his competitors are a little bit off in the race and he is a little bit on, he is capable, certainly, of achieving that goal.

"Michael has a tendency to get to the wall and really bring it home."

The American came close to Spitz's benchmark in 2004, when he won six golds.

Phelps will swim the same events in Beijing that he tackled in Athens: the 200m and 400m individual medleys, the 100m and 200m butterflies, the 200m freestyle, and likely the three relays.

In contrast Thorpe, Australia's greatest Olympian with five swimming golds from two Games, said he believed it could not be done, even by Phelps.

"I have said I don't think he will win eight gold medals," Thorpe said. "I don't think he will.

"But mind you, if there is any person on the planet who is capable, it is him. It's sad, but I just don't think it will happen."