VOA标准英语2008年-US Swimmer Phelps Becomes Most Decorated Olympi

American swimmer Michael Phelps surged¹ to a pair of victories in the Olympic pool, Wednesday, to become the most decorated gold medal winner. VOA's Jim Stevenson was at the Water Cube in Beijing, where Phelps made Olympic history.
　
United States' Michael Phelps swims to win gold and set new world record in men's 200-meter butterfly final, 12 Aug 2008

Michael Phelps has competed in five events, so far in Beijing. He was won all five with record times. The latest came in the 200-meter butterfly (1:52.03) and as a member of the U.S. 4x200 meter freestyle relay² team (6:58.56).

After winning the individual event, Phelps collected his tenth career gold medal - more than any athlete in the history of the modern games.

"It started setting in a little bit after the [200-meter] butterfly [race]," Phelps said. "I was just sort of trying to focus on my next race. But I just kept thinking, wow, greatest Olympian of all time. It is a pretty cool saying -- a pretty cool title, you could say."

The 23-year-old Phelps says he has cherished³ each victory.

"It definitely never, ever gets old, listening to the national anthem⁴ play, with the gold medal around your neck," he said. "It is one of the greatest feelings I have ever had in the sport of swimming."

Should Phelps simply reach the podium in his final three events, he will have 14 career medals overall. Russian Larissa Latynina collected 18 medals overall in her career, including nine gold, five silver and four bronze.

 

1 surged   

v.（波涛等）汹涌( surge的过去式和过去分词 )；（人群等）蜂拥而出；使强烈地感到

参考例句：

• The gates opened and the crowd surged forward. 大门打开了，人群向前涌去。
• The great Atlantic rollers surged in. 大西洋的巨浪翻滚到岸边。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 relay   

n.接力赛，中继转播（设备）；vt.转述，转播

参考例句：

• They will relay your message.他们会转达你的口信。
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages.这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。

3 cherished   

v.珍爱( cherish的过去式和过去分词 )；怀有；爱护；抚育

参考例句：

• Children need to be cherished. 儿童需要无微不至的爱护。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer. 她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。