VOA标准英语2008年-Swimmer Michael Phelps Joins Elite Olympic Grou

In Beijing, American Michael Phelps has won his third swimming event in as many days, to tie the record for most career Olympic gold medals. Phelps now has nine in his impressive collection. As VOA's Jim Stevenson reports, the U.S. swimmer is nearly certain to surpass¹ that total.
　
Michael Phelps poses² with his gold medal after the men's 200m freestyle swimming final in Beijing, 12 Aug 2008

Michael Phelps has now reached a standard of Olympic excellence³ shared with American track legend Carl Lewis and another U.S. swimming great, Mark Spitz. Runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland (1920-1928) and Soviet⁴ Union gymnast Larissa Latynina (1956-1964) also won nine gold medals, each.

After winning the 200-meter freestyle race, Tuesday in Beijing, Phelps took a moment to reflect on his inclusion with some of the greatest athletes ever to compete at the Olympics.

"To be tied for the most Olympic golds of all time with those names in Olympic history - the Olympics have been around for so many years," Phelps said. "It is a pretty amazing accomplishment⁵. I have been able to spend some time with [U.S. track legend] Carl Lewis. And I have exchanged a few words with [American Mark] Spitz here and there. It is pretty amazing."

Also amazing was his performance in his latest race, as he lowered his own world record in the event with a time of 1:42.96 minutes.
　
Michael Phelps swims to gold as he sets new world record in men's 200-meter freestyle final, 12 Aug 2008

Park Tae-hwan trailed in the American's wake by nearly two full seconds (1:44.85). The South Korean touched the wall while Phelps was already looking at the overhead scoreboard. American Peter Vanderkaay claimed the bronze (1:45.14).

The victory avenged⁶ a difficult loss for Phelps at that same 200-meter distance, four years ago in Athens.

"I hate to lose," he said. "And, getting third in the 200-meter freestyle four years ago, you know when I do lose in a race like that, circumstance like that, it motivates me to swim faster."

Michael Phelps, 23, goes for two more gold medals, Wednesday, when he swims in the finals of the 200-meter butterfly and 800-meter freestyle relay⁷. Phelps could haul⁸ in as many as eight gold medals in Beijing, which would also make him the most decorated athlete at a single games.

 

1 surpass   

vt.超过，超越，胜过

参考例句：

• Young people surpass old men in strength.年轻人在气力上赛过老年人。
• The latecomers surpass the early starters.后来居上。

2 poses   

使摆姿势( pose的第三人称单数 )； 以…身份出现； 招摇； 炫耀

参考例句：

• This poses a threat to agriculture and the food chain, and consequently to human health. 这会对农业和食物链造成威胁，由此而危及人的健康。
• The high cost of oil poses serious problems for industry. 昂贵的石油价格给工业造成了严重困难。

3 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

4 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

5 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

6 avenged   

v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复

参考例句：

• She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 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。

8 haul   

vt./n.（用力）拖，拉，（用车等）拖运，运送

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• The rope stood up under the strain of the haul.这绳子经受不住紧拉。