RAISING THE GOLD BAR PHENOM PHELPS CHASES SPITZ'S LEGACY.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

He's the golden boy of the coming Olympics and has never won a single medal.

He's on more magazine covers than John Kerry, President Bush and JLo combined, and is still a teenager.

He's in Olympic promos, TV commercials, print ads - everywhere but on that fast-food soda cup, but give him time.

Michael Phelps is about to determine if he's simply an excellent swimmer with one heck of a marketing campaign or one of the most memorable athletes of all-time.

In an era of specialization, what he's attempting is truly remarkable. He has entered in five individual swimming events, with a shot at a possible three relays.

Gold in all would surpass Mark Spitz's record of seven in a single Olympics. If Phelps equals the Spitz mark, Speedo has already announced he'll earn a $1 million bonus.

And then imagine the marketing campaign.

``It's very rare we see an athlete of this caliber, especially in the 21st century,'' said three-time Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg. ``When you talk about individual sports, it's so specialized nowadays - everyone swimming one or two events.

``But here is someone who is truly great in every event, and he's so young and swimming in 70 percent of the events. We don't know, maybe the next Olympics he'll swim in every event. He's truly been incredible. We might be on the verge of history. I think he's the best athlete in the world right now.''

Not all swimmers, U.S. teammates included, have always been so magnanimous. Ian Thorpe, the Australian sensation who dominated the Sydney Olympics, has flatly said Phelps will not be able to equal Spitz's record.

``That just means he's saying he can't do it,'' Phelps responded. ``He has been one of the dominant swimmers in the world, but everybody tries something different.''

Despite the enormous hype, Phelps will not actually be favored to surpass or even equal Spitz. He is favored to win gold in the 200-meter medley, 400 medley and 200 butterfly. Thorpe will be favored in the 200 freestyle and American teammate Ian Crocker in the 100 butterfly. He might only swim on two relays.

Crocker edged Phelps at the 2003 World Championships and at the U.S. trials in Long Beach.

Phelps actually qualified in six individual events but passed on the 200 backstroke after Aaron Peirsol soundly defeated him at the trials.

Crocker, Peirsol and Brandon Hansen (100 and 200 breaststroke) are world-record holders on a talented U.S. men's team that could dominate in Athens.

``I understand if he won seven gold medals and brought those back, the sport would probably shoot up,'' Peirsol said. ``It would be great for the sport and great for the Olympics. The whole country would be jumping up and down, and be partying.

``Mark Spitz, to this day people who have never swam in their entire life know his name.''

Phelps never met Spitz until this summers' trials, yet Phelps is keenly aware of Spitz's place in history - and what it would mean if Phelps could pull off his own ambitious feat.

``To have an opportunity to be part of swimming history is an honor,'' Phelps said. ``Being able to take the sport to a new level is an honor. Not only myself, but there are other swimmers on the U.S. swim team that can do that.

``I have a feeling we're going to put together one of the most dominating teams in U.S. history.''

The men could win up to 20 medals, but the team's overall haul is unlikely to equal the 32 medals it earned at the 2000 Games. Natalie Coughlin, Amanda Beard and 15-year-old Katie Hoff are capable of earning medals, but the women's team might bring home fewer than 10 total.

Yet as the Olympics draw near, Phelps is the face of the U.S. team, not just the swimming team, but the entire team.

He's golden now but still awaiting gold.

Steve Dilbeck, [phone]

stephen.dilbeck(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) The hype machine is in full swing as Michael Phelps sets sights on what would be a record eight gold medals.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press