History. Greatness. Phenomenal. There is a language full of superlatives that you can use to describe Michael Phelps’ accomplishment.  The text message Michael received Wednesday morning prior to his races said it as straightforward as any single person can. The message read, “Time to be the best ever.”

But how does he do it?

“I don’t believe that it is the quest for eight gold medals,” head Men’s coach Eddie Reese said describing Phelps’ desire. “If he can win something, he’s gonna go for it… First half of the race he’s gone. It’s amazing… There’s nobody in any sport that can win like he wins.”

Disregarding all conventional wisdom, Simon Burnett told Reese that he believed he has found the legend behind Phelps.  “I’ve figured out Michael Phelps,” Burnett said. “He’s not from another planet, he’s from the future.  His father in the future made a time machine ‘cause 60 years from now, he is only an average swimmer. But he sent him back here to mop up.”

When asked to explain just how amazing his accomplishments were Phelps so eloquently described it as “When you have an Olympic gold medal, it stays with you forever. You know, your birthday happens every year, Christmas happens every year, but you only have so many chances to be a gold medalist.”

But what does it feel like to be the best ever?

For a man that always seems to know what to say, all Phelps could get out was, “I think I am almost at a loss for words… To be the most decorated Olympian of all time, it just sounds weird saying it. I have absolutely nothing to say. I’m speechless.” The tears welling in his eyes during the 200-meter butterfly awards ceremony told us of the appreciation he has finally found for his accomplishments. Later, Phelps admitted that being the “greatest ever” was actually a “pretty cool title.”

Yes, it is.