Last Updated: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:26
A former rival has tipped US swimming star Michael Phelps to challenge Mark Spitz's record seven Olympic gold medals tally from 1972.
Australian swimming great Grant Hackett believes Phelps could beat legendary Spitz's haul, which he fell just short of in Athens four years ago.
Compatriot Ian Thorpe has already dismissed Phelps' attempts to win a record eight golds in Beijing, but Hackett feels it can be done.
Hackett, who raced over longer distances to Phelps, said: "I think Michael is capable of anything.
"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."
Phelps fell just short of Spitz's 1972 benchmark when he won six golds and two bronze medals at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
He is likely to swim the same events he tackled in Athens in Beijing: the 200m and 400m individual medleys, the 100m and 200m butterflies, the 200m freestyle and the three relays.