USA's Michael Phelps jubilates as teammate Garrett Weber-Gale congratulates Jason Lezak at the finish of the Men's 4x100M Relay Final at the National Aquatics Center at the Summer Olympics in Beijing on August 11, 2008. Lezak came from behind and won a dramatic victory for the United States team, setting a World Record time of 3:08.24. (UPI Photo/Pat Benic)l | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps (L) and teammate Garrett Weber-Gale cheer on Jason Lezak at the finish of the Men's 4x100M Relay Final at the National Aquatics Center at the Summer Olympics in Beijing on August 11, 2008. Lezak came from behind and won a dramatic victory for the United States team, setting a World Record time of 3:08.24. (UPI Photo/Pat Benic)l | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps celebrates after USA won the Men's 4x100 Meter Freestyle Relay at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 11, 2008. USA trailed France by about half a second after the third leg but came back to win gold with a world record time of 3:08.24. This is Phelps' second medal of this 2008 Olympics. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps (top) and Garrett Weber-Gale celebrate after winning the Men's 4x100 Meter Freestyle Relay at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 11, 2008. USA trailed France by about half a second after the third leg but came back to win gold with a world record time of 3:08.24. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps cheers on his team on his way to picking up a fifth gold medal in the Men's 4x200M Relay at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 13, 2008. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps cheers as his team takes gold with a world record in the Men's 4x200M Relay at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 13, 2008. The effort earned Phelps his fifth gold medal. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps splashes water in jubilation as he wins the gold in the Men's 100 meter Butterfly final at the National Aquatics Center at the Summer Olympics in Beijing on August 16, 2008. Phelps won his seventh gold medal of the games setting another world record in 50.58 seconds. (UPI Photo/Pat Benic) | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps raises his arms after receiving his 7th gold medal for the Men's 100M Butterfly final at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 16, 2008. Phelps is tied with Mark Spitz, the swimmer who set the record for 7 gold medals in a single Olympics in Munich, 1972. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

USA's Michael Phelps shows his medal for his part in the Men's 4x100M Medley, where the US team set a world record and won gold, at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on August 17, 2008. Phelps set the world record for medals in a single Olympics with 8, passing Mark Spitz. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

Michael Phelps, shown after the U.S. team won the Men's 4x100M Medley at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on Aug. 17, 2008, was selected the 2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who won a record-setting eight Olympic gold medals this year, was selected the 2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Phelps, 23, was involved in seven world records -- some of the performances came as part of relay teams -- in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and has collected a record 14 gold medals in his career.


He is the first swimmer to win the honor. His eight gold medals in one Olympics broke the record set by Mark Spitz in 1972. Tennis star Billy Jean King was selected the Sportswoman of the Year over Spitz.

"Michael Phelps as the 2008 Sportsman of the Year was the easiest choice I have made," said Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell in a news release Tuesday. "It is so obvious that he changed not only swimming but also the entire Olympic landscape."

Sports Illustrated said its award is presented annually to the person or team who transcended the year in both athletic performance and character.