Yeah I agree he played 8 and won 8. Thing is swimmers and Gymnastics always has an advantage. Then even Mark spitz played 7 and won 7 and all with world records. Swimmers today have an advantage of winning much more medals than swimmers of yesteryears because so many medals are introduced.

Michael Phelps may be best in swimming, unparalleled among his peers  which may give him opportunity to win 8 golds purely because of the sports he is best at. But what about best in Judo, boxing, cycling, pole vault, hammer thrower, high  jumper, wrester and all other sports. If I am 62 Kg weight boxer I can only fight with someone  the similar weight category like me and my  opportunities of winning multiple medals are cut short. Fact remains only swimming and gymnastic presents a realistic opportunity to win a lot of golds.

Even if athlete is exceptional like Carl lewis it only gave him opportunity to win 4 golds.But we have to remember he was good in two sports unlike Phelps.  To judge player only based on total number of gold medal and make him best olympian is farcical. If sir Steve Redgrave was told to row in 200m , 400 m , 600m, 800m or 1000m ( Like swimmers do 200m, 400m.....) he still would have came up with lots of gold in the olympics from 1984 to 2000. Unfortunately he only won one gold in 5 consecutive olympics.

And to loote, if he thinks in 36 years only carl lewis came close to breaking the record of Spitz is ludicrous. what about Kristin otto from East Germany who won 6 golds in six events in 1988 in swimming or Vitali Scherbo of Unified Team who won 6 golds in1992 Barcelona olympics in gymnastics. 

As you can see they are  a swimmer or gymnast. Even if Mohammad Ali is reborn again you will never hear Mohammad ali winning 8 golds in olympics.