What does winning eight Olympic medals earn you?

A street in your name, apparently. At least if you're name is Michael Phelps.

After winning six golds and two bronzes at the 2004 Athens Games a street near Phelps' Baltimore-area high school was renamed Michael Phelps Way.

Baltimore, Phelps' hometown, might have to do a lot more for the U.S. swimming star if he accomplishes what many expect him to, and wins a record-tying seven gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Phelps, who now trains in Ann Arbor, Mich., where his coach Bob Bowden trains the Wolverines men's swimming team, showed at the 2007 World Championships that he's more than capable of matching the record Mark Spitz set at the 1972 Munich Games. Phelps won seven golds at the 2007 Worlds, and won five of them in world-record time. His gaudy medal collection from the event made him the most decorated swimmer in world championships history with 20 medals, including 17 gold.

Phelps came up one gold short of matching Spitz's record in Athens. He took first in the 100m and 200m butterfly, the 200m and 400m individual medley, the 4x200m freestyle relay and the 4x100m medley relay. Phelps finished was third in the 200m free and was a part of the bronze-medal winning 4x100m freestyle relay.

But when Phelps competes in Beijing, his third Olympics, he will be competing under different circumstances. Whereas the swimming finals highlighted the evening sessions of the Athens Games, the races will be held in the morning in Beijing.

The time difference isn't expected to bother Phelps, who can be spotted listening to music before the start of his races, and enjoys playing video games when he's not poolside.

The American also enjoys spending time with his bulldog, Herman, whom Phelps pokes fun at in commercials previewing the Beijing Games, laughing at how loudly his canine companion snores.

But with history within his reach and gold medals to be won in Beijing, Phelps is sure to be all business when he hits the water in China.