“In business,” it said, “words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises but only performance is reality.”

The quote was taken from a business book, but, in sports, it’s the same. And, off his performance this week in Beijing, winning eight gold medals in eight events, the reality is that Phelps, with 14 golds in his Olympic career, is now alone in the history books — he has won more gold medals than anyone else in Olympic history and more gold medals than anyone else in any single Games.

Four others had been tied with nine golds, including swimmer Mark Spitz, winner of seven at Munich in 1972.

“I’m almost speechless,” said Peter Ueberroth, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “He’s beginning to set a whole new standard for his sport and for America.

“The United States Olympic Committee is very proud of him, as is USA Swimming and basically every citizen in our country and in many other countries. He’s a true athlete and represents what’s best about the Olympic movement.”

Eight medals.

And, overall, now 16 in his Olympic career, just two shy of the 18 won by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina – a milestone sure to animate Phelps as he turns and sets his sights on four years from now, in London in 2012.

Only performance is reality, and the reality is that Phelps’ performances here in Beijing and over the course of his career deserve to be more fully appreciated by the wider public in the way that Tiger Woods’ majors are savored.