miami, florida (cmc)

Despite winning a record eight gold medals and getting all the attention of American television broadcasters, swimming super star Michael Phelps was not the best individual performer at the Beijing Olympics, according to the Denver Post newspaper.

Instead, Jamaican sprint phenomenon Usain Bolt was picked by the newspaper for his three world record gold medal performances in the 100, 200 metres and 4x100-metre relay.

"Usain Bolt, sprinter, Jamaica, best individual performance. Sorry, Michael Phelps," the paper said.

"With swimmers breaking 74 world records in 2008 including 24 at these Olympics we no longer are impressed with world swim records.

"But when Bolt breaks track's two sprint marks for the first sprint double in 24 years, then runs a leg on the sprint relay that breaks a third record, that grabs our attention," the Denver Post stated.

Bolt, 22, joined a short list of track and field greats who have successfully completed an Olympic double when he became the first man in Olympic history to set world records in both events at any Games.

He has been described as the greatest Olympic sprinter of all-time and even labelled, Superman II by the great American Michael Johnson.

Despite being in the spotlight, the Jamaican was quick to dismiss any comparison between himself and Phelps.

"You can say that. I can't say that. I'm just enjoying myself," Bolt said shortly after running 19.30 seconds to win the men's 200 metres, breaking Michael Johnson's 12-year-old Atlanta Olympic mark.