War-torn Afghanistan and Sudan also had their first taste of Olympic glory in Beijing, with a historic taekwondo bronze and athletics silver, respectively.

World records tumbled like the dominos at these Games, as Jamaica's "Lightning" Bolt clocked mankind's fastest speed for both 100m and 200m sprint on the track of the Bird's Nest, and a whopping 19 world and 41 Olympic records were produced in the swimming pool of the National Aquatics Center, or the Water Cube, alone.

Michael Phelps, the "American flying fish" as many Chinese fans called him, smiled after he fulfilled his long-held dream of an eight-for-eight gold sweep with seven fresh world records, and became the greatest ever Olympian with a personal collection of 14 swimming golds at two consecutive Games.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese cried when they saw their star hurdler Liu Xiang limp off the track in a first-round heat for an old tendon injury on his right foot, shattering the country's hope for an athletics gold.

With or without a medal, the athletes are always the Games' heroes. Without distinction of nationality, they entered the National Stadium en masse on Sunday night, amid thundering cheers from the stands and unique welcoming tunes -- a mixture of drum beating and the ringing of numerous tiny silver bells on the costumes of 1,148 dancing girls.

The athletes, totally relieved of the competition pressure, all smiled broadly and waved hands or flags toward the stands in excitement. Many gave thumbs-up or made faces in front of the camera lens, while some even carried their fellows on their shoulders in celebration.

The last three medals of these Games were awarded to the winners of men's marathon, with Samuel Kamau Wansiru of Kenya taking the gold, and the silver and bronze going to Jaouad Gharib of Morocco and Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia respectively.

"To the athletes tonight: You were true role models," said the IOC chief, who personally presented the marathon gold. "You have shown us the unifying power of sport."

And the athletes have their heroes to laud and thank, too.

In an unprecedented gesture of gratitude, three newly-elected members of the Athletes' Commission of the IOC presented flower bouquets to 12 Chinese and foreign volunteers serving the Beijing Games, who represented not only the 70,000-strong volunteers working at the Games facilities, but also some 1.4 million others who helped the Games organizers in security, transport, information and lodging services.