Swimming great Michael Phelps, left, and sprinting sensation Usain Bolt used the Beijing Olympics as their career-defining moment. (Associated Press)

Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt?

The ongoing debate continues to draw passionate and opposing views.

Both magnificent athletes put on phenomenal performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics that will be talked about for decades.

Despite several doubters, Phelps eclipsed fellow swimmer and American Mark Spitz's 36-year record by capturing an incredible eight gold medals in one Olympics — seven in world-record time.

At the other end of the spectrum, Bolt dominated on the track, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100- and 200-metre events.

The Jamaican also led his country to the 4x100 relay title, smashing the 16-year-old mark held by the U.S.

CBCSports.ca asked readers to weigh in on which performer should be remembered as the greatest athlete of the Beijing Games.

Predictably, the 737 comments revealed heated yet varied responses. Some gave Phelps the edge, saying his entire body of work deserved top billing. Bolt supporters argued that breaking three world records in track superseded any accomplishments Phelps earned in the pool.

Tough decision?

We thought so.

Our writers were split when the voting closed for CBCSports.ca's Story of the Year category.

Instead of picking just one athlete, we chose both.

Besting the great Spitz

Phelps targeted Spitz's record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games long before Beijing. In fact, Speedo offered the American phenom a $1-million US bonus if he equalled Spitz's mark during the 2004 Athens Olympics. Phelps fell just shy of the record, winning six golds and a pair of bronze medals.

An overjoyed Michael Phelps celebrates a gold-medal victory after teammate Jason Lezak rallied to capture the 4x100-metre freestyle relay event for the Americans. (Getty Images)

Armed with the same offer from Speedo, and the company's ballyhooed fastskin suit, Phelps' mission in Beijing was obvious: win all eight events he entered.

The task seemed daunting, but CBC Sports swimming analyst Byron MacDonald believed only two events could derail Phelps — the 4x100 freestyle relay and 100 butterfly.

After Phelps destroyed the field in the 400 individual medley, his first real test came the following day in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Although the U.S., team was the reigning world champions, many viewed the French team, boasting then world-recorder holder Alain Bernard, as the favourite. Bernard added fuel to the fire with some trash-talking before the anticipated race, bragging how France would "smash" the Americans.

The Frenchman would later regret giving his motivated opponents additional incentive.

Uncharacteristically, Phelps didn't have a great opening leg for the U.S., putting more pressure on the rest of his teammates. As the final leg unfolded, Bernard opened up with what looked like an insurmountable lead over American anchor, Jason Lezak.

Inexplicably, Bernard swam too close to the lane line on the final lap, allowing Lezak to drag past him and touch the wall first.

The win kept Phelps' record alive and left Bernard crushed.

Four gold medals later, Phelps was on the verge of equalling Spitz with only the 100 butterfly standing in his way. Like most pundits, MacDonald pointed to American and world-record holder Ian Crocker as Phelps' only competition.

However, Serbian Milorad Cavic was posting blazing times during the preliminary rounds, setting the stage for what Spitz later called an "epic" encounter.

Lagging behind, Phelps made a feverish charge in the final metres, using his six-foot-four frame to beat Cavic by one-100th of a second.

The conclusion of the race had viewers confused as it appeared Cavic initially upset Phelps. Serbian officials filed a protest but dropped their appeal when FINA, the sport's governing body, provided a tape showing Phelps' final stretch did indeed edge out Cavic.

To no one's surprise, the U.S. captured the 4x100 medley relay the next day, giving Phelps his unprecedented record.

At just 23 years of age, Phelps has earned 14 gold medals in his illustrious Olympic career, five more than anyone else in history.

Bolt of lightning

Bolt burst onto the world stage in June by breaking fellow countryman Asafa Powell's world record in New York City, establishing the new mark at 9.72 seconds. Prior to the race, Bolt was known more as a 200-specialist and contemplated skipping the 100 in Beijing even after his world-record victory.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt leans beside the electric indicator displaying the world-record time he set in the men's 100 metres. (Associated Press)

Regardless, Bolt, now the clear favourite, entered Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium for the 100 event determined to leave his mark on the Games.

Bolt's race appropriately occurred hours after Phelps matched Spitz. With all eyes on Bolt, the sprinter exploded past the field following a decent start. Bolt then began celebrating with his arms out with several metres remaining before crossing the line in an astonishing 9.69 seconds, leaving the thousands in attendance awestruck.

An overjoyed Bolt, whose 22nd birthday was only one day away, had to temper his emotion in preparation for the 200. Several wondered whether the young, brash runner would shoot for American Michael Johnson's world record of 19.32 seconds he set at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Canadian and former Olympic champion, Donovan Bailey, told CBC Sports minutes before the race he thought Bolt would simply focus on winning gold, putting aside any desire to chase Johnson's mark.

Bolt's agent, Ricky Simms, echoed Bailey's comments, saying his client wanted to conserve his energy for the remainder of the track season.

The moment, however, was too alluring.

In order to surpass Johnson, Bolt would need to forgo his showboating ways this time.

The Jamaican didn't disappoint.

Heading into a slight headwind, a determined Bolt ran in full stride to a time of 19.30 seconds.

"After I finished running the 100 metre, I was saying, 'This is possible,'" Bolt told CBC Sports. "If I'm going to break [the 200 anywhere], it's going to be here because the track is quick."

Bolt later joined his teammates — Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and anchor Powell — to capture the 4x100 relay in 37.10 seconds, cutting the world record by .3 seconds.

For his efforts, he was named the French sports daily L'Equipe's athlete of the year in December, succeeding a list of notable competitors such as Swiss tennis star Roger Federer and golfing great Tiger Woods.

So who was the best — Bolt or Phelps?

While the debate rages on, all would agree both athletes dominated their respective sport like no man before them.