2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil Aug 05-21,2016 - USA's Michael Phelps pays tribute to swimming legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic 1972 seven-medal pose with Brazil haul of five golds and one silver

USA's Michael Phelps has paid tribute to swimming legend Mark Spitz by mimicking his iconic pose with his haul of Olympic gold.

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, posed for a portrait while the five gold and one silver medals he won in Rio were draped around his neck.

The swimmer's performance at the Games took his overall medal tally to 28 - including a staggering 23 golds.

The photo shoot on Thursday was a call-back to one Spitz - who won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics - posed for after his Games triumph.

Spitz, who was widely regarded as America's greatest swimmer before Phelps splashed onto the scene, was photographed by Terry O’Neill with his medals dangling around his neck.

The picture was used to make a poster, which sold more than one million copies and was the most popular portrait of any athlete at the time.

Spitz, now 66, was in Rio to cheer on Phelps in his final Olympics, and was seen in the stands on Day Six of the Games. 

100m butterfly

Michael Phelps: 51:14 (won silver)

Mark Spitz: 54.27 (won gold)

200m butterfly 

Michael Phelps: 1:53:36 (won gold)

Mark Spitz: 2:00.70 (won gold)

 4x100m freestyle relay

Michael Phelps and team: 3:09:92 (won gold)

Michael Phelps individual split: 47.12 

MarkSpitz and team: 3:26.42 (won gold)

Mark Spitz individual split: 50.9 

4x200m freestyle relay

Michael Phelps and team: 7:00:66 (won gold)

Michael Phelps individual split: 1:45.26 

MarkSpitz and team: 7:35.78 (won gold)

Mark Spitz individual split: 1:54.24 

4x100m medley relay

Michael Phelps and team: 3:27:95 (won gold)

Michael Phelps individual split: 50.33 

Mark Spitz and team: 3:48.16 (won gold)

Mark Spitz individual split: 54.28