Michael Phelps' whirlwind year, defined by a lot of gold -- and a little green -- was enough to establish the swimming superstar as the year's best male athlete at Wednesday's ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, an Oscar-esque ceremony for the sports set.

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The 24-year-old Baltimore native, who won a record-eight gold medals during an epic run at last summer's Olympics in Beijing, was also honored with the award for best record-setting performance.

• TAGS

• ESPY Awards
• Larry Fitzgerald
• LeBron James
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Michael Phelps