United States Olympic swimming superstars Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte squared off Wednesday night in Rio in an event that will perhaps lead to their last Olympic finals showdown. By also winning gold, Lochte became the second most-decorated male Olympic swimmer of all-time.
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Phelps will look to win the men’s 200m individual medley for an incredible fourth successive Games while Lochte, so often the bridesmaid, finally tries to get one over on his fellow American.
This marks the third gold medal for the 19-year-old Ledecky since the games started, but another historic gold medal win was earned by American cyclist Kristin Armstrong!
“It’s not the underdog, it’s not whatever, it’s just us, united as strong and resilient and gritty”, Michelle Vittese said.
Phelps could also reach the milestone in the 100m butterfly.
He is now level with Leonidas of Rhodes as having won the most individual Olympic titles. But he did cruise through the semifinals of the 200 individual medley with the fastest time, besting longtime rival and countryman Ryan Lochte. Lochte beat Phelps in the 400 IM on the first day of swimming in London, his most notable victory on a big stage in their rivalry. “But I remember watching the Olympics and wishing I had the chance to go play for a gold medal”. Ledecky has three golds and a relay silver and her best event, the 800-meter freestyle, is up next.
Balandin touched in 2 minutes, 7.46 seconds.
The crowd will be against them when the US men’s volleyball team takes on host Brazil men’s volleyball tournament.
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Just as he did Sunday night, Phelps shared the stage at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium with Katie Ledecky, the Bethesda, Md., teenager who’s primed to replace him as the world’s most dominant swimmer. Adrian, who swam in lane four, was disappointed with his time “but I’m happy I came away with a medal”. As for the other medal events on the night, the women’s 200 meter butterfly was one of the closes races yet, as Spain’s Mireia Belmonte edged out Australia’s Madeline Groves.
