Watching Phelps at the Olympics is like watching Michael Jordan in his prime. Not even by his biggest rival.
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Michael Phelps teared up as he stood on the podium at the Rio Olympics on Thursday, August 11, after winning the gold medal for the 200-meter individual medley – the champ’s fourth consecutive win of the 2016 summer games, and his record-breaking 22nd Olympic career gold.
Michael Phelps seized another slice of Olympic history on Thursday with a dominant victory in the 200m individual medley at the Rio Games, his fourth straight in the event. Later the announcer tweeted, “I’m sorry everyone”. We always strive for accuracy, but when writing non-stop for about 12 hours a day, you’re going to make mistakes. At 36, five years older than Phelps, he won his last three golds in 152 B.C., in footraces of about 200 and 400 metres and in a shield-carrying race.
Chad le Clos has cast doubt on whether he’s to participate in today’s 4x100m medley relay heats at the 2016 Rio Olympics Games.
“I don’t know how to wrap my head around that”, Phelps said.
Phelps left Lochte trailing in his wake.
After a strong start from local favourite Thiago Pereira, Phelps took charge on the backstroke leg before powering away to win in one minute, 54.66 seconds – nearly two seconds clear of Japan s Kosuke Hagino in second. This is just one phase of my life that I worked so hard for and made so many sacrifices for. “This is exactly how I want to exit the sport”.
Australia’s Mitchell Larkin finished second and Russia’s Evgeny Rylov set a new European record as he won bronze.
He finished second in his semi-final to qualify fifth fastest for Friday’s final.
“We bring out the best in each other”, he said. “So I’m happy for him”.
Japan’s Kosuke Hagino won silver followed by Wang Shun of China, who took bronze.
Pereira gave them a show, hanging with Phelps and Lochte early, prompting the crowd to chant “Brazil!” with every stroke.
Phelps never looked in danger of finishing anywhere but first in the race, with a strong breaststroke leg setting him well and truly up to blitz the field in the final freestyle lap. “He’s just an incredible athlete, an awesome citizen, who has set the bar for athletes all around”.
Phelps said he was texting with a friend who updated him on the Baltimore score before he went out for his race. The Ravens went on to win 22-19.
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One of the worst nightmares for any announcer is misidentifying key players at a sporting event and getting a game-winning, championship-winning, or gold medal-winning call dead wrong.
