The US star claimed the 22nd Olympic gold of his Olympic career Thursday after powering past the opposition in the final of the 200-meter individual medley.
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“That was probably one of my most challenging doubles”, the 31-year-old Phelps said.
Michael Phelps of United States of America celebrates winning the men’s 200m Individual Medley Final race of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Swimming events at Olympic Aquatics Stadium at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 11, 2016.
Watch the live stream of round one of men’s golf at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Her semifinal time, 2.09.74, was almost six seconds slower than what she swam in London.
Phelps is the second American swimmer to appear in five Olympic Games, matching Dara Torres. Ryan Murphy won his second gold of these Olympics, in the 200-m backstroke: Americans have now won the event in six straight Olympics.
The American finished the final in 1 minute 54.66 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of Japan’s Kosuke Hagino.
China’s Shi Jinglin took the bronze in 2:28.28.
“My first gold medal, at my first Olympics, is kind of a surprise to me”, Manuel told reporters.
The 2012 London Games were supposed to be Phelps’ final Olympics as he retired from the sport.
“I guarantee he will be there, ” Lochte said on NBC’s TODAY show on Friday.
Racing against USA teammate Ryan Lochte, Phelps posted a time of 1:54:66, pulling well away late and sealing his 22nd career gold medal and 26th overall.
In the women’s 200 breaststroke, Rie Kaneto of Japan pulled away from Yulia Efimova to take gold.
The Hungarian known as the “Iron Lady” earned her third gold medal of the Rio Games with a victory in the 200 individual medley. “So Michael, I’ll see you in Tokyo”.
“I apologise, I got my lanes mixed up”.
Caldwell’s time of 2:07.17 was the second fastest qualifying time – behind second semi victor Katinka Hosszu of Hungary.
Three days after winning the 100 back, Murphy touched first again in 1:53.62.
He said his 200m medley final, closely followed by a 100m butterfly semi-final in which he secured his spot in the final with the 5th-fastest time “hurt a lot”.
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“Whenever I hear the national anthem there are so many memories always going through my head and pretty much every time I hear it I’m in tears”.
