It wasn’t in doubt after that. And yet, the 2000 gold medalist in the 50 freestyle – now 35 – capped an awesome comeback story Friday night by winning the same event 16 years later. Michael, himself, has scooped three golds in the men’s 4×200 and 4×100 freestyle relay and the men’s 200m butterfly.
Advertisement
Phelps overtook Guy on the butterfly leg, handing over to Nathan Adrian, who held off Scott to give Phelps a golden swansong. He has 27 Olympic medals in total, nine more than his closest rival. The Americans survived a flurry in the final seconds to earn their 49th straight victory in worldwide play, but haven’t played like the clear-cut favorite to win gold prior to these games. The most decorated athlete in Olympic history has one more race before retirement.
Denmark’s Blume won that race in 24.07 seconds, winning by 0.02 seconds from Manuel, with Aliaksandra Herasimenia a further two-hundredths of a second behind in third.
Schooling’s grand-uncle Lloyd Valberg was Singapore’s first Olympian at the 1948 London Games.
Phelps should look at recently retired National Basketball Association legend Kobe Bryant as an example of how not to end your career.
“Done. (South African co-silver medalist) Chad (Le Clos) asked me in the award area and the Dwyers were chanting “four more years”.
At these Olympics, a number of swimmers cited him as an inspiration. Schooling had to convince his parents before they allowed him to get the tattoo.
With team mate Anthony Ervin winning the 50 freestyle gold on Friday at the age of 35, 16 years after he first won it, there will always be those who wonder if the 31-year-old Phelps might do another tumble turn and turn up in Tokyo in 2020.
Team USA maintained a considerable lead from the start of the relay. A band of monkeys had been stealing Power Bars from the USA camp, and Phelps was eager for the local schoolchildren to show the animals to him.
And with the legend deciding to hang up his swim cap and goggles, Schooling now has a golden opportunity to inspire children with big dreams just like Phelps did. He wore glasses and came up to his hero’s shoulder.
RELATED: Michael Phelps’ Angry Game Face at the Olympics Goes Viral – See the Best Memes!
Some of Phelps’ teammates were in the room with him and chanted, “Four more years!”
A wait of nearly an hour followed for the medals ceremony but when it came Phelps was crowned champion for the 23rd – and probably final – time. “It’s not going to happen”.
“It turned out pretty cool”, Phelps said, another gold medal around his neck.
They also won 33 medals at Sydney in 2000. Fellow American Ryan Lochte finished fifth.
Advertisement
But the Brits, whose swimming budget was slashed 20 per cent after their flop in home waters at London 2102 four years ago, exceeded their target of three to five medals in Rio. Also racing: China, Italy, and Great Britain.
