Singapore exploded in celebration Saturday, August 13, after homegrown swimming hero Joseph Schooling beat usa legend Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly in Rio to win the tiny republic’s first ever Olympics gold.
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“My first gold medal, at my first Olympics, is kind of a surprise to me”, Manuel told reporters.
Hearing stories about Valberg inspired the young Schooling to announce to his father Colin: “I want to go to the Olympics”.
An Olympic record time of 3:27.95 was lost in the emotion after the race as Phelps tearfully saluted the crowd while his beauty queen fiancee Nicole Johnson looked on sobbing as she cradled baby son Boomer.
Lohn says his relationship with Phelps is also more relaxed.
Phelps’ mother, Debbie, sounded bullish on her son competing in what would be his sixth Olympics where he’d be 35 years old.
Singapore’s first Olympic swimming medallist began his journey into the sport in Mandurah, Western Australia, where his great-uncle Lloyd Valberg, who had been Singapore’s first-ever Olympic representative as a high-jumper in the London games, lived. Phelps came in second, clocking 51.60s.
He wouldn’t be for long.
A huge roar went up when Phelps hit the water for the butterfly and then caught and overhauled Britain’s James Guy to hand a 0.41 second cushion to Nathan Adrian.
It wasn’t in doubt after that.
But America’s golden girl Katie Ledecky completed the 200/400/800m treble by winning the 16-lap event in a time nearly two seconds quicker than her own world record.
Australia’s Mitch Larkin grabbed the silver in 1:53.96, just ahead of Russia’s Evgeny Rylov with the bronze in 1:53.97.
The US also won gold in the women’s 4x100m medley relay while Denmark’s Pernille Blume and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri claimed the first swimming gold medals for their respective countries at these Games.
Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel led the American triumph.
NOTE: Katie Ledecky of the United States captured her second gold medal of the Rio Olympics, winning the 200-meter freestyle.
United States of America has won gold in every 4×100 metre medley since 1960 Rome Olympics, except in 1980 when they had boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games.
The U.S. also won 33 medals at Sydney in 2000.
Elsewhere in the pool Saturday, Pernille Blume of Denmark took gold in the women’s 50 freestyle, edging out 100 freestyle victor Manuel – who finished second.
American Justin Gatlin posted the fastest time in the Rio heats.
Earlier in the night, Manuel took silver in the 50 free. They were shut out of an individual medal again, with Cate finishing fifth and Bronte seventh. Paltrinieri’s fellow Italian Gabriele Detti took the bronze medal in 14:40.86.
Detti rallied over the final laps to pass American Jordan Wilimovksy, who settled for fourth. All three will get Operation Gold awards of at least $25,000 that are funded by the USOC and USA Swimming. One night after his only setback of the games, an upset loss to Joseph Schooling in the 100 fly, Phelps was back on top. For the last time.
Asked what Phelps had said to him after the race, Schooling added: “He said, “Good job, that was a great race”.
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In the only way imaginable.
