Australia’s Mitch Larkin, Jake Packard, David Morgan and Kyle Chalmers took bronze in 3:29.93.
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It’s the first gold medal of Cody Miller’s career, but it was the 23rd for Phelps.
Murphy broke the world record for the 100 backstroke in the leadoff, clocking 51.85 seconds to eclipse the 51.94 that compatriot Aaron Peirsol swam in 2009.
Phelps put the USA back ahead in the butterfly, and Nathan Adrian closed it out in the freestyle.
After the race, Phelps raised his alarms aloft to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd, while fiancee Nicole wiped tears from her eyes as she cradled their baby, Boomer, in the crowd. The Americans set an Olympic record in 3:27.95.
Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates after the men’s 200m individual medley final at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 11, 2016.
Again it was the United States on the top step of the podium, with Manuel anchoring the team as she secured a second gold medal of the week alongside Kathleen Baker, Lilly King and Dana Vollmer.
Blume won Denmark’s first gold medal in any event at the Rio Games by storming to victory in the women’s 50m freestyle.
Conor Jaeger took USA silver in 14:39.48 and there was bronze medal for another Italian in Gabriele Detti in 14:40.86.
After her landmark victory in the 100 free, Manuel settled for silver this time in 24.09.
At the other end of the distance scale, Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri dominated the 1500m freesstyle from the start, swimming inside world record pace until the closing stages.
It was another huge disappointment for sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell of Australia. Belarus swimmer Aliaksandra Herasimenia took bronze in 24.11 seconds.
Blume was the third Danish swimmer to capture a gold.
He finished in 14:34.57, more than three-and-a-half seconds outside the mark set by Sun Yang of China at London 2012.
Detti rallied over the final laps to pass American Jordan Wilimovksy, who settled for fourth.
The night, though, belonged to Phelps. “Last time putting on a suit, last time walking out in front of thousands of people representing my country”.
“That was nice to see, actually”, said Bowman, adding that in the past he would have counselled Phelps not to bask in the moment but to “build the fire up in you while you’re hearing the national anthem”.
While competitions wrapped up in swimming and rowing, they’re just heating up in track and field, where Mo Farah of Britain recovered from a fall to defend his Olympic 10,000-meter title and American Jeff Henderson overtook Luvo Manyonga of South Africa on his last jump to win the long jump gold medal.
“I’m not going four more years and I’m standing by that”, he said.
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The 31-year-old soaked up aspects of the Olympic experience he previously ignored – serving as a captain on the U.S. team for the first time, carrying the United States flag at the opening ceremony he had never before attended.
