Phelps held it together, though, finishing his record-shattering Olympic career with 28 medals – 23 of them gold.
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“Katie is just tearing it up”, Phelps said. “I think down the road I would love to be a professional swimmer, but first and foremost I want to get a really great education and have the opportunities that collegiate swimming brings, and to do that I’ve had to remain an amateur and I’ve really enjoyed it”.
The 31-year-old American picked out his victory in the 200m butterfly, which saw him edge out Japan’s Masato Sakai by four hundredths of a second, as the highlight of his fifth Games.
Phelps glared at Ledecky, lowered his head and laughed.
“Not only to see his impact in the pool, but just here out of the pool as well”. “Younger guys we have coming up in the sport are going to take over”. “Katie’s doing her thing and she’s breaking records every time she gets in the pool”.
Ledecky posed for a photo with Phelps, Phelps’ fiancee, Nicole Johnson, and their little boy, Boomer. “So I think that’s why I will still incorporate swimming in part of my weekly routine, just because it’s calming and soothing for me”, he said.
However, the favorite for that race has to be Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who topped the prelim heats with a time of 2:06.09 and is seeking her fourth gold medal of the Rio Games. “It’s fun to swim fast”.
“I only really want to represent myself, my family, my coach and my teammates”.
“Being able to win five more Olympic gold medals and one more silver medal. there’s no better way to finish a career”.
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The Washington D.C. native also captivated her hometown. “And this time, I mean it”, Phelps said when prodded about a possible return in 2020 when Tokyo hosts the Summer Games. “I’ve received so many messages from everybody back home and I can’t wait to get back home and celebrate with them”.
