And after every race, he heard the crowd (and his fellow US swimmers) chant: “Four more years!”
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But Adam Peaty, who twice broke the 100m breaststroke world record en route to gold in Rio, got past American Cody Miller on the second leg, pulling Great Britain from sixth to first.
If that was the end, and Phelps insists it is, what a way to go.
“This is special because I’m just able to start the next chapter of my life”, Phelps said.
However, the swimmer chose to recall his decision for retirement and participate in Rio Olympics 2016 to continue his medal-winning spree.
This is the first time that Michael Phelps was beaten in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Huffington Post Canada carried the photo of the swimmers with the headline, “Photo of Joseph Schooling and Michael Phelps captures Olympic spirit”.
He quit drinking, reconnected with his estranged father, got engaged, moved to Arizona with his longtime coach Bob Bowman, and became a father.
“I had a ton of fun, ” she said.
“That’s No. 1 for me”, Phelps said.
The victor of six gold medals at Athens 2004, eight at Beijing 2008 and four at London 2012 was unable to select any particular highlight.
Phelps has won a medal for his participation on this relay every Olympic Games since 2004.
Whats even crazier about this is the fact that Phelps is still just 31-years old and the fact that he didn’t win a single medal when he competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“No, I’m done”, he said.
The victor, however, never seemed in doubt after world champion Paltrinieri took the lead at 150 metres and wore down the rest of the field to win by 4.91 seconds.
“You guys won’t see me at one of these things for a long time”, he told reporters. “Not only is it, for me, it’s been a huge part of my life, but it can also be a lifesaver”.
9 If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do. “That human spirit, that capacity to heal”. Back when races were only timed to one-tenth of a second, not one-hundredth as they are in the pool, USA speedskaters shared silver at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
In Rio, where he took his Olympic tally to a staggering 28 medals – he also won three silvers and two bronzes – it was apparent he was not going through the motions at all.
Phelps bowed out with his fifth gold of the Rio Games in his fifth and final Olympics after powering the United States to victory in the men’s 4x100m medley relay.
It was the bookend on an outstanding career, the swimming meet at Rio 2016 and yet another historic night for the American swim team.
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Even if Rio is Phelps’ last time in the pool, his comeback has been an inspiring story to watch unfold. Six of those were gold, two were bronze.
