Michael Phelps returns to the Olympic stage Thursday night, facing longtime American rival Ryan Lochte for perhaps the final time in their much anticipated 200-meter individual medley (IM) gold medal showdown. It might be have been the best 100 meters of his life. Michael Phelps (USA) of USA poses with his gold medal. Phelps has also won the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley three times during his stellar career.
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Hagino, who won the 400m medley last weekend, produced a quick finish to pinch silver in 1:56.61, with China’s Wang Shun coming through for a surprise bronze in 1:57.05.
The American Male Swimmer all-time records for Olympics gold medals (22), in Olympic gold medal Individual events (13), Olympic medals in individual events (15).
Phelps recounted the story in an interview with the “Today Show”, prior to the start of the Olympics, saying he entered a psychological trauma and addiction center in Arizona in October of 2015. Nathan Adrian, who failed to defend his Olympic title in 100-meter freestyle, recorded the second fastest time at 21.61 while another American sprinter Anthony Ervin finished with a time of 21.63.
Phelps claimed the gold medal in the 200m IM for the fourth consecutive Olympics, becoming the only swimmer in history to mount such a streak in the same event. Once again, that “lost” 2012 Olympics (which still turned out pretty good) felled him. He promptly quit the most grueling race on his program. After Thursday, it’s one down, one to go.
Phelps wasn’t the only gold medal victor for the U.S. on a stunning night of swimming. (Combined!) It’ll be the toughest individual race he’ll have in Rio.
Is he super pumped that Phelps is exemplifying American excellence in general, beating a 2,168-year-old record and scoring more gold than anyone ever? But it’s a bittersweet win too.
This time, she was limited to a single gold, which came for swimming the preliminaries of the 4×200 freestyle relay.
But the eyes, one final time, will be on Phelps and Lochte.
He has come out of retirement to compete in these games, and it seems unlikely he will make the team in four years.
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No one should, or will, cry for Ryan. It ain’t gold, but it’s not a bad consolation.
