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Golden moments: Phelps, Biles amaze in Thursday performances

Biles won gold and teammate Aly Raisman took the silver medal. Don’t believe me? Check out this tweet by ESPN.

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Michael Phelps won his 22nd gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley, becoming the first swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Olympic Games. Will she be the greatest gymnast ever or is she already there?

Asked about her historic victory soon afterward, an emotional Manuel’s first words focused on her faith.

The American led Mustafina by 1.533 going into the final floor rotation on which she is the reigning three-time world champion. Between her results across the four all-around apparatuses and the last few years tearing through global gymnastics competitions, Biles is operating on a level in her sport equaled only by the world’s best across all athletics. Others have echoed the talk. And during her post-win interview she made it a point to make sure people knew that. She literally has a tumbling move named after her because no one else can do it. Biles athleticism is a beauty to watch and she will dazzle and entertain for Olympics to come.

“It’s one of those things”, he says of being an Olympic parent. And she handles the pressure, and the success, in the most low-key way possible.

“That’s something I definitely struggled with a lot”, she said. “To see the amplitude and mastery of the skills she throws now – the vaults that are so high flying the crowds in Rio have literally gasped at the enormous difference between her and the other gymnasts – it’s easy to forget it wasn’t always this way”.

“She’s worked so incredibly hard during her comeback”, she continued.

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Australia’s Cate Campbell was a strong favorite going into the race, but Manuel remained calm as her rival faded.

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