Phelps, who says he really is retiring this time, put the United States ahead to stay Saturday on the butterfly leg of the 4×100-meter medley relay, giving the most decorated athlete in Olympic history his 23rd gold medal. Gatlin’s career has been dogged by doping suspensions and controversy, but he is in good form and the fastest man in the world this year. She already became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic swimming title with her win in the 100 free.
Advertisement
The IAAF said Saturday it has banned the only Russian in Olympic track and field from competition and she is appealing the ruling.
But it was still a fine moment when Le Clos surged back into the race in the last few metres to finish alongside Phelps, especially after their memorable battle in the 200m butterfly, where they were involved in a pre-race clash before the semi-final that went viral.
Phelps was elected a team captain for the first time in his career – this was his fifth Olympics – and truly seemed to enjoy being around his fellow swimmers.
Usain Bolt defends his title as the world’s fastest man at the Rio de Janeiro Games on Sunday and golf is handing out its first Olympic medals in 112 years.
“It might be once in 10 generations that someone like Michael Phelps comes along”.
Bolt, 29, is now looking forward to his third consecutive Olympic triumph, after those in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 relay competitions.
Joseph Schooling of Singapore, the surprise victor of the men’s 100-meter butterfly, was delighted to share the podium with silver medalists Phelps, Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh, three swimmers who “changed the face of our sport”.
Iglesias won gold in 2012 and bronze in 2008 as a light welterweight, but the 27-year-old moved to welterweight for his third Olympics.
Singapore’s first Olympics medal was won by weightlifter Tan Howe Liang, who bagged a silver in Rome in 1960.
Phelps was joined by his teammates Kevin Cordes, Conor Dwyer and Chase Kalisz who cheered him on chanting “four more years”.
So it was odd to see him, after what he insists was his final individual race as an Olympian, crowding onto a medal stand with two other swimmers.
Others to watch include Elaine Thompson of Jamaica, Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands and Americans English Gardner, Tianna Bartoletta and Tori Bowie.
Cyclist Bobby Lea competes for Team USA in the men’s omnium scratch race (3:40 p.m.). He has not lost a major race since taking silver in the 10,000 at the 2011 worlds, but Ethiopia’s Yigrem Demelash is hoping to renew his nation’s ownership of the race. Her three golds are the most by an American female gymnast during one Olympics. All three will be competing for gold during Saturday evening.
The eligibility of long jumper Darya Klishina was revoked by the IAAF based on new information it received last week, spokesman Yannis Nikolaou told The Associated Press. The Olympic record is still held by Bob Beaman, who set it in 1968, though Mike Powell eclipsed it in 1991.
The U.S. women are heading home without an Olympic medal for the first time. The U.S. men have had two straight close games, topping Australia 98-88 and squeaking by Serbia 94-91.
Next up is Mexico on Monday in the final preliminary match before the knockout quarterfinals.
Brazil’s fortunate to be in the field.
Later Sunday, Andy Murray tries to become the first man to win two singles gold medals in tennis and at track, a showdown in the 400 final pits LaShawn Merritt, Kirani James and Wayde van Niekerk.
Katerina Cachova of the Czech Republic competes in the Women’s Heptathlon Javelin Throw on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Advertisement
On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal was toppled by Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, ending his bid for a second Olympic singles gold medal.
