“This is something that’s very special, that no matter what’s going on in the world, we can all come together as one, in one village, competing in the same events”.
Advertisement
As for Phelps, his Rio medals so far are golds in the 200m butterfly, 200m medley, 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle; and a silver in the 4x100m freestyle.
Phelps swims once more on Saturday in the 4×100 meter medley relay, in what would be his final race. “It’s been a hell of a career”, Phelps told reporters, while acknowledging the strain on his 31-year-old body.
That was nearly two seconds in front of silver medallist Kosuke Hagino of Japan, the 400m individual medley champion who powered from fifth at the final wall to touch in 1:56.61.
The pair met eight years ago when Phelps was already an Olympic legend and Schooling a teenaged super-fan at school in Singapore.
But gold medals are not Phelps’ only priority as he leads one of America’s youngest ever Olympic swimming teams in Rio.
“It’s been a tough road, I’m not going to lie, the first guy through the wall, it’s always bloody”, he said.
“It is a wild way to end my individual career”.
When Phelps was adamant in 2012 that the London Olympic Games would be his last, Lochte refused to buy it.
While it sounds like the legend may be toweling off for good after Rio, his American teammates/opponents – namely Ryan Lochte – wouldn’t be surprised if Phelps dove back in to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “I got silver tie in London so a three way tie is insane”.
If you think we’re gonna see something like this repeated in our lifetimes, you’re clearly having a laugh.
Advertisement
Now it’s Phelps’ turn to be shell-shocked, as Schooling put him in a position he’s not used to: second place. I think with a different objective, he’s going to come back and push his limits.
