If the American wins that event, for his 22nd Olympic gold and 26th medal, he will become the first swimmer to win the same event at four successive Games and only the third athlete after discus thrower Al Oerter and long jumper Carl Lewis.
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Phelps, who took his tally to four gold medals at Rio by winning the event for the fourth consecutive Games, moved ahead of Leonidas after edging out Japan’s Kosuke Hagino and China’s Wang Shun. I’m finished. When I was walking around”, meaning the pool deck after the medal ceremony, “I was taking it in – my last individual walk-around. The title “black swimmer” makes it seem like I’m not supposed to be able to win a gold medal or I’m not supposed to break records.
Throughout Phelps’ comeback for Rio, he has insisted emphatically that the 2016 Games would be the last competition of his career.
“It is an incredible feat, to compete among the world’s best, stay focused, and emerge victorious”.
“So, you’re telling me that although you have enough money in the world, the freedom to go anywhere you want, that there is something that swimming provides you’re not getting on the golf course?” his coach Bob Bowman said two years ago. “It’s just insane”, said Schooling.
He also said, referring to himself and Phelps, “I would like to think the U.S. needs us, especially Michael.
I’ve been able to come back and I’ve been able to accomplish things that I just dreamt of”, he said.
Indeed, this time, his post-Olympics life outside the pool looks quite different than it has in the past, where Phelps would return to Baltimore, hang out and grow bored.
“My first gold medal, at my first Olympics, is kind of a surprise to me”, Manuel told reporters.
“A three-way tie is pretty wild”, Phelps said.
As the men’s 100 butterfly went under the microscope, it was obvious a big name in the event – and the sport – would be left off the medals stand. “I don’t know what to believe, like, whether I actually did it or I’m still preparing for my race”.
“I’m not going to lie, the first guy through the wall it’s always bloody”, added Schooling, who is now honing his talent at the University of Texas.
The next most-decorated Olympian, gymnast Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union, won nine golds and 18 total. Another American, Nathan Adrian, took the bronze. Now, improbably, he’s back on the top of the podium again.
If Phelps was disappointed with his non-gold medal, it did not show.
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-Brazil’s government declared a day of official mourning for a Rio Olympics police officer who died after being shot in the head making a wrong turn into one of the city’s slums. She certainly has nothing to complain about after winning two golds, a silver and a bronze.
