But let’s pretend he’s a country – the Republic of Phelps.
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Most of the US swim team was in the stands to watch Phelps’ finale, including the biggest female star of the games, Katie Ledecky. “So he’s already eyeing them up”. But Phelps’ hands were just a fraction of a second quicker in a shocking victory.
“I have been working with a sports psychologist on that side of things as well and not just the physical side”.
The win guaranteed the “Baltimore Bullet” his 23rd gold medal in five Games appearances stretching over 16 years, not to mention a fifth win at Rio 26 after success in the 4×100 freestyle, 4×200 freestyle, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley.
The Jason Lezak race.
It is hard to imagine any athlete challenging his medal totals – 28 overall and 23 gold – so now it is time for Phelps to find another pursuit. Lezak’s split was the fastest in history.
Phelps, who turned 31 in June, broke more records in Rio. Australia’s Mitch Larkin, Jake Packard, David Morgan and Kyle Chalmers took bronze in 3:29.93.
Former double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington praised Carlin’s silver double at Rio and insists her success in Brazil has “written off” any disappointment from London 2012.
Phelps also has remarkable medal-winning efficiency.
As NPR points out, if Phelps was not a person but a country competing in Rio, he would have more gold medals than all but 32 of the 205 countries present, and that includes medal tallies from the summer AND winter games.
This was the eye opener. Before that, they were wondering whether this could have been a disaster.
No one knows how long people will be talking about Phelps’ Olympic career.
Phelps went out on top Saturday night, winning one last gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay in his final race in Rio, and according to him, his final competitive race ever.
On the return lap, Phelps powered through the water with his whirling butterfly stroke, surging ahead of James Guy to pass off a lead to the anchor Adrian.
The most dominating swim in the meet that Bowman considers the best of Phelps’ career.
“Coming into my first Olympics I didn’t think I was going to be getting a gold medal individually”.
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Michael Phelps broadcast for almost an hour on Facebook live before his last race ever, the 4x100m medley relay, set for approximately 10:04 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
