The Americans had failed to reach the final in the event past year at the world championships with Phelps on the sideline.
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She did, and was a key member of the American women’s 4×100 relay team that took silver. But she admitted that even with European titles, long- and short-course world titles and world records in both long- and short-course, she sometimes doubted she would snag that elusive Olympic gold.
He’s still got three individual events, and will surely swim two more relays.
Yet the young Australians could make the US men feel their years.
In addition to the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley, the 31-year-old will compete in the 200m butterfly in Rio.
The Americans won in 3:09.92.
He qualified in six events at the United States trials, but with three relays on his plate dropped the 200m backstroke for an eight-race slate.
United States’ gold medal victor Ryan Held is comforted by his teammate Michael Phelps, right, as he cries during the medal ceremony for the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay final at the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summe. A bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay spelled the end of his hopes of matching Spitz’s seven.
Defending Olympic champion France was out front when Phelps dove into the water on the second leg, taking over for leadoff swimmer Caeleb Dressel. In nine Olympic relays to that point, it was just the second time Phelps hadn’t taken gold.
In today’s Rio Olympics, the most decorated Olympian of all-time Michael Phelps will swim in his first race in the men’s 4×100 free relay. Phelps, swimming second after Adrian, turned in a leg of 47.15 seconds, fastest for the Americans on the night. “I’m always anxious that he’s sleeping right, breathing right, getting enough food, getting better”, Michael Phelps told the news outlet. Here’s just one: Along with gymnastics, swimming is now the centerpiece of the first week of the Olympic schedule.
Three world records had fallen by the time the most anticipated race of the night was set to start.
“I do know that the coaching staff will put out the four fastest guys, whoever that is”, Phelps said coyly.
The biggest casualty was world number one Novak Djokovic, bounced out in straight sets in the opening round of the men’s singles by Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, losing 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2). The United States, Japan and China are now tied for the medal count with 5 each. “To stay on top of the world for that many Olympics is something that most of us couldn’t even dream of”.
Eight years ago in Beijing, when Phelps needed help if he was to fulfil his quest to win an unprecedented eight gold medals in eight events, Olympic veteran Jason Lezak, then 32, saved him. As the US flag was raised and the national anthem played, Held broke down.
Vollmer, who lives in Danville, won her second medal in Rio after being part of the 400 freestyle relay team that got the silver Saturday night. The total now stands at 23 medals overall, 19 of them gold.
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He repeated that feat in his next final, the 100m butterfly, in which he turned the tables on le Clos.
