“He brings the best out of me”, Phelps said in a poolside interview after the 200-meter medley semifinal Wednesday.
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Phelps hustled off after his victory, knowing he had to come back about 40 minutes later for the semifinals of the 100 butterfly, another event he’ll be trying to win for the fourth straight time. Coming in already holding the record for most gold medals and overall medals won in the Games, he’s been adding more.
Then, he’ll close out these Olympics in the 4×100 medley relay.
“I’m biased”, says Torres, when asked if Phelps’ exit has been more impressive than Jordan’s. “I only get to put a racing suit on two more times after tonight”.
This was touted as the last showdown between two of America’s greatest swimmers, though there’s never been any question about which one had the upper hand.
Phelps left Lochte trailing in his wake. Phelps finished with the fastest time in the semis at 1:55.78 while Lochte comes in second at 1:56.28. “So it’s kind of the same thing”, said Raisman after he event.
Hours after their USA teammates Simone Biles and Aly Raisman went head-to-head to decide who should take a gold medal home, the two most talented swimmers of their generation stepped up on the blocks to race one last time in the Olympics. The chance to watch Phelps take on Lochte and others one last time in one of his best competitions should be must-watch TV (or live stream if you prefer). “I do feel like I talk to him more and joke around with him more than I really did in the past”, Phelps said. Japan’s Kosuke Hagino won the silver and China’s Wang Shun took bronze.
Pereira gave them a show, hanging with Phelps and Lochte early, prompting the crowd to chant “Brazil!” with every stroke.
“Honestly, I think we’ve both just grown up. He’s just an fantastic athlete, an wonderful citizen, who has set the bar for athletes all around”.
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Now, she’s done with what she termed a “disappointing” Olympics that included: Her failing to qualify for both the 200 freestyle and 200 back finals; and her swimming with the 4×200 free relay in its preliminary heat, not the final. The Ravens went on to win 22-19.
