The team of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer and Townley Haas helped United States of America continue its dominance in the event, winning gold since 2000. And Michael Phelps is also the first male swimmer in USA history to compete in five Olympic Games.
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Phelps is the most decorated Olympic athlete in history and built on his existing legend with a dramatic victory for his 24th medal overall.
Later Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu chases a third Rio gold in the women’s 200m individual medley. And right before he stepped on the blocks to anchor the relay, he split his dome cap as he was trying to put it on.
Lochte, 32, is an 11 times medallist, with five golds. This is something the Americans have become accustomed to doing, having now won this thing in four consecutive Olympics. Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi closed well to swim a time of 1:53.62 and take the bronze.
Ryan Lochte earned his first gold medal of the 2016 Olympics Tuesday night, swimming in the men’s 4×200 relay as the USA dominated for another win.
Phelps had touched the wall in one minute, 53.36 seconds, slower than his 2012 silver medal performance, with Sakai finishing in 1:53.40. From gold in London in 2012 to nothing in 2016.
His gold in the 200-meter butterfly was his third in the event. He owns the eight fastest times in the 200 fly, including the world record of 1:51.51, set at the 2009 world championships.
World-record holder Federica Pelligrini of Italy was fourth. The relay team-which consisted of Dwyer, Townley Haas, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps-never relinquished its lead after that. Congrats to Michael Phelps.
Debbie Meyer is the only female swimmer to capture the three longest freestyle events at a single Olympics, winning the 200, 400 and 800 at Mexico City in 1968.
In the earlier heats, the U.S team finished.43 seconds behind Great Britain.
Hosszu added to her wins in the 400 IM and 100 backstroke. Sjostrom went a time of 1:54.08, and Australia’s Emma McKeon swam in 1:54.92 for bronze.
“Should be a fun race”, Phelps said.
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The American crushed rival Chad le Clos to regain his 200 metres butterfly title, celebrating victory in a race bristling with tension by pointing to the sky and gesturing to the Rio crowd to “bring the noise” – an order they duly obeyed.
