The record-breaking American, whose place among the pantheon of sporting greats has always been cemented, stormed to victory in the 200 individual medley to match his London tally four years ago. It was a shocking defeat for him.
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He earned his last two in the 200-meter individual medley final on Thursday, August 11. The win was a historic moment in a career of historic moments for Phelps. But at US trials, he missed making the team in the 400 IM, in which he won gold in London, as well as the 200 free.
Less than an hour after completing the 200 IM Phelps swam his semifinal heat in the 100 butterfly, qualifying for the final with a time of 51.60 seconds.
Competing in his fifth and final Olympics, Phelps also joined Al Oerter in the discus (1956-68) and Carl Lewis in the long jump (1984-96) as the only members of the exclusive four-in-a-row club. He now has 13 individual Olympic golds.
Phelps wasn’t the only gold medal victor for the United States on a stunning night of swimming.
It’s the Pacific nation’s first Olympic medal, and it’s easy to see how much it means to the team.
“The 100-meter backstroke is actually the one that comes more naturally for me so that’s the one I was really gunning for”.
Phelps took his third 200m IM Olympic crown. He failed to reach the podium during his first trip to the games.
World champion Chad le Clos, runner-up to Phelps in London four years ago, was seventh fastest as he looks to avenge his crushing defeat by the American in Tuesday s needle 200m fly.
Watch the live stream of round one of men’s golf at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. It was INSANE. Phelps-Lochte-Cseh, exactly the same three as it was in 2008. While this isn’t the eight-events-for-eight-golds insanity of Beijing, it is an inarguably aggressive program.
Lochte and Murphy bought Phelps extra time.
Australia’s Mitch Larkin grabbed the silver in 1:53.96, just ahead of Russia’s Evgeny Rylov with the bronze in 1:53.97.
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Lochte turned 32 last week and is non-committal about whether Rio is his last Olympics. He has been involved in controversies such as being photographed holding a bong, and he is now a father with the birth of his son Boomer. It’s like wow, tonight’s my last 200 ever. It would give him his 15th individual medal and sole possession of first place. Phelps’ proficiency is undeniable as the most decorated Olympian in history.
