Murphy, who completed a backstroke sweep with victory in the 100 and 200 events as well as the medley relay, added he felt breaking Aaron Peirsol’s world record in the leadoff of Phelps’ final race was especially poignant. After competing and winning in four Olympics, the 23-time gold medalist confirmed the news during an interview with the Today show on Monday, August 15. She will swim in the event’s final on Friday.
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If the United States women had not captured the landmark medal, Michael Phelps and the men’s 4×100 medley relay squad would have done so.
USA swimmers Maya DiRado and Missy Franklin advanced to Thursday night’s semifinals for the women’s 200-meter backstroke, posting the third and 11th fastest times, respectively. Team USA has 24 gold, 18 silver and 18 bronze overall.
LOS ANGELES-Viewership of NBC’s Olympics coverage soared on Saturday as fans turned out for what might have been Michael Phelps’ final outing in an Olympic competition. “In my opinion, and if I have to die before – I’ll go down swinging to see this sport where I want it to be”.
In Rio, where he took his Olympic tally to a staggering 28 medals – he also won three silvers and two bronze – it was apparent he was not going through the motions at all.
The 31-year-old swimmer won five gold medals and one silver in Rio, which cements his title as the greatest swimmer of all time.
Phelps’s rivalry with Le Close blossomed more recently, at the 2012 London Games where the South African beat Phelps in the 200m butterfly only to fall to him in the 100m fly. “I want to win the medals to represent my country really well”.
Britain finished 2.71 seconds adrift, with Australia in third.
Phelps is not the first athlete have been refueled by time away from the sport from a break, intentional or otherwise, but as the most successful Olympian ever, his methods have always been imitated and will likely continue to be. The U.S.A. men’s swimming team wins another gold medal.
Phelps has won a medal for his participation on this relay every Olympic Games since 2004. “I’m super ecstatic with that, and just being on the relay with these awesome women and fighting for Team USA and getting a gold medal, that’s the icing on top of the cake”.
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“I’ve said this to some of you, it’s not done growing”, he told reporters when he qualified for Rio. “I’m just a really happy person”.
