It was the ninth consecutive win for the United States in the 4×100-meter medley, according to Team USA, which said that Phelps officially announced his retirement afterward, with chants of “Michael Phelps” coming from the stands.
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But as Myre points out, even that insane stat doesn’t do Phelps justice.
“But also spending time with the team”.
Just after finishing the race, 22 Olympic gold medal victor Phelps congratulated the young man from Singapore. Justin Rose of Britain is the third-round leader and will be trying to win golf’s first gold medal in 112 years. As we covered when he won his 12th, he had tied Leonidas of Rhodes when he won the 200m butterfly.
The US also won gold in the women’s 4x100m medley relay while Denmark’s Pernille Blume and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri claimed the first swimming gold medals for their respective countries at these Games.
Then again, we’re selfish and don’t have to subject ourselves to the relentless training required to compete at such a high level.
“That’s something that I’m really, really looking forward to, being able to watch him grow up”, Phelps said. After the relay last night, that’s why I was hunched over and more emotional than I was in London.
“Done, done, done – and this time I mean it”, he told “TODAY’s” Matt Lauer on Monday.
Being apart from him for the last three weeks, four weeks from when I saw him last, he’s grown so much.
Afterward, the tears came and Phelps’ eyes glistened, first as he embraced his teammates and raised his arms and later as the national anthem played for him – and his accomplishments – one last time. “That’s the difference. Because I knew this was the last time”. Another milestone and huge achievement for the celebrated Olympian, Phelps.
“I’ve lived a dream come true, something that I wanted for so long”.
And with Saturday’s victories, Team U.S.A. has had another record setting summer in the pool as well, taking a total of 33 medals (beating the 2000 and 2012 records of 31), and tying the record for team gold medals, at16. “She does swimming, not track and field, so I’m not anxious about that”.
“I didn’t want to have a what if, 15-20 years down the line”, Phelps reflected.
Swimming – Final – Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final – Olympic Aquatics Stadium – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 13/08/2016. “Hopefully for me I can find someone who has the passion and the desire and the drive that I had as a swimmer and be able to kind of really go after their goals”.
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The victor of six gold medals at Athens 2004, eight at Beijing 2008 and four at London 2012 was unable to select any particular highlight.
