Here’s full viewing information for the 200-meter butterfly, a race that’s become somewhat synonymous with Phelps.
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Phelps has 19 career gold medals and he’ll swim in 200 meter butterfly heats Tuesday and Wednesday.
Held, 21, and Dressel, 19, joined Olympic legend Phelps and anchor Nathan Adrian to beat out France and Australia, and wept with joy both on the medal podium and afterwards. The French couldn’t be dismissed, either, because they were the defending Olympic and world champions, and they had three swimmers ranked in the top 10 in the 100 free, though none in the top four.
Through two days in Rio the United States has racked up more medals than any other country: 3 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze. He won’t be the only American in the event, as countryman Tom Shields will also participate.
Held was the only holdover from Sunday morning’s qualifying relay team. If anyone is used to the atmosphere and the pressure, it is Phelps but even he – 16 years on from his Olympic debut – felt the sense of occasion.
The Americans have won the 400 freestyle relay nine times since it was first contested in 1964. But they had won it only once since 2000 until Sunday.
He succeeded in that regard, and earned his 23rd career Olympic medal.
“The younger guys started crying and I started crying”, laughed Phelps.
“I was pumped”, Ledecky said. He told “Extra” in 2012, “I always told myself, ‘I’ll never swim past 30.’ I just don’t want to be that guy, like, ‘Man, he’s still going.'” He added about possibly transitioning into Hollywood, “I’m a awful actor”.
It was a night of world records in Rio. Britain’s Adam Peaty set his second mark in as many nights in the 100 breaststroke, while Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden eclipsed her own mark in the 100 butterfly.
Given the form he showed in his Rio debut, five more golds are certainly within reach.
“There were thoughts where I was like, ‘How would I do it?’ But I knew I never could”.
Michael Phelps’ baby was there to see his daddy win his first gold medal of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
She has now set 12 world records in the past four years and could yet add the 200m and 800m titles before she’s done.
Nothing was left to chance, with the team even calling in four-time National Basketball Association champion Tony Parker to talk with the swimmers during one of their final training camps.
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Peaty won in 57.13 seconds, but he wasn’t the only one celebrating. American Dana Vollmer, the 2012 champion, clinched bronze.
