The four-man American swim team had just finished celebrating their victory in the 4x100m when their talisman, Michael Phelps, stated that he would not add to his staggering haul of Olympic medals – 23 gold, 6 silver, and one bronze – at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
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If that was the end – and Phelps insists it is – the numbers are simply astonishing.
It wasn’t in doubt after that.
The USA claimed victory in an Olympic record time of 3:27.95, with Great Britain taking silver and Australia bronze. Now Britain places third with 10 golds just behind the U.S. and China, who just claimed one silver and three bronze medals in the day. Michael Phelps is said to have surpassed the deeds of Leonidas of Rhodes at the ancient Olympics and the American’s coach believes we will never see his likes again.
“I’m sure he’ll eventually take them over when I pass but that’s a long time. It’s been an honor”.
Michael Phelps brought the curtain down on one of sport’s most storied careers with a dynamite relay swim to give himself 23 Olympic gold medals and declared it a flawless finale. I’ve lived a dream come true.
In one of the highlights of the athletics competitions, Britain’s Mo Farah overcame the shock of a mid-race fall to take a second straight Olympic 10,000m title and extend his remarkable record at global championships.
“I don’t think he’ll retire”, said Guy. After Saturday’s race, he told NBC, “I’m just ready for something different”.
“This is how I wanted to finish my career, the way I wanted to”, he said.
“This was the actual cherry on top of the cake and looking forward to starting a new chapter”.
Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel clocked 3:53.13 to win USA’s 1,000th gold at a Summer Games.
Connor Jaeger gave the US another silver in the 1,500 free, leaving the American with 33 swimming medals in Rio – matching the highest total since they captured 34 against a depleted field at the boycotted Los Angeles Games of 1984.
Elaine Thompson continued Jamaica’s Olympic sprint monopoly by winning gold in the women’s 100m. Connor Jaeger of the United States took silver in 14:39.48, while the bronze went to another Italian, Gabriele Detti, in 14:40.86.
But the night belonged to Phelps, who walked out of the arena for the final time carrying the American flag that his mother handed him from her front-row seat, right next to Johnson and little Boomer, with a gold medal around his neck.
On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal was toppled by Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, ending his bid for a second Olympic singles gold medal.
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Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
