Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte swam for the United States as it won gold in the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay Tuesday night.
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Phelps already has one gold from Rio – his 19th, which came in the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday – and a further medal could follow later on Tuesday night in the 4x200m freestyle relay after he was drafted into the United States’ team following the afternoon heats. Finishing.22 seconds behind Sakai was Hungarian Tamas Kenderesi with a timing of 1:53.62, thereby taking bronze in this cliffhanger that seemed to be absolutely anybody’s game till the very end.
But the 200m was the event which Phelps had targeted following his dramatic defeat in London four years ago.
It was easily his worst race of the eight golds from Beijing.
Phelps essentially spent the next 100 seconds or so soaking up the cheers. Japan, which held on to second place behind Team USA for most of the relay fell to third, earning the bronze medal with a time of 7:03.50. He won a slew of golds, set a record, lowered his record and, while expanding his program from Athens to Beijing, kept the 200 fly like a swimming safety blanket.
Phelps, who now has 20 Olympic gold medals to his name, was pumped after the race, giving the fans a finger wag as a crowd featuring the American Olympic men’s basketball squad showered him with cheers.
And there was no emotional victory for the South African this time round as Phelps reigned supreme.
Katinka Hosszu is having quite an Olympics, too.
Hungary’s “Iron Lady” Hosszu completed the individual medley double by winning the 200m final in 2:06.58, making it three golds and counting after also claiming the 100m backstroke crown.
“The times being put up [in the 200 fly] aren’t getting faster.”
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“That event was kind of like my bread and butter”, Phelps said. That was the last time I’ll ever swim it.
