Backstroker Ryan Murphy and breaststroker Cody Miller dived the pool ahead of Phelps, who seized the lead for freestyle anchor Nathan Adrian for the win.
Advertisement
This was his fifth Olympic Games appearance.
Britain finished 2.71 seconds adrift to take silver while Australia secured the bronze.
With 22 gold medals, Phelps has already won a total of 27 medals in the Olympics. Phelps, the Team U.S.A. captain this time around, says this was his last Olympics, and though he has un-retired before, most seem to believe that this time, he meansit.
He ends his career with 23 gold medals, more than any Olympic athlete in history. “I wanted kids to dare to dream, and that’s just what Joe did”.
Phelps won his 23rd gold while helping Team USA clinch the 4×100 meter medley relay Saturday night. When asked whether he will reconsider if he finds himself with the desire to compete again in four years, Phelps gave a clear answer.
“That’s really when everything started to hit me”, he said, “knowing it was the last time I’ll wear the stars and stripes in a race”.
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, has announced that he has made a decision to retire.
“I’d probably give him one to take to show and tell – I might have to go with him and take every step with him when he goes and shows it”, said Phelps.
“I’m not going four more years and I’m standing by that”, he said.
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, officially announced his retirement from swimming during a Monday morning interview with Today. Gatlin was asked about comments made by swimmer Lilly King, who said athletes who had previously been banned for doping should not be in the Olympics, including Gatlin and his USA sprint teammate Tyson Gay. “I think that’s why we still do it, especially at our age”.
“I was just super excited to be on that relay and I’m sure that little extra bit of adrenaline is what pushed me to that record”, said Murphy, who broke the record of 51.94 set by American Aaron Peirsol in 2009.
In the only event he didn’t win in Rio, he was beaten by a 21-year-old from Singapore, Joseph Schooling, who grew up idolizing the American star.
It certainly wasn’t the Phelps of 2008 in Beijing, when the unprecedented achievement of eight gold medals at a single Games required an isolating determination and focus.
Advertisement
“I didn’t want to have a what if, 15-20 years down the line”, Phelps reflected.
