Phelps blew away Ryan Lochte – and everyone else, for that matter – to win his fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics and 22nd overall with a victory in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night.
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The rivalry between Le Clos and Phelps had turned a little nasty in the build-up to the race, especially when Le Clos’s pre-swim warm-up in the semi-finals had rubbed Phelps up the wrong way. Because, as Phelps’s former Olympic teammate Tyler Clary has already said, if the 2024 Games are in Los Angeles, Phelps will bethere. I don’t think it has set in yet.
In other preliminary action today, Katie Ledecky broke an Olympic record in the 800-meter freestyle in qualifying for Friday night’s final. “But, I mean, I went out there and swam as fast as I could and my color just comes with the territory”. Phelps, who as of this writing has 21 gold medals, is the most decorated athlete in the modern Olympics. “I’m just going to enjoy racing against him tomorrow, and whatever the outcome is the outcome”.
“Anytime I can be on a relay – whether it’s morning, night, in practice, whatever it is – it means the absolute world to me”, said Franklin, who didn’t even qualify for the final of the 200 freestyle and has only one individual event left after the relay. Lochte, meanwhile, would probably have a gold medal of his own in the 200-meter individual medley if it wasn’t for Phelps. But for arguments’ sake, if that 1-4 record vs. Phelps in finals disappeared, Lochte might have 12 Olympic medals, 10 of them gold. Fellow Team USA swimmer Ryan Lochte has bested Phelps – in this event – in the 2011 World Championships.
Knowing he was one of the few to push Phelps continuously for his entire career may be something Lochte can smile about when he does eventually call it quits. Simone Manuel of the United States took the second spot, followed by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden and defending Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands. Here are some notable events in prime time and how to catch them online.
China’s Shi Jinglin took the bronze in 2:28.28. Thiago Pereira, a popular Brazilian swimmer, finished third.
“I will be in Tokyo”, he said.
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The 68-year-old did not travel to Rio with his wife, May, 61, because he was not feeling well.
