“Best Wishes. Michael Phelps”.
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It has been a hugely eventful Olympic judo competition which included the first Olympic medal for Kosovo and some inspirational performances from two Congolese refugee judokas.
As Michael Phelps closed in on his 22nd Olympic Gold medal, one Canadian commentary team managed to confuse the swimmer with his countryman, Ryan Lochte, making for some truly cringeworthy commentary. The greatest sprinter of the ancient Olympics.
It’s the historic call broadcasters dream about while covering the Olympics – but one commentator is apologizing Thursday after apparently mixing up the swimming lanes.
But he’s the second-most-decorated swimmer in Olympic history.
Phelps didn’t just win – he smashed it.
Simone Manuel won a gold medal in the women’s 100 freestyle final Thursday night, surprising even herself.
The gold is Phelps’ fourth consecutive in the 200 IM.
It was a far cry from the London Games, where “Missy The Missile” became only the second American woman to take four gold medals in a single Olympics. That the former didn’t medal at all, in fact, was actually pretty surprising.
“He’s the hardest competitor I’ve ever had to go up against and he’s not likely to back down”.
Murphy became the third American man in the last five Olympics to take both races. Thirteen of his golds have come in individual races, the rest in relays.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom took the bronze in 52.99.
Australia’s Mitchell Larkin finished second and Russia’s Evgeny Rylov set a new European record as he won bronze.
“I remember looking up to all these guys, they were my idols”, said Murphy, referring to Lenny Krayzelburg, Aaron Peirsol and Lochte, who were among the American winners at the past four Games.
American Ryan Murphy completed a Rio double after bullying world champion Mitchell Larkin in the men s 200m backstroke, winning in 1:53.62 to underline United States dominance of the event.
“I thought about it the last 50 and that’s what got me home”, he said.
“The 100-meter backstroke is actually the one that comes more naturally for me so that’s the one I was really gunning for”.
“The hundred back was a real confidence booster”.
“So, you’re telling me that although you have enough money in the world, the freedom to go anywhere you want, that there is something that swimming provides you’re not getting on the golf course?” his coach Bob Bowman said two years ago. “I only get to put a racing suit on two more times after tonight”. “I don’t know that to say. It turned out that way”.
Japan s Rie Kaneto blazed to gold in the women s 200m breaststroke, clocking 2:20.30 to deny two-time doping offender Yulia Efimova.
China’s Shi Jinglin took the bronze in 2:28.28.
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Kaneto, 27, is the third Japanese swimmer to win the event after Hideko Maehata in 1936 and Kyoko Iwasaki in 1992.
