Michael Phelps has won his 21st career Olympic gold medal and 25th overall medal.
Advertisement
And he still has three more opportunities, as he’ll also compete in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley.
Le Clos, who won a 200m freestyle silver on Monday, reacted fastest than Phelps at the start but it was Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh who led at the turn with Phelps second and Le Clos third.
Phelps began the evening by avenging 24-year-old Le Clos’ victory over him at London 2012.
Ledecky, meanwhile, leaves her competitors in her wake in the distance events, such as the 400 and 800 meters.
In the end, though, the man who is statistically the greatest Olympian of all time in terms of medals proved that he is the ultimate champion in winning his 20th gold medal as he reclaimed the title he won in Athens in 2004 and Beijing four years later.
Rio de Janeiro- U.S.A.
World-record holder Federica Pelligrini of Italy was fourth.
Yet Katie Ledecky won gold in that freestyle race, and thanks to the Olympic schedule-makers, Phelps’ butterfly competition followed so quickly there was no time to go overboard. I just feel so happy right now.
Phelps held off Japan’s Masato Sakai with a time of 1 minute, 53.36 seconds, but that number was of little concern.
More than any other event, the 200 fly has been Phelps’ baby, dating back to when he surprised the swimming world by sneaking onto the Olympic team as a 15-year-old in 2000 – the great swimming hope coming onto the worldwide stage earlier than expected.
Phelps could not leave it, the fact Le Clos had inflicted upon him his first defeat in his favourite event for a decade. Ledecky now has the 200 and 400 titles, and she’s an overwhelming favorite to win the 800.
But as for Phelps’ insistence that this will be his final Olympic appearance, Lochte has made his doubts known: “I honestly don’t think this is going to be his last Olympics”.
But nothing could beat Tuesday night’s dramatic action in the pool, with Hosszu completing the individual medley double by winning the 200m final in an Olympic best 2:06.58.
Phelps touched the wall in one minute, 53.36 seconds, slower than his 2012 silver medal performance, with Sakai finishing in 1:53.40.
Sjostrom, who set a new world record in the 100 butterfly earlier in the week, completed the race in 1:54.08, ahead of Emma McKeon of Australia (1:54.92).
Advertisement
Ledecky held off Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom to win the 200 freestyle and give the American star her second gold of the Rio Games.
