Phelps sets new record
Print Edition
MICHAEL Phelps of the United States won the Olympic 200 meters individual medley on Thursday to capture the 22nd gold medal of his career and become the first swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Games.
Japan’s 400 IM champion Kosuke Hagino won silver and Wang Shun of China took bronze, both moving dramatically through the field on the final length after turning in fifth and seventh place.
It was yet another extraordinary swim for Phelps, 31, who has now won two individual and two relay golds at his fifth Olympics, two years after coming out of retirement.
His medal haul has now risen to 26, including two silvers and two bronzes, with the 100 butterfly final still to come. Thirteen of his golds have come in individual races, the rest in relays.
“Right now I don’t know how to wrap my head around that. I don’t know what to say. It’s been a hell of a career,” Phelps said, while acknowledging the strain on his 31-year-old body. “That hurt a lot ... my body is in pain, my legs are hurting, I’m tired.”
Despite winning four golds in London in 2012, Phelps has said he was dissatisfied with his preparation and results there and wants to bow out on his own terms. “The biggest thing for me through the meet so far is I’ve been able to kind of finish how I wanted to,” he said.
During the medal ceremony, he swayed slightly and breathed deeply, his eyes moist, as he listened to the US anthem.
Phelps then raised his arms to salute the crowd as fiancee Nicole cradled their baby son Boomer in the stands.
There was little time to savor the moment, however, as he raced back off the pool deck to get ready for the semifinals of the 100 butterfly, which he also has the chance to win for a fourth successive Games.
He finished second in his semifinal to qualify fifth fastest for today’s final.
In the medley, Phelps clocked 1 minute, 54.66 for a comfortable win margin of 1.95 seconds.
Japan’s Hiromasa Fujimori was fourth and teammate Ryan Lochte fifth in the last individual race of his long career.
Phelps’ four straight golds in the same event are unique for a swimmer, and place him in the same Olympic pantheon as compatriots Al Oerter in the discus and Carl Lewis in long jump.
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