Phelps’s 22nd #Olympics Gold Medal Breaks an Ancient Record
Michael Phelps became a legend in the Rio Olympic Games as he won his 13th individual and 22nd gold medal to break an ancient record held by Leonidas of Rhodes.
Leonidas won 12 individual events over four Olympics. At 36, five years older than Phelps, he won his last three events in 152 B.C, in races of about 200 and 400 meters, and in a shield-carrying race.
Phelps 31, became the first swimmer to win four successive Olympic gold medals in one event by beating Ryan Lochte in the 200m individual medley.
He has in his bag gold medals more than any other Olympian in the history of the games.
The American, who retired after London 2012 before returning to the sport in 2014, also has two silver medals and two bronze.
Four of his 22 golds have been won in Rio, where Phelps has added 200m medley success to wins in the 200m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x200m freestyle relay.
He could also win his fourth successive gold in the 100m butterfly after qualifying for Saturday’s final shortly after his 200m medley victory.
Phelps has participated in the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic games, and Rio 2016 will make his 5th appearance in the games.
(BBC, NYTIMES)
