News

Michael Phelps Wins Record 21st Gold In 200M Butterfly, Katie Ledecky Shines As US Wins Freestyle Relay

With arms raised and a wagging finger, Michael Phelps made sure to let everyone know on Tuesday night who was still No. 1.

Michael Phelps Wins Record 21st Gold In 200M Butterfly

Phelps bumped his Olympic record to 21 gold medals in Rio on Tuesday on a stellar night for USA Swimming.

While Phelps won the 200-meter butterfly and the US team took gold in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay, Katie Ledecky earned her second title of the 2016 Olympics.

Four years after losing his 200-meter Olympic butterfly title, Phelps beat his 24-year-old South African rival Chad le Clos for the gold.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The oldest individual gold medalist in Olympic swimming history at 31, Phelps celebrated the victory by hugging his three-month-old son Boomer after basking in the loud cheers and applause from the crowd.

The Towson, Maryland native quit the sport after the London 2012 Games and then returned two years afterwards. Now, it seems his comeback has made a resounding splash.

Le Clos won the gold in 2012, thus leaving Phelps with a shocking defeat after he had won the event in both 2004 and 2008.

The American finished in a time of 1 minute 53.73 second with Japan’s Masato Sakai claiming silver and Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi earning bronze.

Le Clos, whose training for the Olympics has largely been overshadowed by the news that both his parents were diagnosed with cancer, just missed a medal to finish fourth.

Phelps returned to the pool for the men’s 4×200 meter freestyle relay to add another gold medal ahead of Great Britain and Japan in an exhilarating finale.

Phelps, along with Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer and Townley Haas– who swam the first three legs– celebrated after winning his 21st gold medal and 25th overall before taking time to rest.

Ledecky, who had already won the 400-meter freestyle, edged out Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and Australia’s Emma McKeon on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old, who finished behind Sjostrom in her semifinal heat, finished in an incredible 1 minute 53.73 seconds.

Ledecky, who is also hoping to successfully defend the 800-meter title she won in London at the age of 15, has also already helped the US take silver in the 4×100 meter relay.

“That hurt pretty badly,” she told reporters after the race. “It’s the closest I’ve come to throwing up at the end of a race. I was just glad to get my hand on the wall first.

“It was a stressful race and I feel good now it’s over. I took it pretty fast and forced everyone and once I was ahead I was not going to let it out of my hands.”

Katinka Hosszu, nicknamed the ‘Iron Lady,’ claimed her third gold medal of the Games by winning the individual 200-meter medley after setting a new Olympic record.
The 27-year-old Hungarian, who had already won the 100-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley, finished just ahead of Great Britain’s Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and American Maya Dirado.
Medal Count:
Place                                   Country                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Gold                         Silver                            Bronze                          Total          
1
10
8
9
27
2
8
3
6
17
3
3
1
10
14
4
3
7
3
13
5
4
0
5
9
6
3
4
2
9
7
4
1
1
6
8
3
2
1
6
9
2
3
1
6
10
1
3
2
6
11
0
1
4
5
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 09: Gold medalist Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates during the medal presentation for the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Benched Kirk Cousins, The ‘Best No. 2 QB In The NFL,’ Cheers On Falcons’ Starter Michael Penix Jr.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday that rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. would start the team's…

1 day ago

Patriots’ Drake Maye Stands By Head Coach Jerod Mayo, Denies Job Security Concerns

In the midst of a 3-11 season with a rookie quarterback, first-year Patriots head coach…

1 day ago

Giants To Start Quarterback Drew Lock In Week 16 Against Falcons And Michael Penix Jr.

The New York Giants will start quarterback Drew Lock in Week 16 against the Atlanta…

2 days ago

Former Lakers Coach Darvin Ham Slams Team For Unfair Firing, High Expectations

Former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham spoke out about his time with his old team,…

2 days ago

Chiefs’ Hollywood Brown Could Finally Make 2024 Debut After Lengthy IR Stint

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly activating wide receiver Hollywood Brown from injured reserve this…

3 days ago

Mets Add Another Starter, Sign Righthander Griffin Canning In One-Year, $4.25 Million Deal

The New York Mets signed righthanded pitcher Griffin Canning to a one-year, $4.25 million deal…

3 days ago