1st August, 2012
Michael Phelps won the right to call himself the greatest Olympian of all time when the US team destroyed the field in the 4×200 metres freestyle relay on Tuesday to hand him his 19th medal.
Chinese prodigy Ye Shiwen won her second gold of the Games, setting an Olympic record in the 200m individual medley, after stunning swimming pundits with her victory and world record in the 400 medley on Saturday.
But the night belonged to Phelps, who swam the anchor leg of a relay that the Americans dominated from start to finish after Ryan Lochte handed them a commanding lead.
It was a historic moment in the 116-year annals of the modern Olympic Games, and an emotional one for Phelps, still a powerful force but no longer the commanding figure who won an unprecedented eight gold medals at the Beijing Games in 2008.
His teammates flung their arms around him. “I thank those guys for helping me get to this moment,” said the 27-year-old from Baltimore, who had 16 medals before the start of the Games.
“I think the biggest thing I always said was, anything is possible. I put my mind on doing something no one has ever done before, and nothing was going to stand in my way.”
Having picked up a silver in Sunday’s 4×100 freestyle relay, he drew level with Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s tally of 18 when he won silver in his first outing yesterday’s night, in the 200 metres butterfly.
The American led going into the last few metres of his favourite race, but was tiring rapidly and had to settle for second when South Africa’s Chad Le Clos ploughed through to snatch it on the final touch.
Watching at poolside was Latynina, 77, who has held the record for decades with her haul from the Games atMelbourne (1956), Rome (1960) and Tokyo (1964).
Latynina told Reuters earlier this month she had no doubt Phelps would overtake her in London, adding: “I can only wish him well”
The entire audience in the 17 500-capacity Aquatics Centre stood to applaud Phelps’ cumulative achievement in winning 15 gold medals, two silvers and two bronze. Latynina won nine, five and four respectively.