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Michael Phelps Ties for Most Individual Medals In Olympic History

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These Olympics have been all about comeback and perseverance, and no athlete exemplifies those traits more than Michael Phelps.  Tonight in the finals of the 200 meter butterfly Michael Phelps won his 14th individual Olympic medal, tying Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for most individual Olympic medals by any athlete in any sport for Summer or Winter Olympics.

Tonight in an electrifying race, Phelps beat rivals Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh for the gold medal in the race that le Clos upset Phelps in four years ago, where le Clos took a surprise gold medal and forced Phelps to settle for silver.  This victory also marks the third time that Phelps has won the 200 meter butterfly in Olympic competition, and the fifth consecutive time he has swum in the finals of the 200 butterfly in an Olympic Games.

In the final five meters of the race Japan’s Masato Sakai and Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi scared all the Phelps Phans that wanted to see the comeback made official in the race that left the sourest taste in Phelps’ mouth after London.  By swimming a 1:53.36, Phelps beat Sakai to the wall by a mere 4/100th’s of a second, the narrowest margin of victory in the history of this race at the Olympics.

While Phelps still has two individual races and two relays left in Rio, his present individual medal count is:

  • 100 fly x 3 (3 Gold)
  • 200 fly x 4 (3 Gold, 1 Silver)
  • 200 IM x 3 (3 Gold)
  • 400 IM x 2 (2 Gold)
  • 200 free x 2 (1 Gold, 1 Bronze)

Total: 14 (12 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)

If Phelps wins medals of any color in each of his remaining races, he would finish these Rio Games with a total of 28 total Olympic medals.

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Gaal
8 years ago

Gotta ask the question…. Is he really going to retire after this?

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Gaal
8 years ago

Yes.
He looks happy and content with Boomer.

That is, until Aquasphere and other sponsors dangle a few millions begging him to swim again.

Rafael
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

It is true that Phelps said he is getting already very tired after last night? I wanna see how he will handle tomorrow 100 fly/200 IM double.. Expecting him to surprise us, but really curious about how his body is feeling now

Stay Human
Reply to  Gaal
8 years ago

He will. And he’ll stay retired unless it’s 2019 and suddenly it looks like they need another 47) on the 400FR or a 50+ fly for the 400MR. Which is unlikely by then.

Stay Human
Reply to  Stay Human
8 years ago

that was supposed to be 47+

Steve Nolan
8 years ago

“…the race that left the sourest taste in Phelps’ mouth after London…”

Hmm. Couldn’t that have been the 4IM? Someone should ask him, could see it going either way.

Sergey v
Reply to  Steve Nolan
8 years ago

In 400 IM, I think Phelps knew his conditioning wasn’t up to the task to win it. Lochte was favored to win, according to major swimming publications and bookies.

200 fly is always his baby and he was strongly favored to win it by basically everyone on earth, and it was the most shocking loss/win in London.

Uberfan
Reply to  Sergey v
8 years ago

Katie ledecky vs Rebecca?

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Uberfan
8 years ago

Nope. Not even close.
I agree with Sergey.
The shortest odd in London swimming events was Phelps to win 200 fly.

Ledecky was 8:19 going into London, same as Adlington.
Le Clos was 1:55 going into London, Phelps was 1:53.

Here’s what the bookies as reported at swimswam:

https://staging2.swimswam.com/european-bookmakers-set-odds-for-olympic-swimming/

Mikaelphelps
8 years ago

Are there any records that Phelps doesn’t have yet? Also, it’s becoming really hard to make an arguement on how phelps is NOT the goat

Danjohnrob
8 years ago

No, if he wins a medal of any color in each of his remaining races he will finish with 28 medals! 22 + 6=28.

Danjohnrob
Reply to  Danjohnrob
8 years ago

FYI: The copy above read “27” medals until my comment was posted, which was inaccurate, all you unpleasant downvoters!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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