Phelps comes second – but still makes history with a three-way silver medal
MICHAEL PHELPS proved he is human after all as he was beaten into second place in the last individual race of his career early yesterday.
Phelps, 31, lost in the 100m butterfly to Joseph Schooling of Singapore. But even in losing, he made a slice of history by tying with two other swimmers for a three-way share of the silver medal.
In what one medallist described as “the craziest race in swimming history”, Phelps touched the wall in 51.14secs, the same time as South African Chad le Clos and Hungarian Laszlo Cseh.
Phelps, who has 22 gold medals, had one more chance to go for gold in the early hours of this morning as part of the US 4x100m medley relay team, but standing in their way were Adam Peaty and Team GB, who qualified in the fastest time for the final.
Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, said he was “looking forward” to the 64th and final race of his five-Games Olympic career this morning, as: “It’s a relay race and those are the most exciting.”
He showed no sign of disappointment at taking silver in the butterfly event, saying: “It is a wild way to end my individual career. It is just wild.
“When I looked around I saw [the time], then the guys came over and I was like ‘Three? Three of us tied for third?’”
Cseh said: “It is the craziest race maybe in swimming history. I have never seen that before, anywhere.”
Phelps had 27 Olympic medals overall before this morning’s relay race.
The new father has insisted he is going to retire after Rio, despite having said the same thing after London 2012 only to change his mind.
His coach, Bob Bowman, said that he could not see Phelps trying to carry on to Tokyo 2020.
“I just don’t see it happening,” he said. “He’s in such a good place personally. He doesn’t need it.”