In the pool, Olympic-size tales of redemption and revenge

Shakespeare could not have penned a play more rife with redemption and revenge than the dramas unfolding at Rio’s Olympic Aquatics Stadium this week.

In one story line, a starcrossed, aging hero whose every triumph is marred by personal foible rises again, in what could be his last chance for glory.

That would be Michael Phelps, at 31 the most decorated Olympian in history. He has followed each flood of gold medals — in Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012) — with missteps involving drunken driving and recreational drug use.

Despite those falls from grace, a more mature and contented Phelps was chosen by his team- mates to carry the American flag into Maracana Stadium during the Games’ opening ceremony.

He quickly proved himself in the pool as well, winning several gold medals in routine fashion, and in his public behavior. The lasting image was not just that of an athlete raising his arms in victory but also of a new dad kissing his infant son.

Another compelling aquatic story line involves a freckle-faced American teenager and a Russian rival accused of skulduggery.

That would be Lilly King, the 19-year-old breaststroker from Evansville, Ind., who defeated Yulia Efimova after the Russian’s 16month suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

In an era of widespread doping in sports, it was fitting that the International Olympic Committee did not penalize all Russian athletes for the sins of their leaders. Those deemed clean enough to compete were allowed into Rio — the better for them to be challenged and, in this case, defeated in person, rather than in absentia.

Without Efimova in the pool, King would not have faced her stiffest competitor.

Without Russia in Rio, viewers could not root against a statesponsored doping operation.

The Cold War scenario may have led to some unnecessary finger-wagging and tough-talking, but in the end, the good guys won. Ah, sweet revenge.