200 metres Individual Medley, Men

Michael Phelps had dominated this event at the Olympics over the last decade, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012 and in Rio he was looking for a rare individual Olympic four-peat. His compatriot, Ryan Lochte, had had similar dominance at the World Championships, winning the 200 IM in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, while Phelps had won that title in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Phelps and Lochte came into Rio with the 16 fastest performances of all-time. The other main medal contender was Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, but he was expected to trail the Americans.

Lochte led the final at 100 metres, but faded badly and finished fifth. Phelps moved into the lead at 150 metres and looked like his 2008 self coming home, winning by almost two seconds over Hagino. Bronze went to China’s Wang Shun.

Phelps’s win gave him four consecutive individual gold medals in the event, matching the feats of Al Oerter in athletics discus throw from 1956-60, Carl Lewis in athletics long jump from 1984-96, and Ben Ainslie in single-handed sailing from 2000-12. If you count the 1906 Olympics, one can also include Ray Ewry, who won standing high jump and standing long jump gold medals from 1900-08. Phelps gold was also his 13th Olympic gold medal in an individual event, breaking the tie in that category that he held with Leonidas of Rhodes. Leonidas’s record had stood for 2168 years, as he won 12 titles at the Ancient Olympics in sprint races from 164-152 BCE.