Michael Phelps Wins 21st Olympic Gold During 4 x 200 Freestyle Relay

Just refining Olympic history at this point.
Phelps picked up his 21st Olympic gold to finish a legendary night in Rio.
Phelps picked up his 21st Olympic gold to finish a legendary night in Rio.
Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images

Just over an hour after his dominating win in the men’s 200 meter butterfly final on Tuesday night, Michael Phelps took home yet another Olympic gold medal with his teammates during the 4x200 Freestyle relay.

The U.S. men, which included Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer and Townley Hass, finished with a time of 7 minutes and 0.66 seconds. Phelps anchored the relay.

Great Britain took home the silver and the Japanese snagged the bronze.

The U.S. team has now won the event for the past four Olympic Games, beginning in Athens in 2004. Phelps and Lochte, who now has his sixth Olympic gold, have been part of that relay every single time.

Phelps showed an uncharacteristic level of celebration following his first win on Tuesday, sitting atop a lane line while pumping his fist and holding up both hands with one finger raised.

The U.S. team celebrates after winning a gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay.
The U.S. team celebrates after winning a gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay.
Credit: Martin Meissner/AP

He teared up on the podium during the medal ceremony for his 20th Olympic gold, a record no other athlete in history has ever come close to. The crowd gave the swimmer a roaring applause after the playing of the U.S. national anthem. Phelps then went over to embrace his mother, wife and young son.

The 31-year-old is the oldest swimmer to win the top medal in an individual event at the Games.

Tuesday night was an epic one for Team USA. Swimmer Katie Ledecky picked up her second gold in the Women’s 200-meter Freestyle and the women’s gymnastics squad heartily won the team all-around final.

Team U.S.A. now has 9 gold medals.

For more Olympics coverage:

Before You Go

Jo Pavey, Oldest Track-And-Field Athlete Ever

Olympians Who've Made History Before Stepping Into Rio

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