2012 London Summer Olympics

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The day the curtains came down on the swimming events at the London Games, Michael Phelps too walked into the golden sunset, but not before he had clinched one final title -- the 4x100m medley relay at the packed Aquatics Center.

The United States swimmer, competing in his fourth and final Olympic Games, ended his career in the pool with a record 22 medals -- 18 of them of golden hue and four baser medals.

Even as Phelps competed in his final race, his coach, Bob Bowman, who has stood by the legendary swimmer through thick and thin, said poignantly that seeing Phelps in his final race was a "bittersweet" experience.

There was a bit of Japanese drama when breaststroker Kosuke Kitajima took a narrow lead, but in the ensuing butterfly leg, Takeshi Matsuda couldn't ward off Phelps' challenge for long as the American's long muscular arms put his team ahead again, only for compatriot Nathan Adrian to complete the formalities in 3min 29.35sec. Japan were second (3:31.26), while Australia (3:31.58) took the third spot.

The race signaled the end of one of the most illustrious careers in the pool --- a journey which started in Sydney (2000) and culminated in London. The world would have been shocked when on that fateful night Phelps had missed the 400m individual medlay medal, but the champion came into his own, slowly but certainly, to claim another rich haul of four gold medals here.

An emotional Bob Bowman shouted after the US team had secured the gold, "I love you. We did it."

Phelps said during the post-swim press conference that, "I had a great end to a great run. Time to say goodbye … I'm leaving at a good time." Phelps' career in the pool brought him a whopping 36 world records, 16 Olympic records and 26 world titles.

Even as Phelps was leaving, American teenager, Missy Franklin, was setting the pool on fire. Franklin, with four gold and two world records in her first Olympics, will be the new face of American swimming dominance.

 

 

Michael Phelps Caps Career with 4x100M Medley Relay Triumph