Rio 2016, Phelps endless: 22 Olympic golds

There are really no more adjectives or words now to describe Michael Phelps, a timeless legend of world sports.

The 31-year-old ‘Baltimore Shark’ won the fourth gold medal of his Olympics, the 22nd in his career, in the night. The American won in the 200 medley final with a time of 1’54″66, six tenths higher than the world record of historic rival Ryan Lochte.

Behind the greatest swimmer of all time, who has dominated the specialty since Athens 2004, came Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, 1’56″64, and China’s Shum Wang, 1’57″05, good at mocking Lochte himself, who collapsed in the final of the race.

And as after every victory, Phelps celebrated with little Boomer, who was present in the stands along with an emotional Grandmother Debbie and Mother Nicole.

With this victory Phelps joins in a very exclusive club: that of the athletes able to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same discipline. Along with him are two other compatriots: Al Oerter, four consecutive golds in the discus starting in 1956, and Carl Lewis, four triumphs in the long jump between 1984 and 1996.