Phelps says 23 and waves goodbye again

This time there seems to be no room for another resounding rethink. A few minutes after Italy’s historic double medal in the 1500, another moment destined to remain unforgettable took place in the pool at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro: Michael Phelps’ last stroke.

The Baltimore star won the 23rd Olympic gold medal of a career that is hard to match in the 4×100 mixed, the last event of the pool swimming program before the cross-country races, as well as a triumph that allowed the U.S. to break the 1,000 gold wall in Olympic history.

After the award ceremony and after setting a new Olympic record in the relay (3’27″95), Phelps anticipated his desire to (re)say enough: “My career ended the way I always wanted it to. I lived a dream come true. After London I promised I would not return and instead I did, but this time my decision is final, I will no longer compete at this level.”

These are the words of the American champion, with clear reference to the resounding return to competitions in 2014 when, after announcing his retirement already before the London Games, Phelps retraced his steps at the end of a very delicate moment on a personal level.

In Rio Michael took 5 of the 6 golds “on the program,” being beaten only by Indonesia’s Schooling in the final of the 100 butterfly.