Michael Phelps IS the greatest Olympian ever: The Baltimore Bullet silences his doubters by winning 19th medal with gold in men's relay

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Sweet Success: Michael Phelps of the U.S. smiles after winning the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final during the London 2012 Olympic Games

In just 200 meters today, Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian of all time as he claimed his first gold medal of the 2012 Games with the powerful stroke of his outstretched arm, grasping a glory unknown to any other competitor in the world.
The swimmer secured his 19th medal with victory in the men's 4x200mn relay, smashing the 48-year record of Russian gymnast Larissa Latyina and earning himself a place in history.

Cheers: U.S. team members Michael Phelps, left, and Conor Dwyer, right, celebrate with their gold medals and US flags after winning gold in the Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final

After taking a disappointing second place medal earlier in the day, he now has 15 golds, two silver and two bronze medals over three Olympics.
Phelps's historic achievement is a welcome boost for the swimmer, who has so far fallen short of expectations at the London Games - finishing fourth in the 400m medley on the opening day of the Games.

Happy Ending: Debbis Phelps, mother of U.S.' Michael Phelps, right, cries during the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final swimming event while his teammates cheer him on at the finish

In the relay race today the United States team of Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Ricky Berens and Phelps on the anchor leg won in 6 minutes, 59.70 seconds. France took the silver in 7:02.77, while China was third in 7:06.30.
Before the race, they all huddled together, fully aware of their moment in history.

Smile: U.S.'s Michael Phelps celebrates after winning gold in the Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final, which secured him a record 19th Olympic medal

‘I thanked those guys for helping me get to this moment,’ Phelps said.
‘I told those guys I wanted a big lead. I was like, "You better give me a big lead going into the last lap," and they gave it to me. I just wanted to hold on. I thanked them for being able to allow me to have this moment.’
Berens handed off a lead of nearly 4 seconds to Phelps, who lingered a bit on the blocks, knowing the only way he could blow this one was to get disqualified.

Dive: United States' Michael Phelps dives in to start the last leg of the men's 4 X 200-meter freestyle relay before their gold medal win

Then he set off on what amounted to four victory laps of the pool — down and back, then down and back again, the roar in the Olympic Aquatics Centre getting louder as he approached the finish.
Lochte stood on the deck, waving his arms. Dwyer and Berens pumped their fists. And Phelps touched the wall for his first gold of the London Games with a cumulative time of 6 minutes, 59.70 seconds.

Joy: Michael Phelps celebrates with a team member after winning gold in the Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Team: United States' Conor Dwyer, left, Michael Phelps, center, Ryan Lochte, second right, and Ricky Berens, right, pose with their gold medals after their win

No one else was close. France's Yannick Agnel swam a faster final leg than Phelps, but it wasn't nearly good enough, his country taking silver in 7:02.77. China was far back in third at 7:06.30.
Phelps might have backed into the record a bit by failing to win any of his first three events at these games, but there's no denying his legacy as one of the greatest Olympians ever — if not THE greatest.
Phelps has 15 golds in his career, six more than anyone else, to go along with two silvers and two bronzes. Latynina won nine golds, five silvers and four bronzes from 1956-64.





source: dailymail