200 metres Butterfly, Men

Michael Phelps had won this event in 2004 and 2008, and had been second in London behind South African Chad le Clos. He had come out of retirement in 2015, after coming out of alcohol rehab, and had won the event at the US Olympic Trials, although his final lap looked terrible. In 2015, however, he had won the US Nationals in 1:52.94 and he was favored in Rio. Le Clos was also a medal contender, having placed second at the 2015 World Championships behind Hungarian László Cseh, who was considered to be Phelps’ main challenger.

Cseh went out fast in the final and led at 50 metres, with Phelps second, but Phelps took the lead at the 100 mark. Cseh would fade and eventually finish seventh as Phelps went relatively unchallenged to win the gold medal. The rest of the podium was a shock as Japan’s Masato Sakai took silver and Hungarian Tamás Kenderesi won the bronze. Le Clos was second at the 150 mark but slowed on the final lap and finished fourth.

This was Phelps 12th individual Olympic gold medal, equaling the all-time Olympic record set by Leonidas of Rhodes at the Ancient Olympics. Leonidas had won his titles in the stadion, diaulos, and hoplite race at the 164, 160, 156 and 152 BCE Olympiads. Phelps would later break this mark in Rio, winning his 13th individual gold medal in the 200 individual medley.