Phelps, Lochte face off in individual medley finals

Michael Phelps celebrates during the medal presentation for the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. The silver medalist finished more than 11 seconds behind her.

On the sixth night of swimming in Rio de Janeiro, the Campbell sisters seek the same golden prize in the women’s 100 freestyle.

“I came to the pool tonight with a mission”, Phelps said Wednesday. However, sometimes it is not about what you have but about how you feel, and Phelps realized that he had become a robot who had grown out of love with swimming during the 2008-2012 period, which culminated into him falling into a deep dark abyss.

It was Phelps’ 12th individual gold medal – a feat that puts him in elite, historic company.

Murphy extended American dominance of the backstroke events, which goes back to 1992. I’m back to being the little kid who once said anything is possible. “But I’m accepting it. I thought I could surpass him in the last stroke – I’m disappointed”, Sakai said after the race.

Phelps pushed his career total to 27 medals.

But what Americans have the second-most gold medals?

The most medaled Olympian of all time, now with an unprecedented collection of 25, tore his swim cap in half as he was putting it on just before the start of the freestyle relay. Putting himself into high gear, he surpassed swimmers one by one, and held Phelps in his sight in the final meters.

Phelps has won the 200m medley at three straight Games, with Lochte taking two silvers and a bronze behind him.

Now, days later the glare that Phelps gave his rival ahead of the 200m butterfly semi-final has turned into a tattoo. This one doesn’t figure to be as dramatic as their showdown in the 100 breast. “Whether I actually did it or whether I’m still preparing for my race”. Commentators initially didn’t bet that Phelps would be a solid favorite in any of his events. And he won’t need swimming in the next four years in the same way.

Ledecky, meanwhile, faced little opposition beyond her own history in the 800. Haas’ split time tied for the fifth fastest in history.

As her Olympic odyssey got under way, another crumbled as defending tennis champion Serena Williams suffered a shock 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the third round. “That was one of my goals”, she said. If you like watching an individual force of nature change the course of a team event, look no further than her anchor leg in the 4×200 relay. Thanks largely to Phelps and Ledecky, USA now have nine golds. “And I knew then that she had it”.

Ledecky’s admirers include numerous biggest names in the sport.

“Ryan Lochte, going for his 13th career medal, saving the best for last”, Friedman shouted in excitement. “There’s no doubt in my mind”. Needless to say, he’s been up close for some pretty great swims. At that same time, Phelps had a death glare on his face – a true contrast of the two swimmers.