RIO DE JANEIRO — Michael Phelps stood on the blocks, bent over. He flapped his arms, as he’s done hundreds of thousands times over his storied career, and dove in.
Yes, the act itself was familiar. But its significance was new. Phelps’ 100 meters of butterfly Saturday night as part of the U.S. men’s 4x100 medley relay is the last he’ll swim at an Olympic Games. (He thinks.) As the crowd roared, Phelps moved through the water, violently, methodically and, most of all, quickly — just as he’s done all his life.
It’s fitting, of course, that Phelps’ final race resulted in gold, the 23rd gold medal of his career and 28th Olympic medal overall.