Michael Phelps captured his 20th Olympic gold medal in devastating fashion Tuesday, sealing victory with a kiss, before adding a staggering 21st before the night was over.
The American crushed rival Chad le Clos to regain his 200 metres butterfly title, celebrating victory in a race bristling with tension by pointing to the sky and gesturing to the Rio crowd to “bring the noise” — an order they duly obeyed.
Katinka Hosszu and Katie Ledecky struck further blows for girl power, but again it was all about Phelps, who later anchored the American 4×200 freestyle relay team to gold as the clock edged toward midnight local time.
Milking the acclaim of the Brazilian crowd, Phelps climbed past the massed bank of poolside photographers to kiss fiancee Nicole and baby Boomer after an emotional medals ceremony.
Entering the arena like a gladiator, his face a granite mask of concentration, Phelps dominated a grudge final le Clos had billed as “Ali versus Frazier” to become the oldest individual swimming gold medallist in Olympic history at 31.
South African Le Clos, who won by a fingertip four years ago in London to rob the American of a hat-trick of titles, faded badly down the stretch to finish out of the medals.
World record holder Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, clocked 1min 53.36sec to add to his staggering title tally as Japan’s Masato Sakai came through for a surprise silver in 1:53.40. Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi took bronze in 1:53.62.
Competing in his fifth and final Olympics, victory was twice as sweet for Phelps after clashing with le Clos in the media since losing to the South African in their epic tussle in London.
HOME-RUN TROT
Phelps won his 19th Olympic gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the weekend and if he feels greedy, there is more potential gold for him in the 100m fly and the 200m individual medley — events he has incredibly won at the past three Olympics.
Still, Phelps was not done, putting the finishing touch to an easy win in the 4x200m free, cruising home almost two and a half seconds ahead of Britain’s James Guy in the swimming equivalent of baseball’s home-run trot around the bases.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the latest exploits of the greatest Olympian…
Most Olympic Gold Medals
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 10, 2016
Michael Phelps 20
Carl Lewis 9
Mark Spitz 9
Larisa Latynina 9
Paavo Nurmi 9 pic.twitter.com/uRjhBRWeFO
4/100ths of a second!
— ESPN (@espn) August 10, 2016
Phelps' 20th gold was the smallest margin of victory in 200m butterfly in Olympic history. pic.twitter.com/f1nQ5rpWJt
MICHAEL PHELPS GOLD! Chad le Clos misses the podium! #200fly #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/6Du3xoL55g
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) August 10, 2016
“Man, he’s fast" pic.twitter.com/wtUhrGFQ2h
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 10, 2016
Michael Phelps wearing all his bling like #USA #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/PjNV89EFsO
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 10, 2016
20 Golds.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 10, 2016
24 medals total.
More Olympic medals than 174 countries.
Michael Phelps. Greatest of all time #GOAT pic.twitter.com/W8S2BsBWDG
YES! @MichaelPhelps has won his 21st #GOLD medal! pic.twitter.com/STFwc0p6vT
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) August 10, 2016
.@MichaelPhelps is back at it again... #25 pic.twitter.com/SWPIIANQAE
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) August 10, 2016
UNTOUCHABLE.
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) August 10, 2016
Congrats on #25, @MichaelPhelps! pic.twitter.com/am2GUOiA5Z
I think #MichaelPhelps needs to abide by different rules to make things fair. He must be forced to swim against a current - with sharks.
— Joe Randleman (@JoeRandleman) August 10, 2016
"ups I did it again..." @MichaelPhelps pic.twitter.com/xkD4zx4rbR
— Jörg Schüler (@JoergSchueler) August 10, 2016
I know Michael Phelps is taking over Rio, but now this is just getting silly. pic.twitter.com/54AS3xV5oX
— Kyle Scott (@CrossingBroad) August 10, 2016
Michael Phelps is the 🐐 and it's not even close.#Gold: 21#Silver: 2#Bronze: 2 pic.twitter.com/ksNXG3OHC4
— theScore (@theScore) August 10, 2016
Love watching #TeamUSA dominate! Congrats to the 4x200 squad and incredible #gymnastics team and all the other medal winners. #Champions
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) August 10, 2016
You are a machine @MichaelPhelps!! #TeamUSA
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) August 10, 2016
Wow. Michael Phelps.... #GOAT
— Nastia Liukin (@NastiaLiukin) August 10, 2016
He's not human pic.twitter.com/S2zMrnENqn
— Igor Mello (@SuperIgor) August 10, 2016
Daddy's home!!! Gets some chad. @PFTCommenter @BarstoolBigCat pic.twitter.com/UkOoUiLXtL
— Chandler Reynolds (@whatsCucciO) August 10, 2016