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Michael Phelps of U.S. is pictured before men’s 200m individual medley final of swimming, at London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, August 2, 2012. Michael Phelps of U.S. won gold medal. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
LONDON -- Michael Phelps was again the man of the night in the Aquatic center in the London Olympic Games as he wrote another incredible chapter of his legend.
The 27-year-old defeated his rival, Ryan Lochte in the final of the 200 meters medley to win his 16th gold medal and his 20th Olympic medal in total.
The win makes further Olympic history as Phelps becomes the first male swimmer to win the same event in three separate Games.
"It's a relief to win an individual gold, it is special. I fell short in the first couple of events, to be able to do something no man has done is a cool feeling," said Phelps.
Phelps had already made history on Tuesday when he became the first person to win 19 Olympic medals after with a gold medal as part of the US 4x200 meter relay team.
Lochte, his rival and friend was also in that team and had also won gold in the 400 meter medley where Phelps had finished a surprising fourth.
There was to be no repeat this time, however, as Phelps led from the start with Lochte unable to close up. Laszlo Cseh swam into third place to claim bronze.
Phelps was back in the pool 35 minutes after his win for the semi-final of the 100 meter butterfly, qualifying, indeed he virtually stepped off the podium and back into the water.
Perhaps unsurprisingly he had a slow start and was third at the turn before finding top gear to power home first and show he still has some chapters of his Olympic story yet to write.
It was a disappointing night for Lochte had looked on course to win his third gold medal of these Games earlier in the night after he had led for the first 100 meters of the men's 200 meter backstroke final. Only for a thrilling last lap saw him overhauled by Tyler Clary, who had been the fastest qualifier.
"I go into ever meet thinking it is my time. I always think I can win. I have had some ups and downs, but for the most time I am pretty satisfied," said Lochte, who has taken 5 medals in London.
"I was tired, doing doubles at a high stage like the Olympics is tough and it takes a toll on your body, but that is what I have trained for. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't."
"I wanted to win golds in all my events, but it didn't happen, so I have to live with it and move on," continued Lochte, who added he would work to continue until 2016
Clary finished in a new Olympic record of 1.53,41, while Japan's Ryosuke Irie also found the speed to get ahead of Lochte in the closing meters to take the silver medal and relegate Lochte to bronze, even though Lochte's time was the same he had swum while winning gold and establishing the old record four years ago in Beijing.
"I can't think of anything I could have done better in the last couple of days. The fact I am an Olympic champion and record holder makes me feel very humble," said Clary, who dedicated his triumph to the memory of his high-school coach Kevin Perry.
"I'm sure he is looking down and smiling at me right now. This win shows I can handle anything that gets thrown at me," he added.
Rebecca Soni won the gold medal and broke the World record that she had set just 24 hours earlier in the women's 200 meter breast-stroke final on Thursday night.
Soni became the first woman to swim below 2.20 in the event with a time of 2.19.59 to confirm her dominance. It is the sixth time a World record has been broken so far in the London Aquatics center.
She had trailed South Africa's Suzaan van Biljon at the end of the first lap, but established lead by the end of the second, from which she continued to power ahead into open water.
Her win means she is the first gold medalist from Beijing to successfully defend their title in London.
"Right now, I am on top of the World. I have been chasing this for the past few years. I was hoping to break the World record again, when I touched the wall it felt good and I was afraid to look at the scoreboard. I'm so happy," said Soni, who also has a silver from the 100 meters.
Japan's Satomi Suzuki won the silver medal with Iulia Efimova from Russia taking Bronze and winning her country's first swimming medal since the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
Meanwhile the women's 100 meter title was won by Holland's Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who set another Olmypic record with a time of 53.00 ahead of Belarus' Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Tang Yi of China.
Missy Franklin may had paid for her efforts in the 200 meter backstroke semi-final earlier in the night and finished fifth.
Elizabeth Beisel cruised into the final of the women's 200 meter backstroke with a controlled swim in the first semi-final, while the second saw Franklin touch the wall almost a second and a half ahead of world record holder Kirsty Coventry.
The evening began in thrilling fashion with James Cullen and world record holder Cesar Cielo tying with a time of 21.54 in the first semi-final of the men's 50 meter freestyle.
Erwin Anthony was third with 21.62 as just 0.68 seconds separated the racers.
The second semi saw Cielo's fellow countryman, Bruno Fratus swim home first in 21.63.
"The most important thing is that I had a good time," he said.
James Magnuson's disappointing Games continued, however, after just losing out on gold in the 100 meter freestyle on Wednesday he qualify for the 50 meter final.
"I feel mentally exhausted and physically not far behind. I didn't sleep last night and had no expectations for this race," said the disappointed Australian afterwards.
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