An Olympic historian disagrees with a widely held consensus that American swimmer Michael Phelps is the greatest ever Olympian.
Michael Phelps of the United States won the Olympic 200 metres individual medley on Thursday to capture the 22nd gold medal of his career and become the first swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Games.
Usain Bolt has somewhat skewed the picture by making it look so easy but when it comes to retaining an Olympic athletics title, history shows that it is an extraordinarily difficult thing to achieve.
The greatest Olympian ever now has 28 (gulp!) Olympic medals, including three silver and two bronze medals.
Always the crown jewel in the Olympic athletics programme, the Rio 100 metres final is shaping up to be extraordinary for many reasons.
Michael Phelps of the United States won the Olympic 200 metres individual medley on Thursday to capture the 22nd gold medal of his career and become the first swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Games.
They have played for Olympic gold in parks, next to car parks and on royal parade grounds, but at the Rio Games beach volleyball will actually be played -- on a beach.
Having ended his career once in London on what he considered a sour note, Michael Phelps enters the Rio de Janeiro Olympics pool for his second swansong determined to bow out on his own terms.
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