Rio 2016: Michael Phelps celebrates finally getting his redemption over South Africa’s Chad Le Clos
American swimming legend was dethroned by Le Clos at London 2012 but was able to win back his crown in Rio
MICHAEL PHELPS didn’t need to say it but he did anyway.
“I really wanted that one bad,” said the amazing American of the first of two more gold medals that took his total to a mind-boggling 21 on an unforgettable evening.
But you had only had to look at Phelps standing triumphant in the pool after the 200m butterfly, gesturing with his hands for the crowd to keep on cheering, to know how much it meant.
If Phelps were a chef, this race would be his signature dish. And if revenge is a dish best served cold, the greatest swimmer of all time had waited four years to pay back Chad Le Clos.
At London 2012, the South African had ended Phelps’ decade-long unbeaten run in the 200m butterfly and dethroned him as Olympic champion, much to the delight of dad Bert.
The pair had been chipping away at each other ever since, especially after Phelps came out of retirement in 2014.
The man was born to swim. It's hard to see what other job he could have done with his extraordinary body, except perhaps standing still as a living statue of Rio's famous Christ The Redeemer to show off his huge wingspan.
It seems ridiculous to say it of an athlete who has achieved so much, but in Phelps' eyes, this WAS redemption.
He explained: “I was pretty fired up for that race. Having the 2012 fly, it stayed with me.
“This is a race I really wanted tonight.
“I really wanted that one bad.
"I don’t care about the time, I’m just happy I was able to win.
“I came in here tonight on a mission and the mission was accomplished.”
The Baltimore Bullet and Le Clos had a brief hug and chat after the race, in which the South African finished a distant fourth, with shock silver medallist Masato Sakai of Japan finishing just 0.04 of a second behind Phelps and Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi in third.
Phelps seemed caught between giving Le Clos his dues and making it clear who’s the daddy (the champion’s baby son Boomer was in the stands to join the celebrations).
Phelps, 31, said: “We’re competitors. I don’t want him to win and I’m sure he doesn’t want me to win.
“He’s somebody who’s a very good racer. The kid’s got talent.
“He and I haven’t spoken that much here. That was the first time, after the race.
“I know what happened four years ago was still with me, a frustrating race for me.
“It’s good for the sport to have a competitor like that to race in multiple events, not just the 200 fly.”
Phelps’ victory extended his record to 20 gold medals. Barely an hour later he was anchoring the USA’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay team to No 21 despite the distraction of his swimming cap breaking and having to borrow a spare from countryman Ryan Lochte.
Team-mate Townley Haas (a name almost as unbelievable as Phelps’ achievements) said: “For him to do that, come back, and do that leg in the relay is incredible.
“It’s great what he can do. He’s proved that he’s easily the greatest swimmer of all time.”
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Greatest swimmer, greatest Olympian and maybe greatest athlete.
Phelps said: “That’s a lot of medals. It’s just insane. It’s mindblowing to me.
“To think about when this all started 16 years ago.
“The things that we have been able to do together in sport – it’s special.”
It certainly is. But you get the feeling that when Phelps finally hangs up his goggles, this race will be one of his sweetest memories.
Phelps said: “I don’t know at this very moment where that stands.
“It’s been a crazy last couple of days.
“That being my very first Olympic event, to win it at my fifth Olympics is pretty special. I wanted that one bad.”
OK, we get it.
But as well as vindication, Phelps also felt strong emotion, his eyes misting up on the podium.
He said: “I was really just going through the last 16 years. That event has been kinda my bread and butter.
“That was the last time I will ever swim it.
“Having that come to an end is weird, crazy to think about.
“There was not a shot in hell I was losing that race and if I did I was leaving every ounce in the pool.
“To see the No 1 next to my name again, one more time in the 200 fly – I couldn’t have scripted it any better.”
But the movie isn’t quite over.
With three golds already won, Phelps will go for more in two more individual events plus relays.
Lochte said: “I’m excited to see what he does the rest of the week. Once that guy gets hot, you can’t really stop him.”
Phelps has hosts Brazil and South Africa (23 gold medals apiece at Summer Olympics) in his sights, having drawn level with Ethiopia.
Phelps said: “This was one of the most challenging days.
“Doing that double is harder than it used to be, that’s for sure.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the week. I’m not even half done yet.”