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Phelps' 19th Olympic medal

July 31, 2012

American swimmer Michael Phelps has become the most decorated Olympian ever after winning his 19th Olympic medal.

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United States' Michael Phelps poses with his gold medal for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (Foto:Matt Slocum/AP/dapd)
Image: AP

The record-breaking 19th medal came in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay on Tuesday, which the Americans won quite handily. Phelps swam the anchor leg, and by the time he touched the wall, the US team had beaten second-place France by just over three seconds and had over six seconds on the third place team from China.

Germanyfinished fourth and missed out on a medal by .29 seconds.

Since winning his first medal - a bronze at the Athens Games in 2004 - Phelps has won a total of 15 gold, two silver and two bronze Olympic medals. He first appeared as an Olympian at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, finishing fifth in the 200 butterfly. Four years ago in Beijing, he set the record for most golds at a single Olympics with eight.

Phelps missed the podium in his first race of the London Olympics, finishing fourth in the 400 individual medley. His 4x100 relay team took silver, and earlier on Tuesday, Phelps took silver after he was out-touched by .05 seconds by South Africa's Chad Le Clos in the 200 butterfly - long seen as Phelps' signature event.

With three more races to go in London, Phelps medal total will likely grow before the end of the Olympics.

Author: Matt Zuvela
Editor: Spencer Kimball