RIO DE JANEIRO—Standing atop the medal podium for the 23rd time, Michael Phelps teared up, bit his lip and gave a little nod.
This was how he really wanted to go out.
On top of his game in the water.
Totally content away from the pool.
“It turned out pretty cool,” Phelps said, another gold medal around his neck. “It’s just a perfect way to finish.”
Phelps put the United States ahead to stay on the butterfly leg of the 4x100-meter medley relay, giving the most decorated athlete in Olympic history his 23rd career gold medal Saturday night.
If that was the end, and Phelps insists it is, the numbers are simply astonishing.
No other Olympian has more than nine gold medals.
With 28 medals in all, he’s 10 clear of anyone else.
“It’s not even once in a generation,” said his coach, Bob Bowman. “It might be once in 10 generations that someone like Michael Phelps comes along. ”
