Phelps Wins Gold in 200 IM For Fourth Straight Olympics; Manuel Makes History in 100 Freestyle

Manuel ties for gold in 100 free, first US gold in event since 1984

Michael Phelps added to the record books with Olympic gold medal No. 22.

Simone Manuel made history with her very first one. 

Shortly after Phelps pulled away from Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual medley, Manuel won the 100 meter freestyle race, becoming the first African-American woman to win an Olympic swimming gold.

"This medal is not just for me, it’s for a whole bunch of people who came before me and have been an inspiration for me," Manuel said through joyful tears. "It’s for all the people after me who believe they can’t do it and I just want to be the inspiriation. … You can do it."

She tied with Canadian teenager Penny Oleksiak in an Olympic record of 52.70 seconds. That was the first American gold in the women's 100 free since 1984, when teammates Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer also tied for it.

Manuel's moment came shortly after Phelps won the 200 IM for the fourth Olympics in a row.

Phelps and Lochte have dominated the 200 IM race internationally since they both swam it in 2004 at the Athens Olympics. But Lochte, who led at the halfway point, missed a medal entirely, finishing off the board in fifth. 

Phelps surged to the lead with an aggressive breaststroke leg, then turned for home with a comfortable lead.

Kosuke Hagino of Japan was second, almost 2 seconds behind Phelps. Wang Shun of China was third.

Lochte last beat Phelps in this at the 2011 world championships, the second of three world titles in a row for him.

"It's been a long jouney," Lochte said. "I felt great before the race. ... I need some time off."

Earlier, Ryan Murphy won his second gold medal of the Rio Olympics with a victory in the 200 backstroke. 

Missy Franklin, who won five medals four years ago in London, finished a disappointing games for her, failing to advance to the final in the 200 backstroke. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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