Phelps Swims Last Individual Race

And wins gold, as does Missy Franklin and 15-year-old Katie Ledecky
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 3, 2012 2:20 PM CDT
Phelps Swims Last Individual Race
Michael Phelps competes in the 100-meter butterfly.   (Michael Sohn)

Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly at the London Games today for the record 17th gold and 21st medal overall in his Olympic career. In the final individual race of his career, Phelps was next to last at the turn but then produced his usual furious finish to clock 51.21 seconds. Phelps will end his career with the 4x100 medley relay tomorrow. Also of note:

  • Missy Franklin set a world record in the 200 backstroke for her third gold and fourth medal overall.
  • American 15-year-old Katie Ledecky won the 800-meter freestyle. The youngest member of the US swim team narrowly missed a world record in the grueling race, falling off pace on the last lap and finishing in 8 minutes, 14.63 seconds.
  • It took a while, but Roger Federer beat Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 in 4 hours, 26 minutes. He will go for gold on Sunday against either Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic.
  • Russian track cyclist Victoria Baranova was expelled for failing a pre-Olympics doping test. And an Australian rower was sent home after damaging two shopfront windows in an alcohol-related incident.
  • See Bleacher Report for more details and updates.
(More 2012 London Olympics stories.)

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