Phelps Sets All-Time Olympic Medal Record

Posted July 31st, 2012 at 6:25 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps has broken one of the most coveted Olympic records, winning two more medals at the London games to set an all-time Olympic mark of 19.

Phelps won a silver medal Tuesday in the 200-meter butterfly and a gold in the 4X200-meter freestyle relay with teammates Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer and Ricky Berens. France took the silver in the relay, while China took the bronze.

Former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina previously held the Olympic medal record with 18.

Phelps swam the anchor in the relay to secure his third medal at the London Olympics, and his first gold at this year's Games.

South Africa's Chad Le Clos out-touched Phelps at the wall to win the gold in the 200-meter butterfly. Japan's Takeshi Matsuda took bronze in that race.

China's Ye Shiwen won her second gold of the games Tuesday in the 200 meter individual medley. Her stunning record-setting win Saturday in the 400 medley has everyone in London talking.

With a silver in the butterfly, Phelps failed to become the first male swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal in the same event in three straight Games.

In women's gymnastics, the U.S. team won an Olympic gold medal for the first time since 1996.

The United States and China are far ahead in the total medal count.