Story highlights
- Michael Phelps confirms to CNN he will retire from competitive swimming
- The American is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 22 medals
- "The Baltimore Bullet" took six medals at London 2012, including four golds
- Phelps backs compatriot Ryan Lochte and France's Yannick Agnel to continue to shine
U.S. swimming icon Michael Phelps has confirmed to CNN that he will now retire from competition, having become the most decorated Olympian of all time with six medals at London 2012.
The man known as "The Baltimore Bullet" claimed his 22nd medal by winning gold as part of the U.S. 4 x 100m medley relay team on Saturday, but Phelps confirmed he has no desire to add to that tally in Rio in 2016.
"I'm done, that was my last race and this is my last Olympics," confirmed the 27-year-old. "I'm ready for the next chapter in my life."
Phelps will leave London with four more gold medals, taking his career total to an unparalleled 18, after delivering a string of performances which silenced a growing number of doubters.
Michael Phelps' favorite things... 02:06
Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. men's basketball team celebrates winning the gold medal after defeating Spain on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics on Sunday, August 12.
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Olympics: American gold medals – With hands over their hearts, the U.S. team listens as "The Star Spangled Banner" is played after the team was awarded their gold medals.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Kevin Durant, center, is triumphant at the end of the gold medal match against Spain on Sunday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – LeBron James goes up for a shot as Serge Ibaka of Spain attempts to block.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Pau Gasol of Spain drives past Kevin Love of the United States.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Kobe Bryant of the United States shoots a three-point shot over Juan-Carlos Navarro of Spain.
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Olympics: American gold medals – With victory in sight, U.S. players players come off the bench near the game's end as Marc Gasol of Spain walks off.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. wrestler Jacob Varner waves the Stars and Stripes after winning the gold medal in the men's 96-kilogram freestyle event on Sunday, August 12.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Varner defeated Ukraine's Valerii Andriitsev in the gold medal match Sunday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Varner revels in his victory over Andriitsev.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Varner defeated George Gogshelidze of Georgia in the semi-final match to move on to the finals.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Standing on the podium after receiving their medals are, left to right, silver medalist Andriitsev, gold medalist Varner and bronze medalists George Gogshelidze of Georgia and Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan.
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Olympics: American gold medals – American David Boudia performs a dive in the the men's 10-meter platform diving final. He won gold with China's Bo Qiu taking silver and Great Britain's Tom Daley winning bronze.
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Olympics: American gold medals – David Boudia performs in the men's 10-meter platform diving final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – David Boudia reacts to winning gold in the men's 10-meter platform final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – David Boudia celebrates winning the men's 10-meter platform diving final with teammate Nicholas McCrory, who finished ninth.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Seimone Augustus, number 5, and Angel McCaughtry, number 8, celebrate with the rest of the U.S. women's basketball team after defeating France 86-50 to win the gold medal.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Members of the U.S. women's basketball team hug after defeating France.
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Olympics: American gold medals – France's Edwige Lawson-Wade, in blue, goes up for a shot against Sue Bird in the second half.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Maya Moore, in white, leaps for the basket against France's Florence Lepron in the second half.
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Olympics: American gold medals – DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross and Francena McCorory, from left to right, are all smiles after winning gold in the women's 4x400-meter relay final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Sanya Richards-Ross of crosses the finish line to win gold for her team.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States is triumphant as she crosses the finish line.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Allyson Felix receives the relay baton from DeeDee Trotter during the women's 4x400-meter relay final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. women's 4x100-meter relay team -- from left, Carmelita Jeter, Bianca Knight, Tianna Madison and Allyson Felix -- set a new world record in the final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. women's 4x100-meter relay team wave the flag to celebrate their world record and gold medal winning victory.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Carmelita Jeter of the United States celebrates winning gold in the women's 4x100-meter relay.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. wrestler Jordan Ernest Burroughs celebrates with the national flag after defeating Iran's Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi in the men's freestyle gold medal match.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Burroughs, in blue, grapples with Goudarzi in the gold medal match.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Burroughs, in blue, competes with Goudarzi in the gold medal match.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Burroughs is declared the winner after defeating Goudarzi.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left to right: Silver medalist Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi of Iran, gold medalist Jordan Ernest Burroughs of the U.S. and bronze medalists Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan and Denis Tsargush of Russia on the podium of the men's 74-kilogram freestyle.
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Olympics: American gold medals – United States players celebrate winning the women's water polo gold medal match against Spain on Thursday, August 9, Day 13 of the London Olympics.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. team celebrates its gold medal win at the Water Polo Arena in London.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Maggie Steffens of the United States shoots and scores a goal against Spain in the women's water polo match Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Forward Abby Wambach is ecstatic after the United States defeated Japan 2-1 in the women's soccer gold medal match on Thursday, August 9, Day 13 of the London Olympics. Wambach missed the 2008 Games due to a broken leg.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The United States women's soccer team begins the celebration after defeating Japan, avenging its 2011 World Cup final loss.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Midfielder Carli Lloyd of the United States heads in a goal in the first half of the game against Japan. The U.S. women's soccer team took its third straight Olympic gold medal.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Forward Alex Morgan of the United States battles for the ball during Thursday's match against Japan.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Christian Taylor of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the men's triple jump on Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Christian Taylor competes in the men's triple jump final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Christian Taylor lands during the triple jump final on Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Gold medalist Christian Taylor and silver medalist Will Claye, also of the United States, celebrate during the medal ceremony for the men's triple jump. Both athletes attended the University of Florida and are seen doing the "Gator chomp."
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Olympics: American gold medals – Claressa Shields, in red, battles Nadezda Torlopova of Russia during the women's middleweight boxing final. Shields defeated Torlopova 19-12 to take the gold, becoming the first U.S. woman to take an Olympic boxing gold. See more photos of Shields and read her story on CNN's photo blog.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Shields trades punches with Torlopova during the final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Shields celebrates her victory as the referee announces her win.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Shields leaves the ring after defeating Torlopova.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Shields laughs on the podum after receiving her gold medal.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Allyson Felix of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of Murielle Ahoure of Cote d'Ivoire and Carmelita Jeter of the United States to win the women's 200-meter final on Wednesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States, top, dives for the ball during the women's beach volleyball gold medal match on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Horse Guards Parade on Wednesday, August 8. She and teammate Misty May-Treanor were playing another duo of Americans: April Ross and Jennifer Kessy.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States, left, competes against countryman April Ross during the women's beach volleyball match on Wednesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Kerri Walsh Jennings, left, and Misty May-Treanor of the United States celebrate winning the gold medal.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Brittney Reese of the United States competes in the women's long jump final on Wednesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Brittney Reese of the United States competes in the women's long jump final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Brittney Reese of the United States celebrates winning gold in the women's long jump final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Aries Merritt of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of Hansle Parchment of Jamaica to win gold in the men's 110-meter hurdles final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Aries Merritt of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of Jason Richardson of the United States on Wednesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Aries Merritt of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the men's 110-meter hurdles final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Allyson Felix of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of Murielle Ahoure of Cote d'Ivoire and Carmelita Jeter of the United States to win the women's 200-meter final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Allyson Felix of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the women's 200-meter final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Alexandra Raisman of the United States competes in the women's floor exercise final Tuesday, August 7, at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Gold medalist Alexandra Raisman poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's gymnastics floor exercise final on Tuesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Alexandra Raisman goes airborne during the floor exercise final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Jennifer Suhr of the United States celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's pole vault final on Monday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Jennifer Suhr competes in the women's pole vault final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Jennifer Suhr shows her emotion after winning gold.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Sanya Richards-Ross wins the gold in the women's 400-meter final at the London 2012 Olympics on Sunday, August 5. Richards-Ross earned the 28th gold medal for the United States.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left, silver medalist Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain, gold medalist Richards-Ross and bronze medalist DeeDee Trotter of the United States show off their medals during Sunday's ceremony at Olympic Stadium in London.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left, Amantle Montsho of Botswana, Richards-Ross, Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia, Trotter and Rosemarie Whyte of Jamaica run the 400-meter final Sunday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Richards-Ross crosses the line to win the gold.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Richards-Ross basks in her victory.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Venus Williams, left, and Serena Williams embrace after winning the women's doubles gold medal match on Sunday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams play the Czech Republic's Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka at the women's doubles gold medal match.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The Williams sisters talk as they play Hlavackova and Hradecka.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The sisters celebrate after their victory against the Czech players Sunday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Left to right: Brendan Hansen, Matthew Grevers, Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian pose following the medal ceremony for the men's 4x100-meter medley on Saturday, August 4.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Michael Phelps competes in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Clockwise: Matthew Grevers, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian react to winning gold in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Left to right: Gold medalists Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Volmer, and Allison Schmitt pose during the medal ceremony for the women's 4x100-meter medley relay on Saturday, August 4.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Dana Vollmer competes in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Dana Vollmer, left, and Missy Franklin react after winning gold in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Brothers Mike Bryan, left, and Bob Bryan embrace after defeating France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the men's doubles gold medal tennis match on Saturday, August 4, at Wimbledon.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Mike Bryan, left, and Bob Bryan pose on a podium with their gold medals after winning the men's doubles tennis tournament.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Mike Bryan, left, and Bob Bryan celebrate after defeating France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win gold in the men's doubles event.
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Olympics: American gold medals – France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga compete against Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan of the United States in the men's doubles final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Serena Williams reacts after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia to win the gold medal in women's singles tennis in London, England, on Saturday, August 4.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Williams admires her gold medal during the medal ceremony after defeating Sharapova in the women's singles match.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Serena Williams hits a return to Russia's Maria Sharapova during the women's singles tennis final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Serena Williams reacts to winning the gold medal in the women's singles tennis event.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Gold medalist Jamie Lynn Gray of the United States celebrates on the podium after winning the 50-meter rifle 3 positions women's final Saturday, August 4.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Gray aims a shot in the 50-meter rifle 3 positions women's qualification at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.
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olympics Jamie Lynn Gray 3 – Gray adjusts her shooting equipment during the women's 50-meter rifle 3 positions shooting qualification.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Fifteen-year-old Katie Ledecky reacts after winning the women's 800-meter freestyle final on Friday, August 3.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Left to right: Silver medallist Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain, gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States and bronze medalist Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 800-meter freestyle final on day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Left to right: Silver medalists Chad le Clos of South Africa and Evgeny Korotyshkin of Russia and gold medalist Michael Phelps listen to the United States national anthem during the medal ceremony for the men's 100-meter butterfly final on Friday, August 3.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Michael Phelps competes in the men's 100-meter butterfly final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Missy Franklin, left, is congratulated by Elizabeth Beisel after winning gold and breaking the world record in the women's 200-meter backstroke final on Friday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Missy Franklin competes in the women's 200-meter backstroke final. Franklin took gold in the event and American Elizabeth Beisel took bronze.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Left to right: Silver medalist Anastasia Zueva of Russia, gold medalist Missy Franklin of the United States and bronze medalist Elizabeth Beisel of the United States on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 200-meter backstroke final on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Tyler Clary reacts after winning the gold in the men's 200-meter backstroke final in London on Thursday, August 2.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Tyler Clary celebrates after winning the gold in the men's 200-meter backstroke final. Clary beat Ryan Lochte with an Olympic-record time of 1:53.41.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Left to right: Ryan Lochte, Tyler Clary and China's Fenglin Zhang compete in the men's 200-meter backstroke final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps on the podium after winning the men's 200-meter individual medley in the London Olympics.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Phelps, center, dives next to U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte, top, and Japan's Kosuke Hagino at the start of the 200-meter individual medley.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Phelps, who will retire after the Olympics, made history this week when he became the Olympian with the most medals. He earned his 20th in the individual medley event.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Phelps led from the first leg of the butterfly, his specialty, until he touched the wall more than a half-second ahead of teammate Ryan Lochte.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Phelps reacts to winning gold in the 200-meter Individual medley.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Phelps bested Lochte, right, on Thursday to win the gold in their second head-to-head race. Over the weekend Lochte took gold in the 400-meter individual while Phelps could only manage fourth.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. gymnast Gabrielle Douglas celebrates on the podium after winning the gymnastics women's individual all-around final on Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – American Gabrielle Douglas performs in front of the judges during her the individual all-around gymnastics final on Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas performs in the floor exercise at the North Greenwich Arena.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Douglas waves to the crowd after winning the gold medal.
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Olympics: American gold medals – American Kayla Harrison reacts on the podium after winning the gold medal in women's judo on Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – American Kayla Harrison, in white, and Gemma Gibbons of Britain compete in women's judo on Thursday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Kayla Harrison, in white, and Britain's Gemma Gibbons fight for first place.
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Olympics: American gold medals – United States' Kayla Harrison reacts after winning the match.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left, Britain's silver medalist Gemma Gibbons, United States' gold medalist Kayla Harrison, Brazil's bronze medalist Mayra Aguiar, and France's bronze medalist Audrey Tcheumeo, pose on the podium after the women's judo competition.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Members of the U.S. rowing team celebrate with their gold medals during the medal ceremony after the women's eight final at Eton Dorney in Windsor, England.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. team poses on their boat after winning their gold medals.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Americans Zsuzsanna Francia and Esther Lofgren celebrate first place.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Members of the gold medal-winning U.S. team, the silver medal-winning Canadian team and the bronze medal-winning Dutch team line up during the medal ceremony.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. team hug after receiving their gold medals during the medal ceremony.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Wearing their gold medals, members of the U.S. team celebrate in their boat.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. team throws their cox Mary Whipple into the water after their big win.
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Olympics: American gold medals – A member of the U.S. team wears an Uncle Sam getup after she and her teammates won the gold medal in the women's eight rowing final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. gold medalists, from left, Dana Vollmer, Allison Schmitt, Shannon Vreeland and Missy Franklin celebrate on the podium after winning the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay on Wednesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Dana Vollmer competes in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left, Shannon Vreeland, Dana Vollmer and Missy Franklin watch teammate Allison Schmitt finish first to win the relay.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. team celebrates after winning the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
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Olympics: American gold medals – The U.S. women's swim team reacts to their victory over Australia.
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Olympics: American gold medals – At left, Shannon Vreeland, Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt and Dana Vollmer of the United States celebrate next to the Australian team.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Allison Schmitt celebrate on the podium after taking the gold in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay on Wedesnday. It was the United States' eighth gold in swimming.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. gold medalist Nathan Adrian poses on the podium after the men's 100-meter freestyle swimming event on Wednesday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – American swimmer Nathan Adrian celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left, silver medalist James Magnussen of Australia, gold medalist Nathan Adrian of the United States and Brent Hayden of Canada stand with their medals on the podium during the medal cermony for the men's 100-meter freestyle final.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. gold medalist Nathan Adrian celebrates after his win.
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Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. swimmer Nathan Adrian reacts after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle.
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Olympics: American gold medals – American swimmer Nathan Adrian raises his hands in triumph.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Cyclist Kristin Armstrong celebrates winning a gold medal in the Olympic cycling time trial on Wednesday. She also won the medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Armstrong pushes ahead Wednesday during the women's individual time trial road cycling event.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Armstrong celebrates the gold with her son, Lucas, during the medal ceremony.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Armstrong is victorious in London.
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Olympics: American gold medals – From left, gold medallists Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Ricky Berens and Michael Phelps pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final on Tuesday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. swimmers Ryan Lochte, center, Conor Dwyer, left, Ricky Berens, right, and Michael Phelps, in the water, react after their win.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – American Michael Phelps competes in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Michael Phelps set an Olympic record with his 19th lifetime medal.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Gold medalist U.S. swimmer Allison Schmitt stands on the podium after the women's 200-meter freestyle final.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – American swimmer Allison Schmitt celebrates after winning the 200-meter freestyle final.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Gold medalist Allison Schmitt poses with her medal.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Allison Schmitt celebrates in the water after winning the gold.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Allison Schmitt, left, is congratulated by Bronte Barratt of Australia after her win.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Gold medalist Allison Schmitt, center, silver medalist Camille Muffat of France, right, and bronze medalist Bronte Barratt of Australia smile on the podium after the women's 200-meter freestyle final on Tuesday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – From left, gold medalist U.S. team McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Alexandra Raisman, Gabrielle Douglas and Jordyn Wieber celebrate their gold medal in the women's gymnastics team final on Tuesday. They won the United States' seventh gold medal.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – The gold medal hangs from the Olympian's neck.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – American Kyla Ross and coach Jenny Zhang hug during the women's gymnastics team final Tuesday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. gymnast Gabrielle Douglas performs on the beam during the women's team final of the gymnastics event.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. women's gymnastics coach John Geddert celebrates with his team after they won the gold in the team competition Tuesday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – American Alexandra Raisman competes on the balance beam Tuesday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Vincent Hancock shows off his gold medal in men's skeet shooting Tuesday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Hancock aims during the men's skeet shooting qualification round Tuesday at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London. The U.S. Army sergeant also won a gold medal in the 2008 Bejing Olympics.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin celebrates winning the women's 100-meter backstroke final swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on Monday, July 30.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Missy Franklin of the United States wipes a tear from her face as she reacts during the medal ceremony for the women's 100-meter backstroke on Monday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – From left, Camille Lacourt of France, Matt Grevers of the United States and Liam Tancock of Great Britain compete the final of the men's 100-meter backstroke on Monday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – American Matthew Grevers (left) celebrates winning gold with silver medalist and fellow American Nick Thoman at the finish of the men's 100-meter backstroke final swimming on Monday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – From left, silver medalist Emily Seebohm of Australia, gold medalist Missy Franklin of the United States and bronze medalist Aya Terakawa of Japan celebrate with their medals during the medal ceremony for the women's 100-meter backstroke on Monday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer poses on the podium after winning a gold medal in the women's 100-meter butterfly final at the London Olympics on Sunday, July 29.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Vollmer set a world record in winning the 100-meter butterfly, becoming the first woman to go under 56 seconds.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Vollmer celebrates after breaking the world record on Sunday.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Kim Rhode listens to the U.S. national anthem after winning the gold medal in women's skeet shooting Sunday.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Rhode celebrates winning the skeet competition at the Royal Artillery Barracks.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Ryan Lochte celebrates with his gold medal during the men's 400-meter individual medley medal ceremony on Saturday. He captured the first U.S. gold medal of the Games.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Lochte poses with medal on Saturday. His dental braces bear the U.S. flag.
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Olympics: American gold medals – Lochte reacts after winning the men's 400-meter individual medley final. U.S. teammate and competitor Michael Phelps finished fourth.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – Lochte competes in the men's 400-meter individual medley final. "I know it's my time, and I'm ready."
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – The 400-meter individual medley event Lochte won combines four types of strokes.
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Photos: Olympics: American gold medals
Olympics: American gold medals – While Lochte (above) took gold, Brazil's Thiago Pereira secured the silver medal and Japan's Kosuke Hagino won bronze.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps -- the most decorated Olympian of all time -- celebrates with his gold medal after the 4x200 freestyle on Tuesday, August 9. Phelps has won 21 gold medals so far in his career (25 medals in all), and he's looking to add more to his collection in Rio de Janeiro.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps competes in the 100-meter butterfly during the Rio Games.
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Phelps celebrates after winning the 200-meter butterfly in Rio. The victory avenged a loss at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps takes part in a qualifying race in Rio for the 200-meter individual medley.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps shows off his gold medal from the 200-meter medley at the London Olympics. It was his 20th career medal.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps celebrates in 2012 after becoming the most-decorated Olympic athlete in history. He had just won his 19th medal after the 4x200 freestyle.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps competes in the 200-meter butterfly in London.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps celebrates with teammates after winning the 4x100 freestyle in London.
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Phelps looks on during the 4x100 freestyle in London.
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Phelps climbs out of the pool in London after a shock fourth-place finish in the 400-meter medley.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps is hugged by teammate Ryan Lochte in 2008 after winning the 200-meter medley in Beijing. Phelps won eight gold medals in Beijing -- the most-ever in one Olympics.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps sets a world record in the 200-meter butterfly in Beijing.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps shouts encouragement to teammates in the 4x200 freestyle in Beijing.
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Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker
Phelps won six gold and two bronze medals in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Here, he holds a bronze from the 200-meter freestyle.
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Phelps celebrates winning gold in the 400-meter medley in 2004. It was his first Olympic gold, and it came in a world-record time of 4:08.26.
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Phelps smiles after winning the 200-meter butterfly during the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004.
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"Looking back, I can say I've done everything I ever wanted to," said Phelps, who won medals at three consecutive Olympics after making his debut as a 15-year-old at Sydney 2000.
"I don't think it's too bad to be able to look back on your career and say that."
Ryan Lochte, a winner of two golds in the British capital, was tipped by many to outshine his compatriot, while Yannick Agnel also rose to prominence by winning the 200m freestyle race and anchoring France's victorious 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
"Ryan and I like racing each other," Phelps said. "We bring the best out of each other. It's fun racing him, he's tough. He swims a lot of events, just like I do. We had the chance to go head-to-head quite a few times."
On the future of men's swimming, Phelps said he is looking forward to taking a back seat and watching new rivalries like the one between Lochte and Agnel develop over the next four years.
"We saw some amazing times in the pool this year. I said to Yannick that his 200m free was probably one of the top five greatest swims of all time.
"It's going to be cool watching these swimmers grow over the next four years and seeing the times they swim. That's definitely something I'll stay in tune with and check out what's going on."
One swimmer who has grown at the Games is China's Ye Shiwen, the 16-year-old who stunned the world when she swam the last 50m of her 400m individual medley heat quicker than Lochte in the corresponding men's race.
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The stunning feat led to suspicions of doping, although there is no evidence to suggest the double Olympic champion has taken any performance-enhancing substance.
"It's kind of sad that people have a great swim and that's the first thing they say," said Phelps.
"People who work hard -- it shows. There are people who just jump to that conclusion sometimes, and it's not right.
"Being able to watch her was amazing, I'm happy I actually out-split her over the last 100 ... almost every guy in the 400 IM got out-split by her."
