Michael Phelps won his 5th medal in the 100 meter butterfly, his 21st career Olympic medal. In the men's 4×100 medley relay tomorrow night, Phelps will surely end his Olympic career with 22 medals in all. Supported by Matt Grevers, gold medalist in the 100 backstroke, Brendan Hansen, bronze medalist in the 100 breaststroke, and Nathan Adrian, gold medalist in the 100 freestyle, Phelps should cruise into the record books once again.
Phelps appeared confused at the finish of the 100 fly final, unsure for several seconds of how to react. His winning time, 51.21, was realatively slow.
South African, Chad le Clos, tied Russia's Evgeny Korotyshkin for the silver with a 51.44.
Milorad Cavic, the 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist, finished just off the medal podium in fourth place; however, he was out the fastest, clocking a 23.57 at the 50. The mere fact that Cavic was in the Olympic final is a success, considering his major back surgery. After Cavic's 51.45 European Championship win in the 100 fly this spring, Phelps said, “Cavic is back and he's on my radar. You have to consider him.”
Phelps was 24.35 at the 50, in 7th, only ahead of fellow 200 butterflyer and gold medalist, le Clos.