Michael Phelps

Usain Bolt's long run as Olympian an essential part of Games' greatest era

Had Bolt come along as an athlete four decades earlier, though, we wouldn’t have seen him in Rio at all.

This has been the Olympics of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps in what likely will be their final significant statements on the grandest stage their sports allow. They only are here, however, because professional athletes are allowed to compete.

How Michael Phelps' stretch got China talking

Last week, it was the purple spots on his body, the result of cupping, which drew attention. Now one of his more unusual pre-race stretching routines is causing an online stir.

Michael Phelps on fiancée Nicole Johnson

The couple became engaged in February 2015 after breaking up twice over eight years. "We both had to go through some things in order to get to the point where we are now in our life," MP told Billy Bush in an interview.

Michael Phelps bids farewell to swimming: 'This is how I wanted to finish'

When Michael Phelps decided to try for the Rio Olympics, after his short-lived retirement following the 2012 London Games, the reasoning was perfectly clear to him.

Though he managed to win six medals in London, four of them gold, he had not trained to his standards, had not been as engaged in the pursuit as he was in 2004 and 2008, when he became an Olympic legend.

Meeting and beating your childhood idol

Singapore's Joseph Schooling competed against decorated US Olympian Michael Phelps in the qualifying heats for the Rio 2016 100m butterfly stroke semi-finals.

Schooling took first place, clocking in 51.41s, while Phelps came in second with a time of 51.60s.

Schooling went on to top the main event and made Singaporean history on Friday by becoming its first-ever male swimmer to qualify for an Olympic final.

Rio Olympics 2016: Michael Phelps wins 19th Olympic gold

The 31-year-old came to Brazil as the most decorated Olympian in history and has now won 23 medals at five Games.

He swam the second leg for the USA, who won in a time of three minutes 9.92 seconds, with France second in 3:10.53 and Australia third in 3:11.37.

Phelps came out of retirement in 2014, having quit after London 2012.

He has won twice as many Olympic gold medals as the athlete second on the list, former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.