Michael Phelps Exits Olympics with 23rd Gold in Last Race

RIO DE JANEIRO — Michael Phelps stood on the blocks, bent over. He flapped his arms, as he’s done hundreds of thousands times over his storied career, and dove in.

Yes, the act itself was familiar. But its significance was new. Phelps’ 100 meters of butterfly Saturday night as part of the U.S. men’s 4×100 medley relay is the last he’ll swim at an Olympic Games. (He thinks.) As the crowd roared, Phelps moved through the water, violently, methodically and, most of all, quickly — just as he’s done all his life.

It’s fitting, of course, that Phelps’ final race resulted in gold, the 23rd gold medal of his career and 28th Olympic medal overall.

In addition to Phelps, the U.S. men’s medley relay included backstroker Ryan Murphy, breaststroker Cody Miller and freestyler Nathan Adrian. The Americans set an Olympic record  in 3:27.95. Britain won silver  and Australia the bronze.

Phelps has finished these Rio Games with five gold medals and one silver. Though he’s looked spectacular at age 31, Phelps has insisted this week that he does not plan on coming back to swim in Tokyo in 2020.