Photos: Phelps gets gold, Olympic record thanks to team effort
Michael Phelps lingered on the blocks, not wanting to make another shocking blunder. The 19th medal was his. All he had to do was avoid a DQ, then set off on what amounted to four victory laps. Down and back, then down and back again, the roars getting louder with each stroke. When Phelps touched the wall, he finally had gold at his final Olympics. And a record for the ages. Phelps swam into history with a lot of help from his friends, taking down the last major record that wasn't his alone. He took the anchor leg for the United States in a gold medal-winning performance of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay Tuesday night, earning the 19th Olympic medal of his brilliant career, and the 15th gold. [-The Associated Press]
Images
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps competes in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Conor Dwyer, second from left, United States' Ryan Lochte, third from let, United States' Ricky Berens, fourth from left, and United States' Michael Phelps react as they win gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps celebrates his team's gold medal win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps, right, celebrates after winning gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps, left, and France's Yannick Agnel speak after the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle Relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. The United States won gold, France silver. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps competes in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
Umited States' swimmer Michael Phelps, center, tosses a bouquet of flowers to his mother, debbie, top, after his team's gold medal win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' swimmer Michael Phelps, center, looks up at his mother, Debbie, top, after his team's gold medal win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming
Debbie Phelps, mother of United States swimmer Michael Phelps, and her daughter Hilary smile after Phelps' team won the gold medal un the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming
United States men's relay team members Conor Dwyer, left, Ryan Lochte, top right, Ricky Berens, right, and Michael Phelps, bottom, celebrate their gold medal win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
London Olympics Swimming Men
Debbie Phelps, center, the mother of United States' Michael Phelps reacts after he won gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps reacts after receiving his gold medal for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' swimmer Michael Phelps, center, looks up at his mother, Debbie, top, after his team's gold medal win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Conor Dwyer, top left, United States' Ryan Lochte, center top, United States' Ricky Berens, top right, and United States' Michael Phelps, in the water, react as they win gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
London Olympics Swimming Men
From left, United States' Michael Phelps, United States' Conor Dwyer, United States' Ricky Berens and United States' Ryan Lochte pose with their gold medals for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps reacts after his team won gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Conor Dwyer, top left, United States' Ryan Lochte, center top, United States' Ricky Berens, top right, and United States' Michael Phelps, in the water, react as they win gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012.. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States swim team members, from left, Conor Dwyer, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Ricky Berens pose with their gold medals after their win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Conor Dwyer, left, Michael Phelps, center, Ryan Lochte, second right, and Ricky Berens, right, pose with their gold medals after their win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps dives in to start the last leg of the men's 4 X 200-meter freestyle relay before their gold medal win at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps reacts after receiving his gold medal for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps reacts after winning gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps is seen on a large screen during a medal ceremony for the French, United States and Chinese men's relay teams in the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Ricky Berens, center left, and United States' Michael Phelps, center right, react as they win gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps' mother Debbie, center, reacts as he swims in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps poses with his gold medal for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps waits to start the final leg of the men's 4X200-meter freestyle relay as teammate Ryan Lochte, right, whistles to cheer on their teammate before their gold medal win at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Conor Dwyer, left, Ryan Lochte, center, and Ricky Berens, right, celebrate as Michael Phelps closes in on their team's gold medal win in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps poses with his medal for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps, in the water at right and France's Yannick Agnel, at left in water, react after their men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. The United States won gold, France silver. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Ricky Berens, left, and United States' Michael Phelps react as they win gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
London Olympics Swimming Men
From left, United States' Michael Phelps, United States' Conor Dwyer, United States' Ricky Berens and United States' Ryan Lochte pose with their gold medals for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
United States' Michael Phelps, right, celebrates winning gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
London Olympics Swimming Men
From left, United States' Ryan Lochte, United States' Conor Dwyer, United States' Ricky Berens, and United States' Michael Phelps pose with their gold medals for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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