Phelps joins fray as medals rivalry heats up
fray in Rio yesterday hoping to reverse the trend
after triumphant Australia dominated the first day’s
action in the Olympic pool.
Inspired by Mack Horton and Cate Campbell,
Australia surged to the top of the medals table after
an intense first day of competition.
That laid down the gauntlet for the Americans and
now all eyes are on Phelps, 31, who made his
Olympic debut in 2000 and admits it is getting no
easier to push his aging frame to the limit once
more in search of a potential six more titles.
His campaign is to begin in Sunday night’s 4x100m
freestyle relay final where the chief rivals will again
be the Australians who showed superb form
Saturday.
Aussie Horton dethroned China’s Sun Yang to win
the men’s 400m freestyle and then Campbell, the
individual world record-holder, anchored Australia
to 4x100m freestyle gold in 3min 30.65sec, the
fastest time in history.
“Definitely my favorite race ever, in an Olympic
final with my sister and two girls I have known
since I was 12, 13 years old and a gold and a world
record,” said Campbell, who swam with Emma
McKeon, Brittany Elmslie and her sister Bronte.
That was one of a trio of swimming world records
that marked the day as well as a first-ever Olympic
gold for Vietnam that triggered rejoicing back home.
Britain’s Adam Peaty was the early star in the
swimming pool.
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