Michael Phelps, 2012 Olympics | featured news

In a final race that was more a coronation than a contest, Phelps headed into retirement the only way imaginable - with an 18th gold medal. Reclaiming the lead with his trademark butterfly stroke, the one seen in his Olympic debut as a 15-year-old in Sydney a dozen years ago, he capped off a mind-boggling career with a victory in the 4x100-meter medley relay Saturday.

Michael Phelps won his 21st career medal, and Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky also won at the London Olympics.

Michael Phelps will swim for more gold Friday at the 2012 Games, competing in the final individual race of his storied Olympic career. Meanwhile, attention will begin to shift to Olympic Stadium as the track and field competition gets under way.

Michael Phelps spent the day thinking about all the things he's doing for the final time at the pool. It turns out that included one last win over Ryan Lochte.Phelps finally got a gold all his own at his final Olympics.

There were times in the past four years when the water was still. For days at a time, Michael Phelps didn’t bother to show up at the pool, never rippled the surface. He stayed missing so long that his coach, Bob Bowman, wondered whether they “were going to get this thing done.” But eventually — reluctantly but determinedly — Phelps towed that long torso back into the liquid, where the greatest swimmer of all time belonged.

Michael Phelps, looking like the dominating uber-Phelps of four years ago, won the 200-meter individual medley Thursday at the London Olympics.

It's time for Round 2 of Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte. Their first showdown of the London Olympics went to Lochte in a runaway on the opening night of the swimming competition. This one figures to be a lot closer. The American stars compete against each other for the last time in the 200-meter individual medley on Thursday night. Lochte qualified fastest in 1 minute, 56.13 seconds. Phelps was 98-hundredths of a second back in third.

I am covering the Olympics for Slate this year, and, as such, it's my job to know what happens at the Games as soon as it happens. No waiting for the tape-delay broadcast for me; I wake at 4 a.m. to watch archery and stay in front of the screen until the sun sets on the British Isles. What this means is that I have personally spoiled at least seven people's enjoyment of the Olympics by blabbing prematurely about who won what event. "Did you see that Michael Phelps came in fourth?" I ask. "No, you jerk, and thanks for ruining it for me.

History unfolded in 6 minutes and 59.70 seconds. With a little help from three of his friends, Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian of them all, winning his 19th career medal, breaking the standard set by legendary Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina.

Here's what to watch for at the London Olympics on Sunday... SWIMMING: The United States, Australia and France go for gold in the final of the 4 x100m freestyle relay, a day after Michael Phelps was stunningly defeated by teammate Ryan Lochte... BASKETBALL: The U.S. men's team plays France (and NBA star Tony Parker).