RIO DE JANEIRO (TheBlaze/AP) — Michael Phelps was overcome with emotion Tuesday night when he won his 20th gold medal. When the night was over, the swimmer had earned 21 gold medals.
Phelps made up for one of the rare losses in his brilliant career by winning the 200-meter butterfly, a victory that sent him climbing into the stands to kiss his 3-month-old son Boomer. An hour later, he returned to take what amounted to nothing more than a triumphant victory lap in anchoring the 4×200 freestyle relay, the crowd’s deafening roar growing louder with every stroke.
“That was probably one of my most challenging doubles,” the 31-year-old Phelps said. “Doing a double like that is a lot harder than it once was.”
Standing at the podium during the ceremony for his 20th gold medal, Phelps’ joy and satisfaction seemed to reach an emotional crescendo as the “Star-Spangled Banner” rang out in the packed arena in Rio. Tears seemed nearly inevitable for the 31-year-old competitor, but his tearful expression turned to boisterous glee when the anthem reached its climax.
As the instrumental rendition reached the line, “Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,” one of his buddies from Baltimore cracked him up by shouting out “O” like they do at Camden Yards before Orioles’ games. As soon as he heard the proclamation, a big smile shot across his face.
Phelps later explained the moment. He said, “Back in Maryland, we all say, ‘O!’”
During the customary stroll around the pool to pose for photographers, Phelps broke ranks and bounded into the stands to plant a kiss on Boomer, the son who symbolizes just how much Phelps’ life has changed since a second drunken-driving arrest two years ago.
“I wanted to hold him longer,” Phelps said. “It’s good to see he’s awake. He usually sleeps all the time.”