Michael Phelps gets relay gold on international comeback
The 18-time Olympic champion helps the United States win gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Pan Pacific championships
Michael Phelps is back on top of the podium.
The 29-year-old American, swimming in his first international meet since coming out of retirement, helped the United States win the 4x200-metre relay on Friday at the Pan Pacific championships.
There’s no better way to finish this, lovely, rainy night then being able to step up with your teammates and win a gold medal
“Being able to get back on the podium – it feels amazing,” Phelps said. “It’s a good first day. Good first international meet back. There’s no better way to finish this, lovely, rainy night then being able to step up with your teammates and win a gold medal.”
Phelps finished fourth in his first final – the 100 free – but he later swam the second leg of the relay and watched as Matt McLean overhauled Takeshi Matsuda of Japan on the last lap.
In the 100, 20-year-old Cameron McEvoy of Australia won in 47.82 seconds in pouring rain at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre’s outdoor pool. Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian of the United States was second in 48.30 and James Magnussen, the two-time world champion from Australia, was third.