In defeating teammate Ryan Lochte and the rest of the 200-meter individual medley field a the London games Thursday, Michael Phelps extended his career Olympic medal count to 20 -- his 16th career gold. The win also made Phelps the first male competitor to win an individual event at three consecutive games.
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and United States' Ryan Lochte pose with their medals for the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. Phelps won gold and Lochte silver. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
United States' Michael Phelps, left, and United States' Ryan Lochte start in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Michael Phelps looks to the timing board after winning gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Michael Phelps of the United States, right, and silver medalist Ryan Lochte of the United States react after the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and teammate Ryan Lochte react after competing in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, goes to shake hands with silver medalist Ryan Lochte of the United States after winning gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and teammate Ryan Lochte watch the score board after their first and second finish in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and his teammate Ryan Lochte climb out of the pool after their gold and silver medal finishes in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
United States' Michael Phelps, left, and United States' Ryan Lochte start in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, shakes hands with silver medalist Ryan Lochte of the United States after winning gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, looks to silver medalist Ryan Lochte of the United States after winning gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
United States' Michael Phelps reacts to his gold medal finish in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, stands with and compatriot Ryan Lochte after winning the men's 200-meter individual medley final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
United States' Michael Phelps reacts after winning gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and teammate Ryan Lochte watch the score board after their first and second place finish in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and United States' Ryan Lochte pose with their medals for the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. Phelps won gold, Lochte silver. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
United States' Michael Phelps swims in the diving pool following his win in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming finalat the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
United States' Michael Phelps gestures after his gold medal finish in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
Debbie Phelps, center, the mother of United States' Michael Phelps celebrates after he won gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
United States' Michael Phelps gestures after his gold medal finish in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
United States' Michael Phelps, right, and teammate Ryan Lochte smile as they leave the pool after Phelps' gold medal win and Lochte's silver medal win in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
From right, United States' Michael Phelps, United States' Ryan Lochte and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh pose with their medals for the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. Phelps won gold, Lochte silver and Cseh bronze. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
United States' Michael Phelps, left, and United States' Ryan Lochte pose with their medals for the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. Phelps won gold, Lochte silver. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
United States' Michael Phelps swims in the diving pool after winning gold in the men's 200 the men's 200-meter individual medley final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
From right, United States' Michael Phelps, United States' Ryan Lochte and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh pose with their medals for the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. Phelps won gold, Lochte silver and Cseh bronze. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
United States' Michael Phelps drinks in the diving pool after winning gold in the men's 200 the men's 200-meter individual medley final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Michael Phelps, top, and Ryan Lochte of the United States compete in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
United States' Michael Phelps, top, looks at the timing board as he wins gold ahead of Ryan Lochte of the United States in the men's 200-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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