Michael Phelps Becomes Most Decorated Olympian with 19th Medal

On July 31, 2012, at the London Aquatics Centre, American swimmer Michael Phelps tied Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s record of 18 Olympic medals by winning silver in the 200 m butterfly. Hours later he broke the record, anchoring the U.S. 4×200 m freestyle relay to gold and securing his 19th Olympic medal.

The achievement made Phelps the most decorated Olympian in history, a record later extended to 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) over five Games.