Michael Phelps of the United States won gold in the 200-meter individual medley on Thursday, his first individual gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Phelps finished the 200-meter individual event in 1 minute and 54.27 seconds, pushing his compatriot Ryan Lochte to second place. While Lochte took silver by clocking 1 minute 54.90 seconds, Hungarian Laszlo Cseh finished third to take the bronze medal.
Although Thursday's win gave Phelps his first individual gold medal at the London Olympics, it was his 16th gold medal and 20th Olympic medal overall. He has now won four medals at these Games including another gold in the 4x200 freestyle relay and two silvers in the 4x100 free relay and 200 meters butterfly.
With his gold winning performance in the 200-meter individual medley on Thursday, Phelps became the first man ever to win a swimming event in three straight Olympics. He now has two more races in the London Olympics, including the 100-meter butterfly in which he holds the world record.
Earlier this week, Phelps became the most decorated individual in Olympic history when he helped the US team to win gold in the 4x200 meters freestyle relay. With that win, Phelps beat the 48-year-old record of 18 medals held by former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.
He had won a record eight gold medals in Beijing four years ago, adding to the six gold and two bronze medals he won in Athens in 2004. Phelps still has the opportunity of building on his record Olympic medal haul as he still has two more events at London 2012 before he retires.
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