Michael Phelps Becomes Most Decorated Olympian of All Time

Day Four at the London Summer Olympics was a historic day for Michael Phelps of Team USA, who won his 19th medal in three Olympics, making him the top medal winner of all time. He surpassed the 18 won by former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina by taking a share of the gold in the Men’s 4x200 Meter Freestyle Relay after finishing second for a silver in the Men’s 200 Meter Butterfly.

In another big moment of triumph for the U.S., the women’s gymnastics team took home the gold, the first time an American squad has done that since 1996. It was also something of a vindication for world champion Jordyn Wieber, who two days earlier failed to qualify for the all-around finals by finishing behind teammates Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas.

American swimmer Allison Schmitt achieved her own first Tuesday by winning a gold medal in the Women’s 200 Meter Freestyle, adding to the silver and bronze she picked up in two other events. However, Missy Franklin, winner of the gold in the Women’s 100 Meter Backstroke, finished out of the running for a medal.

Vincent Hancock of the U.S. was also golden Tuesday, finishing first in the Men’s Skeet Shooting finals.

In other events, the U.S. men’s basketball team captured its second triumph of the tournament by cruising to a 110-63 victory over Tunisia with New York Knick Carmelo Anthony and Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love each sinking 16 points while in women’s soccer, the American team scored a 1-0 win over North Korea as Abby Wambach scored the lone goal for the U.S.

After four days of competition, the U.S. and China are knotted for first place again in the total medal count with 23 apiece although China has 13 gold medals to nine for the U.S. Japan is next with 13 total medals.