Michael Phelps Wins 22nd Gold Medal as U.S. Swimmers Break New Ground in Rio

The world has never seen an athletic exit like this.

Michael Phelps won his 22nd career gold medal in spectacular fashion Thursday, once again demolishing his rivals in the 200m individual medley and setting-up what turned into a historic night for U.S swimming.

Rio is the fourth straight Olympics Phelps has taken gold in the event, and he did so by a wide margin, far outpacing the rest of the field. Silver medalist Kosuke Hagino of Japan trailed Phelps by nearly a body-length.