Fans and viewers of the Rio 2016 Olympic games were mesmerized during the swimming competitions this time around. This is because not only was Michael Phelps able to conquer yet another career milestone, but we saw the first ever three-way tie for a silver medal in Olympic history as well as a historic Victory by America's Simone Manuel.

We were first amazed by Michael Phelps’s performance during the finals of the men’s 200m individual melody on August 11, 2016. This particular race happens to be Phelps’s specialty as he has won gold in the past four consecutive Olympic games. By the end of the race, Phelps had developed a mind-blowing lead, reaching more than five feet. The Gold medal he obtained from this victory marked Phelps’s 13th individual gold medal and his 22nd overall. He obtained his 23rd gold medal in his final race on August 13, 2016.

It is now doubtful that we will see Phelps compete again in Tokyo, however, his performance over the years has undoubtingly deemed him the most decorated Olympic athlete in history. Phelps’s responses when asked about his career ending was:

“Things kind of starting hitting me this morning. I was like, wow, I only have to put a racing suit on two more times after tonight. And I only have to warm down one more time after tonight. It’s wild to think that over 20 years ago, I learned to swim. It’s all stopping, competition wise, in the next 48 hours.”

Shortly after Phelps was finished blowing the minds of millions of viewers across the globe, America was overwhelmed again as our very own Simone Manuel won the Women's 100-m freestyle competition. What made this victory so iconic was the fact that Simone not only became the first African-American women to win an individual gold medal in a swimming event, but she set an Olympic record while doing it.

After the race, Simone brushed up on how she felt about the achievement, expressing that she was both excited and honored to have become the first African -American women to win an individual gold medal. She did make an effort to express the fact that she wished the sport was more diverse so she wasn’t singled out as “the black swimmer” as it makes her feel as if she not supposed to be in the competition in the first place. She also has said that she wanted to see her participation in the games help and try to relieve some of the racial tension in our nation.

The next day generated just as much as excitement.

On the 12th, viewers were left in awe after witnessing the first ever three-way tie for a silver medal. The tie was between Laszlo Csech, of Hungary; Chad Le Clos, of South Africa; and Michael Phelps, all clocking in at 51.14 in the Men's 100m Butterfly competition. Along with the three-way tie, this race was historical as the gold medalist, Joseph Schooling, was able to bring Singapore its first swimming medal. His 50.39 time even set a new Olympic record.

As we look back on all the swimming competitions during the Rio 2016 Olympics, we can all agree that the competitors really put on a show. No matter what the sport is, these competitors have earned the respect of the world as they train almost every day to represent their country. So to Simone Manuel, thank you and good luck as you embark on your Olympic career. To Michael Phelps, thank you for representing the U.S. for all these years and good luck to whatever life has planed for you next.