The 2016 USA Olympic Swim Team has, without a doubt, kept us all on the edge of our seats and made all of us proud with all of their achievements in Rio. I mean hearing our National Anthem left and right? Beautiful. Here are some of the top insane moments that prove that our Olympic Swim Team is made up of a bunch of bosses.
9. The Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay
The Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay won the gold for the fourth time. This streak began in the 2004 Athens Olympics and has continued into this year's Olympics in Rio; Phelps has been a member of the team since. The relay team, consisting of Connor Dwyer, Townley Haas, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps, defeated Great Britain and Japan, pushing them to silver and bronze respectively.
8. The Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay
The Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay once again beat out Australia for the gold as they did in the 2012 London Olympics. Former Georgia Bulldog Allison Schmitt is the only member of the relay team from 2012. Other members of the relay included Leah Smith, Maya DiRado and Katie Ledecky, who was the anchor and solidified USA's gold medal. These girls were on fire; plus look how cute they look with their gold medals and matching manis.
7. The #Phelpsface
As I was live tweeting the night, I was personally more focused on what Phelps had on his pump up playlist that made him make that #phelpsface that is now taken over social media. But in all reality, I would be staring at my competition like that too if I knew all of his dancing wasn't going to help him win.
6. Lilly King's finger wag and her win in the Women's 100m Breaststroke
When Lilly King finger wagged back at Russia's Yulia Efimova, America simultaneously said: "OOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Efimova waved her No. finger after finishing her race in the semifinal, to which King responded with her own finger wag. After being asked if she thought that her finger wag made a statement that night, King proudly explained that she isn't a force to be reckoned with and that she "isn't a fan" of Efimova because of her doping scandal. Another story on the street is that the drug Efimova was using was previously legal in Russia and only recently was ruled out. Already being a boss for her sassy comeback, King crushed Efimova in the Women's 100m Breaststroke and set the Olympic Record of 1:04.93.
5. Phelps' win in the 200m Butterfly over South Africa's Chad De Clos
After all that dancing, De Clos still lost (miserably, too) to Phelps in the Men's 200m Butterfly...but did he really think he could beat Phelps in his own game? Also this picture shows why I always tell the kids that I coach to focus on your race and not your competition. Sorry Charlie, maybe next time!
4. Katie Ledecky's world records
Katie Ledecky is a 19-year-old speed demon who cannot be tamed. Not only did she earn the gold medal, but she also broke her own previous world record time in the Women's 400m Freestyle by swimming a 3:56.46. She also broke the world record for the Women's 800m Freestyle. This girl is 19-years-old and breaking world records already; her triumphs are definitely something for America to be proud of. Katie Ledecky, you are my hero.
3. Phelps's fourth consecutive gold medal and his final showdown with Ryan Lochte
Michael Phelps never ceases to amaze. In his final showdown with Ryan Lochte in the Men's 200m I.M., Phelps took the gold, making that his fourth consecutive gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Lochte fell short of placing in this event, as two of Japan's swimmers and one of China's finished ahead of him.
2. Simone Manuel becoming the first African American female to win and individual gold medal.
When Simone Manuel pulled ahead of the Campbell sisters from Australia in the back half of the Women's 100m Freestyle, I could barely sit still in my seat because I was so excited. But the best part about watching the event was seeing her face when she turned around and realized that she had just won the gold medal. Manuel also tied for gold with Canada's 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak, which was also pretty cool. However, boss of the year goes to Simone Manuel for making history; you go girl.
1. Phelps's 23 gold medals
The most decorated Olympian of all time is now even more decorated than before. Swimmer across the country panicked when Phelps said that he would be taking a break after the 2012 London Olympics, but rejoiced when he started training again. Silly Michael, we all know what it means to "take a break," and we're glad as hell that you're back. This just proves that Phelps is the true #GOAT.
Support of America's swimmers doesn't have to stop with the Olympics! Be sure to go and support your local swim teams, high school, college or league teams, because after all, that's where Olympians get their start.
