MICHAEL Phelps won his 23rd Olympic gold in what looks like being his final Games, as Britain took silver in the men’s 4x100m medley relay on Saturday night.Phelps, 31, secured his fifth gold of Rio 2016 when he teamed up with Ryan Murphy, Cody Miller and Nathan Adrian to set a new Games record of three minutes 27.95 seconds.
Britain finished 2.71 seconds adrift, with Australia in third.
USA also successfully defended their title in the women’s 4x100m medley.
Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel clocked 3:53.13 to win USA’s 1,000th gold at a summer Games.
“Getting off the bus and walking to the pool tonight, I pretty much felt myself starting to crack,” said Phelps.
“Last warm-up, last time putting on a suit, last time walking out in front of people, representing my country… it’s insane.
“This is how I wanted to finish my career. I’ve lived a dream come true. Being able to cap it off with these Games is just the perfect way to finish.”
The American legend bowed out with 28 medals from five Olympics after making his debut in 2000.
That is 10 more than the next best. Gymnast Larisa Latynina, who competed for the Soviet Union between 1956 and 1964, won 18, nine of them gold.