Phenom Phelps unstoppable

American seizes 22nd gold with a sensational swim in 200M medley; Murphy sparkles

Michael Phelps swept to a jaw-dropping 22nd Olympic gold Thursday as China's Chen Xinyi failed a doping test to cast a shadow over the Rio swimming competition.

While Phelps became one of only three athletes to have won titles in the same individual event at four straight Games, Chen tested positive for a diuretic, the Chinese Swimming Association told State media.

There was a stunning upset in the women's competition as Australian world record-holder Cate Campbell inexplicably flopped in the 100M freestyle which ended in a dead heat for gold, but there was no escaping Phelps as he romped to his fourth gold of the Rio Olympics.

The record-breaking American stormed to victory in the 200M individual medley to match his London tally four years ago.

Competing in his fifth Games, Phelps joined Al Oerter in the discus (1956-68) and Carl Lewis in the long jump (1984-96) as the only members of the exclusive four-in-a-row club. Phelps utterly dominated  a final which crackled with tension and brought the curtain down on his 12-year rivalry with fellow American Ryan Lochte.

After a strong start from local favourite Thiago Pereira, Phelps took charge on the backstroke leg before powering away to win in one minute, 54.66 seconds — almost two seconds clear of Japan's Kosuke Hagino in second.

Hagino, who won the 400M medley last weekend, produced a quick finish to pinch silver in 1:56.61, with China's Wang Shun coming through for a surprise bronze in 1:57.05.

A little more than half-an-hour later, having collected his gold medal, Phelps returned to qualify fifth fastest for Friday's (Saturday morning in India) 100M butterfly final — another event he won in Athens, Beijing and London.

"It's been a hell of a career," said Phelps, who could still equal his Athens tally of six gold medals, two shy of his epic Beijing haul.

Campbell turned 0.12 inside her own world record before being caught by the two women on either side of her — American Simone Manuel and Canadian schoolgirl Penny Oleksiak, who shared gold in a 52.70 seconds dead heat.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom also crept by her to take bronze. Campbell, incredibly, finished outside of the medals in fourth.

Japan's Rie Kaneto blazed to gold in the women's 200M breaststroke, clocking 2:20.30 to deny two-time doping offender Yulia Efimova of Russia. American Ryan Murphy completed a Rio double after bullying world champion Mitchell Larkin in the men's 200M backstroke, winning in 1:53.62 to underline US dominance of the event.

Sun out of contention

China's Sun Yang, the reigning Olympic champion and world record-holder, failed to qualify on Friday for the final of the 1,500M freestyle.

Sun lurked just off the pace in his heat until fading to seventh at the 800M mark and labored home in 15:01.97 seconds, seventh in a heat won by American Jordan Wilimovsky in 14:48.23.

Results: Men: 200M individual medley: Michael Phelps (US) 1:54.66, 1; Kosuke Hagino (JPN) 1:56.61, 2; Wang Shun (CHN) 1:57.05, 3.

200M backstroke: Ryan Murphy (USA) 1:53.62, 1; Mitch Larkin (AUS) 1:53.96, 2; Evgeny Rylov (RUS) 1:53.97, 3.

Women: 100M freestyle: Penny Oleksiak (CAN) and Simone Manuel (USA) 52.70, 1; Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 52.99, 3.

200M breaststroke: Rie Kaneto (JPN) 2:20.30, 1; Yulia Efimova (RUS) 2:21.97, 2; Shi Jinglin (CHN) 2:22.28, 3.