Phelps, Le Clos & Cseh Win Silver In First Ever Olympic 3-Way Tie

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

Coming into these Olympics there were three clear favorites for the medals in both men’s butterfly races: Michael PhelpsChad Le Clos, and Laszlo Cseh.

Things didn’t go according to script in the 200 – yes Phelps won gold – but the other two were surprisingly left off the podium, making way for a few up-and-coming youngsters.

In the 100 they all made it onto the podium as expected, but not the way anyone could have predicted.

For the first time in Olympic swimming history, there was a three-way-tie in the men’s 100 fly, and it happened to be between all three pre-race medal favorites. Except it wasn’t for gold.

The three of them all tied for silver in 51.14, well behind newly minted Olympic champion Joseph Schooling of Singapore. Schooling won his nation’s first ever Olympic swimming medal in a new Olympic record time of 50.39, winning by an incredible three-quarters of a second (the largest in the event since 1972).

There have been twelve ties in Olympic swimming history (six men, six women), including one last night for gold in the women’s 100 freestyle, but this is the first ever three-way tie.

The three men surrounded by all of the hype heading into the Games in the butterfly races will go down in history together as the first ever three-way tie, making way for perhaps the new butterfly king – Joseph Schooling.

 

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RSA
8 years ago

Great swim by Schooling. Le Clos throws off the “tombstone” and puts things into perspective. American media forgets to apologise.

Lennart van Haaften
8 years ago

Are Phelps and Cseh the first swimmers to win an individual medal in four Olympics?

JudgeNot
8 years ago

Actually looks like three real smiles. That’s. Just nice.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  JudgeNot
8 years ago

That photo is just beautiful. Classic.

Melinda
8 years ago

Why wasn’t there a bronze medal in this event

Apple
Reply to  Melinda
8 years ago

The next finisher after a three-way tie for second is actually fifth place.

wut
8 years ago

This was weird

Myshkin
8 years ago

3 way tie.. ANOTHER record for phelps

Dawgpaddle
8 years ago

Well done Joe! Coached by the BEST (Eddie), motivated by the largest cash prize ($3,000,000) and ole Eddie’s bonus not too bad either ($100,000). Go HORNS!

swimdoc
Reply to  Dawgpaddle
8 years ago

I think Sergio had at least a little bit to do with it, too.

Mikeh
8 years ago

Puts in perspective how fast Ian rocker really was. Go Horns!

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Mikeh
8 years ago

Only fitting that another longhorn beat the record

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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